(VOV) - To mark the 45th founding anniversary of the Southeast of Asian nations or ASEAN on August 8th and 17 years since Vietnam joined the bloc in 1995, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered a speech reviewing the association’s important milestones. The Vietnamese leader said that the decisive element in the association’s success has been its capacity to develop joint strength. Here are excerpts of Prime Minister Dung’s speech.

(VOVworld) - Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Yong Nam has begun a three-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang. The visit shows the two countries’ wish to strengthen their traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation.

(VOVworld) - The US Department of State 2011 report on International Religious Freedom released on July 30 said “the Vietnamese government did not demonstrate a trend toward either improvement or deterioration in respect for and protection of the right to religious freedom.” In addition to acknowledgements of Vietnam’s achievement in ensuring people’s right to religious freedom and beliefs, the report contains less objective comments based on distorted information about the situation in Vietnam.

(VOVworld) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began an 11-day tour of 6 African countries this week. Taking place soon after the Obama administration announced a new strategy for the southern Sahara region, Clinton’s trip underlines the US commitment to give priority to Africa in its foreign policy.

(VOVworld) The government monthly meeting for July spent much of the session discussing ways to achieve a sustainable and appropriate economic growth. The government hopes to maintain the growth rate without causing macro-economic instability and re-triggering high inflation.

(VOVworld) - President Truong Tan Sang returned to Hanoi today concluding a successful 5-day trip to Russia to bolster the Vietnam – Russia strategic partnership. VOV reviews the trip.

(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s administrative reforms since 2001 have made certain achievements contributing to the country’s socio-economic development. This program, whose goal is to simplify administrative procedures for individuals and enterprises, has significantly reduced expenses. Today VOV takes a look at these reforms.

(VOVworld) - Activities nationwide will mark the 65th annual War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27. An amended ordinance on people who have rendered service to the revolution was announced this week. Thu Hoa reports.

(VOVworld) – President Truong Tan Sang and his entourage today began a 5-day official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is Truong Tan Sang’s first European trip as a State leader. He is the first state leader to visit Russia since President Putin began his new presidential term. VOV’s Anh Huyen looks at efforts to boost the Vietnamese-Russian strategic partnership.

(VOVworld) - The Prime Minister has approved a project to restructure state-owned enterprises until 2015 to turn the state economic sector into the key engine of the national economy. VOV reporter Thu Hoa surveyed some economists on this crucial project.