After arriving in New York on September 25 for the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with leaders of many countries to boost relations and lobby for Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega Saavedra praised Vietnam’s achievements in the Doi Moi (Renewal) process as well as its role and position in the region and the world. He congratulated Vietnam on being nominated as the only Asian candidate for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in the 2008-09 term and voiced support for Vietnam’s bid and its market economy status.

Mr Dung said the two countries have established a traditional relationship and supported each other in the struggle for national liberation in the past and national construction and development at present. He thanked Nicaragua for its support and affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of strengthening traditional friendship and cooperation with Nicaragua for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

The two leaders agreed to increase the exchange of high-level visits and promote bilateral cooperation in all fields, particularly in economics and trade.

Mr Dung also met with the President of Ecuador, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Prime Minister of Italy, the Prime Minister of Bosnia Herzegovina, the Foreign Minister of Slovakia and the Secretary General of the Arab League. Leaders of these countries voiced strong support for Vietnam’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2008-09 term.

On September 26, Mr Dung and other heads of delegations will attend separate banquets to be given by US President George W. Bush and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Later, Mr Dung will attend the annual conference of the Clinton Global Initiative, a round-table discussion to be hosted by the US-ASEAN Business Council, and meet with the President of Senegal and representatives of leading business groups based in the US.

Source: VOV