Press Conference
(Ha Noi, June 13^th,  2013)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Vietnamese President to pay state visit to China (June 19-21)

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, President Truong Tan Sang will pay a state visit to the People’s Republic of China from June 19-21, 2013.

This is the first State visit to China by Mr. Truong Tan Sang as the President and the first State visit to China by a Vietnamese senior leader since China elected new leaders.

The visit is of great importance to strengthen political confidence and friendly cooperation between the two Parties and States, set major orientation to practically deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership for the development of both nations, for peace, stability and development in the region.

President Truong Tan Sang will hold talks with President Xi Jinping, meet with other Chinese senior leaders and visit Guangdong province. The two sides will sign a number of cooperation agreements and instruments.

Vietnamese FM to pay a working visit to Laos (June 14-16)

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoutlith of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will pay a working visit to Laos from June 14-16, 2013.

The two Ministers will exchange measures to promote bilateral cooperation and orientations for collaboration in the coming time to wrap up the Viet Nam – Laos National Border Pillars Restoration Project in 2014 as agreed upon by the high-level leaders of the two countries.

Cuban Vice President to pay friendly visit to Viet Nam (June 19-22)

At the invitation of Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel will pay a friendly visit to Viet Nam from June 19-22, 2013.

The visit is aimed at promoting solidarity, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples.

Vice President Miguel Diaz Canel will hold talks with Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, discuss orientations and measures to foster bilateral cooperation in all fields and exchange experience in national building and development.

Vice President Miguel Diaz Canel is expected to pay courtesy calls on high-level leaders of Viet Nam, visit some economic, cultural, historic sites in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Ecuador FM to pay official visit to Viet Nam (June 21-25)

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Integration of Ecuador Ricardo Armando Patiño Aroca will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from June 21-25, 2013.

Minister Ricardo Patiño will hold talks with Minister Pham Binh Minh to discuss orientations and measures to promote bilateral cooperation in all fields and strengthen cooperation between the two Ministries.

Minister Ricardo Patiño will pay courtesy calls to Vietnamese high-level leaders, visit some cultural and economic sites in Ha Noi and other provinces.

UNESCO General Director to pay an official visit to Viet Nam (19-23 June)

At the invitation of the Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO will pay an official visit to Viet Nam and attend the Commemoration of the 10th year of the Convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Quang Nam from June 19-23, 2013.

Ms Irina Bokova will hold talks with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO, Nguyen Thanh Son to conduct mid-term review of the Viet Nam-UNESCO cooperation MOU for 2010-2015 and set orientations for implementation in the coming time to strengthen UNESCO-Viet Nam cooperation.

Ms Irina Bokova is expected to pay courtesy calls on Vietnamese high-level leaders and visit UNESCO world heritage sites.

The “Provinces and Diplomatic Corps Exchange” and  the 5th “Quang Nam Heritage Festival” (22-26 June)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Quang Nam province will host the “Provinces and the Diplomatic Corps Exchange” in Hoi An from June 21-24, 2013.

The event is aimed at facilitating provinces and businesses in the central coastal region to network with the foreign missions in Viet Nam to introduce their potentials and call for investment as well as offering opportunities to the Diplomatic Corps in Viet Nam to explore the local potentials, strength and demands for development as well as cooperation and investment opportunities in the central coastal region.

On this occasion, the People’s Committee of Quang Nam province in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO will co-host “the 5th Quang Nam Heritage Festival” in Hoi An city from June 22-26, 2013.

This year festival themes the world heritages in ASEAN nations and Viet Nam, featuring ASEAN cultural heritage festival, exhibitions of ASEAN and Viet Nam cultural and natural heritages, seminars on safeguarding of the cultural heritages, tourism and investment promotion activities and Vietnamese culinary art show, among other festivities.

The festival responds to the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage.

“The ASEAN-China Workshop on cooperation in search and rescue of persons and vessels in distress in the East Sea” (June 18-20)

In realization of the ASEAN-China Working Plan on the Guidelines for the implementation of the DOC and based on recommendations of ASEAN-China SOM, the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam will host the “Workshop on ASEAN - China cooperation in search and rescue of persons and vessels in distress in the East Sea” in Hanoi from 18 to 20 June.

The workshop offers forum for countries to debate on confidence building measures through search and rescue efforts in the East Sea. Participants, including representatives from governments, academia and experts of ASEAN and China, will assess the state and need of common efforts to help persons and vessels in distress in the East Sea; factors affecting cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the region and set forth concrete recommendations for enhanced cooperation in search and rescue of persons and vessels in distress in the East Sea.