Press Conference 

 (Ha Noi, Thursday 13^th, 2014)

1. President Truong Tan Sang to pay a State visit to Japan (16-19 March)

At the invitation of Emperor of Japan Akihito and Empress, President Truong Tan Sang and his spouse and the Vietnamese high ranking delegation will pay a State visit to Japan from 16 to 19 March 2014.

During the visit, the leaders of the two countries will discuss and evaluate the development of the Viet Nam – Japan strategic partnership in recent years, exchange views on major orientations and specific measures to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level, developing more comprehensively, substantially and extensively in all areas, contributing to the peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

President Truong Tan Sang will meet with and attend the State Banquet hosted by Emperor Akihito of Japan, hold talks with and attend a reception hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, meet with senior leaders of Japan, deliver a speech at the National Diet of Japan, visit Osaka and Ibaraki Provinces, and attend the Viet Nam - Japan Business Forum.

2. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to attend Third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague (24-25 March)

At the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will lead the Vietnamese delegation to attend the Third Nuclear Security Summit held in The Hague, Netherlands from 24 to 25 March, 2014.

The Vietnamese delegation attends the conference with a view to reaffirming Vietnam’s policy of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and ensuring nuclear safety and security, as well as to inform measures that Viet Nam has been implementing in the framework of the Nuclear Security Summit contributing to the joint efforts of the international community.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will deliver an important speech at the conference and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of some countries.

3. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to pay official visit to Cuba and Haiti (26-29 March)

At the invitation of the President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti Laurent Lamothe, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay an official visit to the Republic of Cuba from 26 to 28 March, 2014 and to the Republic of Haiti from 28 to 29 March, 2014.

During the visit to Cuba, the leaders of the two countries will discuss major measures to strengthen the special traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Cuba, to promote the efficiency of economic and trade relations as well as the expansion of bilateral investment cooperation. They will also exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual concern. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will hold talks with the President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro, meet with the Chairman of the National Assembly, representatives of friendship organizations and visit some cultural, historical, economic, and social locations.

In Haiti, the two Prime Ministers will hold talks on measures and orientations to further strengthen the dynamically developing relations between Viet Nam and Haiti, thereby promoting trade, investment and South – South cooperation.

4. Chairman of National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung to attend General Assembly of 130th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and to pay official visit to Switzerland and Italy (16-22 March)

At the invitation of the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Wahad Abdel Radi, President of the National Council of Switzerland Ruedi Lustenberger, and President of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy Laura Boldrini, a delegation of Vietnamese National Assembly headed by Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung will attend the General Assembly of the 130th IPU  and pay official visits to the Swiss Confederation  from 16 to 21 March 2014, and to the Republic of Italy from 21 to 22 March 2014.

At the General Assembly of the IPU, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung will deliver a speech at the plenary session; attend the MOU signing ceremony between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the IPU regarding Viet Nam’s hosting of the132th IPU.
Durint his visit to Switzerland, Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung will hold talks with President of the National Council Ruedi Lustenberger, meet with leaders of Switzerland to discuss measures to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

In Italy, Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung will hold talks with President of the Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini to discuss the strengthening the Viet Nam – Italy strategic partnership.

5. Crown Prince of Norway to pay official visit to Viet Nam

 At the invitation of Vice President of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Doan, the Crown Prince of Norway Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 18 to 21 March 2014.

During the visit, two sides will discuss measures to promote bilateral copperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, maritime, hydropower, oil and gas.

 The Crown Prince Haakon will hold talks and witness the signing ceremony with Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, meet with high-ranking leaders of Viet Nam and attend some economic and cultural activities.

6. Secretary General of the International Francophone Organization to pay official visit to Viet Nam (12-15 March)

At the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Secretary General of the International Francophone Organization Abdou Diouf  will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 12 to 15 March 2014.

Mr. Abdou Diouf’s visit is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the International Francophone Organization and Viet Nam, discussing measures to promote cultural and language diversity, sustainable development and economic cooperation among Francophone countries.

During this visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Office of the International Francophone Organization, embassies of Francophone countries in Viet Nam, as well as relevant agencies, will organize the International Francophone Day on 20 March and a signing ceremony of an agreement to establish in Viet Nam the Francophone Institute for Research and Cooperation in Asia-Pacific.

7. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Spain, and New Zealand to pay official visits to Viet Nam

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei will pay an official visit to Vietnam from 23-26 March 2014; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo will pay an official visit to Vietnam from 25-27 March 2014; and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Murray McCully will pay a working visit to Vietnam from 25-27 March 2014.

During the visits, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will discuss with his counterparts on practical measures to promote bilateral relations into in-depth development. Foreign Ministers of Belarus, Spain, and New Zealand will also pay courtesy calls to Vietnamese senior leaders.