Law drafting agencies should ask for more time to prepare documents for laws if necessary instead of trying to complete the process in six months, Minister of Justice Lê Thành Long said at a National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) meeting yesterday.

The Hà Nội People’s Court on March 19 opened a trial for Đinh La Thăng, former Chairman of the Member Council of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), and six accomplices for their wrongdoings in investing PetroVietnam’s capital in Ocean Bank. 

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia to intensify co-operation and mutual trust in the interest of each side, as well of the region as a whole.

A working group comprised of officials from Việt Nam and China held its ninth round of negotiations on the sea area beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin, while a working group on co-operation in sea development held its sixth round of negotiations, both in the central city Đà Nẵng on March 15-16.

Hundreds of Russians living in Việt Nam on Sunday voted for the next president across Hà Nội, HCM City and Đà Nẵng.

Officials of Australia and the ASEAN member states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strengthening co-operation to counter international terrorism within the framework of the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit in Sydney, Australia on Saturday. 

A State funeral will be held on March 20-21 for former Prime Minister PhanVăn Khải, who passed away on Saturday.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on the sidelines of the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit in Sydney, Australia on Saturday morning.

Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov gave positive comments on the strategic partnership between Russia and Việt Nam during an interview recently granted to Vietnam News Agency.