To enhance Tanzania - Viet Nam relations, Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Peter Pinda will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 29th – 31st March 2010. This is his first visit to Viet Nam since his inauguration in June 2009.

The two sides will discuss measures to further promote economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, especially in agriculture, agro-product processing, education, healthcare and communication.

2. Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 29th – 30th March 2010:

At the invitation of Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Mr. Bounnhang Vorachith, Member of the Politburo and Standing Member of the Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and Vice President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is visiting Viet Nam from 29th – 30th March 2010.

The two sides will discuss measures to foster the comprehensive cooperation and special solidarity between Viet Nam and Laos, especially in the fields of economics, trade, investment as well as exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual concerns.

3. The Mekong – Japan Senior Official Meeting on 31st March 2010:

The 5th Mekong – Japan Senior Official Meeting (SOM) will be convened on 31st March 2010. This is the first SOM meeting since the first Mekong- Japan Summit held in November 2009. The meeting will review and accelerate the implementation of commitments made in the first Summit and discuss measures to increase the effectiveness of cooperation between countries in Mekong River region (Viet Nam, Lao, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar) and Japan.

Q& A:

Q: What is Viet Nam’s position on the recent tension in the Middle East?

A:
Viet Nam is deeply concerned over the escalating tension in the Middle East recently and condemns the irresponsible acts of Israel, especially the decision to build more resident settlements in East Jerusalem.

Viet Nam supports the Quartet (US, Russia, EU and UN) Statement on 19th March 2010 and calls upon all parties concerned to exercise restraints, to refrain from unilateral actions that may further complicate the situation and to create a favourable environment for the resumption of the peace negotiations on the Middle East.