The Viet Nam Government wanted to boost bilateral relations in trade and investment with South Korea, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told South Korean ambassador Im Hong Jae at the end of his working term in Viet Nam yesterday.

The Prime Minister said that he was pleased at the strong co-operation between the two countries in culture, education and training and tourism.

He spoke highly of the Ambassador's contributions to lifting the nations' relationship to new heights, and asked him to continue promoting the Viet Nam-South Korea relation in trade, economics, culture and official development assistance.

Viet Nam, Thailand ink deal on extradition, prosecution

BANGKOK — Viet Nam and Thailand have signed a bilateral agreement on co-operation in extraditing and prosecuting accused criminals.

Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh signed the deal with Thai Minister of Justice Pirapan Salirathavibhaga at a ceremony in Bangkok on Wednesday after holding talks with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

The Thai Government valued co-operation in public security with Viet Nam and wished to promote co-operation in the fight against human trafficking, particularly women and children, as well as other trans-national crimes, Suthep Thaugsuban said.

Minister Anh emphasised that the two countries' signing of a number of agreements had created a legal framework for both sides to exchange information and experiences, and to co-operate in maintaining public security in each country.

Minister receives Lao People's Army delegation

HA NOI — Minister of National Defence Phung Quang Thanh yesterday welcomed a high-level delegation from the Lao People's Army, headed by Lieutenant General Chansamon Channhalat.

The minister valued the results of the talks between a delegation of the Viet Nam People's Army, headed by Senior Lieutenant General Phan Trung Kien, and the Lao delegation about issues of common concern.

He affirmed that the working visit of the Lao representatives would make great contributions to the implementation of bilateral defence co-operation, which had been signed by the two countries' defence ministries.

Visit provides opportunity for co-operation with US air force

HA NOI — Viet Nam hoped that further co-operation with the US would contribute to the development of the two countries' relationship, said deputy chief of the general staff of the Viet Nam People's Army Tran Quang Khue.

Speaking at the reception for General Gary North, commander of the US Pacific Air Force yesterday, Khue applauded the achievements of the two sides in different fields such as language training, meteorology, medicine and MIA searches.