1. Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong to attend The 28th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly in Malaysia from 18 - 24 August 2007

At the invitation of Malaysia’s Chairman of the House of Representatives, President of AIPA Tan Sri Dato’s Seri Diraja Ramli Bin Ngah Talib, Vietnam’s Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong will head the Vietnamese Assembly’s delegation to attend the 28th AIPA General Assembly to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 18 – 24, August 2007.

The AIPA General Assembly offers an occasion for the parliaments and governments of the member countries to review development and efficiency of these organizations in terms of regional cooperation and connectivity in all areas ranging from politics and security to economy, culture and society. During this General Assembly, parliamentarians will discuss several issues including coordination between AIPA and ASEAN in the drafting process of the ASEAN Charter, a crucial document to institutionalize the cooperation among the member countries.

Attending the AIPA General Assembly, the Vietnamese Assembly’s Delegation expects to contribute to strengthening solidarity and cooperation in the assembly and promoting friendship and mutual understanding among member parliaments and dialogue countries of this organization.

2. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem to visit Cambodia and attend Vietnam- Cambodia Joint Committee from 20-22 August 2007:

At the invitation of Cambodia’s Deputy P.M, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Nam Hong, Vietnam’s Deputy P.M., Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Gia Khiem will pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia and attend the 9th session of Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee from 20-22 August 2007.

The visit aims to reaffirm Vietnam’s policy of attaching importance to and promoting fine neighboring friendship relations with Cambodia, review the implementation of the two countries’ cooperation agreement, and propose directions for future cooperation, especially in economic, trade and investment projects to make the bilateral relations ever more efficient.

3. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law Shunmugan Jayakumar to visit Vietnam from 16 – 18 August 2007:

At the invitation of Vietnam’s Deputy P.M Truong Vinh Trong, Singapore’s Deputy P.M, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law S. Jayakumar will pay a visit to Vietnam from 16 – 18 August 2007. This is his first visit to Vietnam since he took up office as Singapore’s Deputy P.M. in 2004. He is accompanied by officials of the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visit aims to strengthen and promote the multifaceted, friendship relations and cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore, and discuss directions to advance the bilateral relations, especially in legal issues, security, anti-corruption as well as issues of common concern.

4. Question & Answer:

Question: Please provide Vietnam’s reaction to reports saying that Democratic People’s Republic  of Korea and the Republic of Korea have announced that  the Korean Summit between President Roh Moo-hyun and Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-il will be  held at Pyongyang from 28-30 August 2007.

Answer: We welcome the decision to organize the second summit between DPRK and the Republic of Korea, considering it an important positive step in the inter-Korean relationship.

Vietnam wishes this summit will produce fine outcomes, contribute to facilitating reconciliation and cooperation and maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

As always, we wish to see peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and support peaceful resolution of the Korean peninsula’s issues through dialogues as well as aspiration for reunification of the people of the two sides.

For its part, Vietnam is willing to actively contribute to the improvement of the inter-Korean relationship and the peace process on the Korean peninsula.

Question: Please confirm information saying that the US and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will hold a bilateral talk on normalization of diplomatic relations in Hanoi in the coming time? If so, please provide the venue, time and information concerned?

Answer: So far, we have not obtained any information on this issue.

Vietnam highly appreciates important outcomes of the six-party talks on nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula and recent positive developments in the relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and concerned countries.

We welcome the US' and the DPRK's plan to hold bilateral talks on the normalization of diplomatic relations. We hope that the two sides will narrow differences and reach an early positive solution to the existing issues to move forward to normalization of diplomatic relations, thus contributing to maintaining peace and stability in North East Asia and in the world at large.

Vietnam will strive as much as we can to actively contribute to the talks and process of normalization of the US – DPRK relationship. Vietnam is willing to provide venues for the talks if requested by concerned parties.