I. ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Viet Nam-Cambodia Border Provincial Cooperation and Development Conference (March 8-9)

The 7th Viet Nam-Cambodia Border Provincial Cooperation and Development Conference is taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from 8 to 9 March. The event is co-chaired by Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng, which also draws participation of leaders from Viet Nam and Cambodian ministries, agencies, businesses and localities along the border.

The meeting will review the implementation of cooperation agreements reached during the 6th Conference and discuss cooperation orientation and measures to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation mechanism between Viet Nam–Cambodia border provinces.

2. Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh to visit Myanmar (Mar 10-12)

At the invitation of Foreign Minister of the Republic of Union of Myanmar U wunna Maung Lwin, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will pay an official visit to Myanmar from 10 to 12 March. Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will hold talks with his Myanmar counterpart and pay courtesy call on President Thein Sein.

The two ministers will exchange measures to consolidate and enhance the fine traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and international and regional issues of mutual interests.
 
3. Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde to visit Viet Nam (Mar. 11-16)

At the invitation of Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 11 to 16 March.

The visit is to enhance the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of economics, trade, investment, culture, education and training, science and technology and cooperation in international fora.

Crown Prince Philippe will hold talks with Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and pay courtesy calls on Vietnamese senior leaders.

II. QUESTION AND ANSWER

Question: US House just passed “The Viet Nam Human Rights Act”. What is your comment on that?

Answer:

That bill releases wrongful and unobjective information on the exercise of human rights in Viet Nam.

Over the past years, Viet Nam has made achievements in guarantee of human rights in civil, political, economic, cultural and social areas, a fact that is recognized by the international community.

We hold that differences in human rights issues need to be discussed in a frank, constructive manner and with mutual respect so that understanding be consolidated and relations between nations be promoted. Viet Nam has in this spirit conducted dialogues with the US on human right issues.