I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to visit Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia (7^th-11^th July)

In celebrating 20 years of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Slovenia and Croatia and implementing the Protocol on Cooperation between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son will pay a visit and conduct political consultation to Slovenia (on 7^th July), Croatia (from 8^th to 9^th July) and Slovakia (from 10^th to 11^th July).

To strengthen the traditional friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and these countries, during the visit, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son will hold talks with his counterparts on cooperation measures in several areas such as politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, culture, tourism, etc. as well as international and regional issues of common interest.

2. Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh to visit Singapore (9^th-12^th July)

From 9^th to 12^th July, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh will pay a visit to Singapore and attend the 8th deputy foreign ministerial level political consultation here. During the visit, both sides will discuss concrete and extensive measures to strengthen their strategic partnership, which was established since September 2013 as well as international and regional issues of common interest.

3. International Press Conference on Promoting Tourism in Viet Nam (9^th July)

On the occasion of the Tourism Day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hosts an international press conference to announce a tourism promotion campaign themed “Exciting Viet Nam”: Viet Nam – a safe, friendly and attractive destination in Ha Noi on 9^th July. This is an opportunity for both Vietnamese and foreign press agencies along with foreign diplomatic missions to Viet Nam to develop a complete understanding of tourism in Viet Nam as well as the country's new policies regarding tourism promotion.

Representatives of diplomatic missions to Viet Nam as well as local and foreign reporters can contact the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information on this Press Conference. .

II. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Responding to the media’s question on Viet Nam’s reaction to the mounting violence in Iraq, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh stated:

“Viet Nam is deeply concerned about the current escalating violence in Iraq. We support efforts by the international community and the Iraqi administration to soon resume stability and ensure Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity for peace and stability in the region.”