Defence Minister receives US Defence University’s leader

(VNA) Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau, President of the American Defence University on April 7 in Hanoi .
At the reception, Minister Thanh said he hopes that the two sides, through exchanges and contacts, will understand each other better and expand cooperation in the coming time.
He agreed that the two sides will continue to foster education cooperation in the future.

Regarding Cu Huy Ha Vu’s trial on April 4th

Viet-nam's response to the statement by the Acting Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State on Cu Huy Ha Vu’s trial on April 4th

On April 5th, in response to the statement by the Acting Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State on Cu Huy Ha Vu’s trial on April 4th, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said:

The statement is an intervention into Viet Nam’s internal affairs.

Hawaii to better ties with Vietnam: Governor

(VNA) The Governor of the State of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie, promised to better relations with Vietnam and to develop cooperation with the Southeast Asian country in terms of business and exchange of students and tourists.

At a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Le Cong Phung on March 10 in Honolulu, the Hawaii Governor agreed upon the Ambassador’s proposal that while Vietnam – US relations have matured after more than 15 years of diplomatic relations, Hawaii should strengthen relations with Vietnam as well as establish ties with its cities and provices.

VN cities eager to link up with San Diego in US

(VNA) Many cities in Vietnam are ready to become sister cities with San Diego in the US in an effort to boost relations between the two countries as well as between their different cities, said a Vietnamese diplomat.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Le Cong Phung stated this at his meeting with the San Diego Mayor, Jerry Sanders, during a recent visit to the city.

Mayor Sanders showed keen interest in the idea of “Sister Cities” and pledged to develop it. He also affirmed that San Diego was ready to cooperate with its Vietnamese partners.

VN, US vow to build strategic partnership

(VNA) Vietnam and the US pledged to step up cooperation in order to elevate bilateral relations to strategic partnership in the near future, said a senior diplomat.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Le Cong Phung delivered this statement at a ceremony organised in Washington on Jan. 28 to celebrate Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year Festival, which will begin on Feb. 3 this year.

Nuanced debate over religion continues despite call for Vietnam sanctions

Thu, 12/30/2010 - 13:23

(This article appeared in The Hill, Dec ,2010)

The annual debate over the State Department’s human rights report brings with it a series of resolutions and bills trying to punish – or at least spotlight – certain countries for violations of U.S. standards. Vietnam regularly receives attention for religious rights violations. This year, on top of sanctions bills, the Congressional Human Rights Commission held a hearing on a dispute in the central Vietnamese village of Con Dau that pitted Catholic villagers against riot police.

VN-US bilateral ties continue growing in 2010

 (VNA) The year of 2010 has seen the convergence of outcomes of the Vietnam-US bilateral ties during 15 years since the normalisation of the two countries’ relations.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Le Cong Phung made the appraisal while granting an interview to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the Vietnam-US relations in 2010.

US Army General visits Vietnam

(VNA) Chief of Staff of the US Army Gen. George William Casey Jr., who is on a working visit to Vietnam, was warmly received by Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army at the headquarters of the Defense Ministry, on Nov. 22.

At the reception, Lieut. Gen. Khanh expressed his hope that the visit would help strengthen the relations and mutual understanding between the two countries’ armies and people.

US servicemen’s remains repatriated

(VNA) A repatriation ceremony of remains of US servicemen who died during the war in Vietnam was held at the Noi Bai International Airport on Nov. 30.

Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Personnel, the US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak and representatives from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command.

U.S. State Department Report produces biased assessment on Viet Nam

Regarding Vietnam's response to the religious freedom in Viet Nam made by the U.S. State Department in its Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2010, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Mrs. Nguyen Phuong Nga says:

"In Viet Nam, the rights to freedom of belief and religion of the Vietnamese people are enshrined in the national Constitution and are respected and guaranteed in reality. This fact is acknowledged by the international community.

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