(VOVworld) – Improving cooperation in humanitarian relief and natural calamity mitigation is one of the topics at the 5th ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) and the 3rd ASEAN Maritime Forum Plus in the central city of Da Nang, Vietnam. As an important sea route linking the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the East Sea has always seen a large volume of shipping. The sea area has regularly suffered from natural calamities which directly threatens the lives of fishermen. Cooperation in search and rescue at sea is an important way to foster peace in the East Sea.

(VOVworld) – High-level talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the EU on energy security and the conflict in eastern Ukraine took place in Minsk, Belarus, on Tuesday. Developments prior to the talks showed that the countries have very different views on the Ukraine situation. Observers have predicted the talks will fail to make any breakthrough to peace in Ukraine.

(VOVworld)- President of the European Commission (EC) Jose Manual Barroso began an official visit to Vietnam on Monday at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. This is Mr. Barroso’s second visit to Vietnam as EC President, an indication of growing Vietnam-EU ties.

(VOVworld) – The U-shaped or 9-dash line is China’s way of claiming the East Sea without any legal or historical grounds. Some Chinese scholars continue to reject the U-shaped line. They have said that the U-shaped line issue must be resolved as the first step toward lasting peace in the East Sea.

(VOVworld)- The US and the Republic of Korea this week began an annual joint military drill called “Ulchi Freedom Guardian” despite warnings from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The drill began with an assumption of countering nuclear attacks from Pyongyang.

(VOVworld) – Followers of any religion in Vietnam have freedom to practice their religion within the law. There is no discrimination among religions and their followers. Many people have mistaken or tried to make confusion between freedom of religion and taking advantage of religion to violate the law.

(VOVworld) – 69 years ago the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh launched a national uprising to wipe out feudalism, overthrow the French colonialists and establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first worker-peasant state in Indochina. The victory was a resplendent milestone in Vietnam’s history which opened a new era of national independence and socialism. The August Revolution triumph provided many valuable lessons for Vietnam’s construction and defense over the past 70 years.

(VOVworld)- President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin began an official visit to Vietnam on Monday at the invitation of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. The visit aims at strengthening the neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and two National Assemblies and enhancing their coordination at regional and global forums.

(VOVworld)- 3 years after the US withdrew its troops out of Iraq in December, 2011, Iraq once again has plunged into violence due to the insurgence of jihadists of the Islamic State. In addition, Iraq’s Prime Minister race has become fiercer putting Iraq in an increasingly difficult situation.

(VOVworld) – After a Government Resolution in March on key tasks and measures to improve the business environment, the Prime Minister issued Directive 24 on enhancing administrative management and reform in the tax and customs sector early this month. These moves show the government’s determination to create a fair, convenient trading environment to minimize investment cost and time for enterprises.