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Mr Ninh acknowledged embassy staff’s efforts in developing cooperative relations between Vietnam and the US, and noted that Vietnam are pooling all resources to restructure its economy, with a particular focus on reducing public investment and increasing social investment.

Vietnamese embassies and representative agencies abroad play a very important role in meeting this task, said the Deputy PM, adding that they should introduce measures to effectively attract more investment from the US, the world’s largest economy.

He asked them to promote the people-to-people diplomacy, the close bonds between Vietnamese nationals abroad and their compatriots at home, and the close cooperation with communities in the US.

On February 9, he is scheduled to meet with officials of US Congress, the World Bank and the International Monetary Bank.

Deputy PM Ninh began a working visit to the US from February 7-18 where he will take part in the Vietnam Executive Leadership Program (VELP) at Harvard University.

Committee to submit report on constitutional amendments

The Committee on drafting amendments to the 1992 Constitution has been asked to submit a report on constitutional issues this March.

The report on issues related to implementation of the constitution and the need for new amendments will be submitted to the National Assembly.

NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu made the request on Wednesday, Feb 8, at a meeting of committee members to discuss opinions on the amendments and supplements.

According to the committee, the 1992 Constitution promulgated during the first phase of the country's renewal process helps bring about historic achievements. However, after more than 20 years, the Constitution no longer meets all the requirements in the nation's international integration and development of a socialist-oriented market economy.

Amendments to the constitution would create a stable and firm legal foundation for development and create a driving force for national building and security, the committee affirmed.

FM meets former Malaysian PM

On February 9, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh paid a courtesy visit to former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur as part of his two-day visit to Malaysia.

Mr Mahathir spoke highly of the fine development in the relations between the two countries and expressed his belief that Vietnam will gain more achievements in the process of national modernization industrialization.

The former PM said he hopes Vietnam and Malaysia will continue their cooperation in various areas, especially economics, trade, investment, national defence and security, education and tourism.

Malaysia and Vietnam should coordinate closely at regional and international forums while working with other ASEAN countries in building the ASEAN Community by 2015, Mr Mahathir said.

For his part, Minh appreciated former PM Mahathir’s contributions to strengthening the relationship between the two countries while expressing his hope that the former PM will revisit Vietnam to share his experience in economic development.

Later the same day, Minh and his entourage left Kuala Lumpur for home, successfully concluding their Malaysia visit.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA