GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 28/6 Congratulatory messages sent to Australia, Quatar Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday, June 27, sent congratulatory messages to the newly-appointed Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd and Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh congratulated Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah for his appointment as Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Ties with RoK sea police bolstered Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea's maritime police have agreed to strengthen bilateral ties by co-operating in transnational crime prevention, search and rescue, delegation exchange and maritime security maintenance. The consensus was reached during the seventh Bilateral Meeting between the Viet Nam Maritime Police and the RoK Coast Guard in Ha Noi on Wednesday. Accordingly, the RoK Coast Guard will despatch patrol ships to take part in fire and rescue exercises in Viet Nam. They also agreed to continue other drills and share information in 2013. The RoK will support the training of the Viet Nam Maritime Police, while the Vietnamese side will participate in annual exchanges and international co-operation programmes on maritime security organised by the RoK Coast Guard. Seminar on Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts A seminar highlighting President Ho Chi Minh’s great contributions to oppressed nations’ struggle for liberation across the world and the significance of his thoughts was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 26. The event was co-organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina, the Argentina-Vietnam Cultural Institute (ICAV) and the Latin American Programme of Distance Education in Social Sciences (PLED). PLED General Coordinator Pablo Balcedo highlighted the age-old value and significance of President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on the struggles for social justice and integration in Latin American nations. For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Dao said Vietnam completed its cause of national unity and made important renewal achievements in line with Uncle Ho’s testament. As part of activities in celebration o the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Argentina, the event gave participants a chance to learn about President HCM’s life and political career though documentary films. Two books introduced at the seminar, which are published in Spanish, will help Latin American readers deepen their understanding about Vietnam’s revolutionary struggle and national reconstruction as well as the country’s efforts to protect its sea and island sovereignty. Government offices to share with Laos Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has affirmed that Viet Nam was willing to share its experience and co-ordinate with Laos in all fields of cooperation, including those between the two Government Offices. Receiving visiting Lao Minister and Head of the Government Office Sinlavong Khoutphaytoon in Ha Noi yesterday, June 27, Dung said studying each other's experience and promoting mutual support were of significant importance to both countries. The PM further affirmed that Viet Nam would do its utmost to work with Laos to boost the bilateral ties in a deep, effective and practical manner. In reply, Sinlavong Khoutphaytoon briefed his host on the results of co-operation between the two Government Offices in previous years. He said his visit aimed to strengthen experience sharing between the two sides with a view to effectively implementing the directions of the Governments and Prime Ministers. Earlier, the Lao official held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Vu Duc Dam. They discussed major issues of internal regulation systems and co-operation between the two offices as well as the Central Committees of the two Parties, parliaments, ministries and local sectors. Cambodian People’s Party congratulated on 62nd anniversary On June 28, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) sent a message to the Central Executive Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to congratulate them on the party’s 62 nd founding anniversary (June 28, 1951-2013). The Cambodian People's Party, formerly known as the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP), is the current ruling party of Cambodia. Vietnam Fatherland Front delegation visits Germany A high-ranking delegation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee headed by President Huynh Dam paid a working visit to Germany from June 23-26 to boost strategic partnership between the two countries. During their stay in Germany, the delegation had working sessions with the Germany-Vietnam Friendship Association and the German federation of social equality. They also met with Secretary of State for Integration of Nordrhein Westfalen State, Zulfiye Kaykin, and visited a number of economic and cultural establishments in Germany. At the meetings, the German side spoke highly of the achievements made by the overseas Vietnamese community in Germany, particularly the second generation in studying, working and social integration. They expressed their wish to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam, especially in high-quality labour export. VFF President Huynh Dam briefed his hosts on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation. He called on German partners to continue their support for overseas Vietnamese in the country, contributing to enhancing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries’ people. On this occasion, the Vietnamese delegation met with representatives from Vietnamese associations and organisations in Germany. The VFF leader affirmed that the overseas Vietnamese people are an integral part in the national great unity bloc and the Vietnamese Party and State are implementing many policies to encourage their contribution to the homeland. Representatives of the overseas Vietnamese community in Germany expressed their wish to receive more assistance from the State of Vietnam in Vietnamese culture and language teaching for their children. After Germany, the delegation arrived in Paris on the afternoon of June 26, beginning a working visit to France. VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA