18 March 2004 :

Vietnam, which has been criticised by some human rights groups for its use of capital punishment, agreed to host a meeting on the issue, visiting British Minister of State Mike O'Brien said.
O'Brien, wrapping up his first official visit to the communist country, told reporters details were still being ironed out, but he hoped the seminar would occur "in due course".
The death penalty was among the human rights issues O'Brien, who was in charge of foreign and commonwealth affairs, raised during the trip.
Amnesty International said in a report last year that executions, which are carried out by firing squad in Vietnam, were on the rise particularly for drug-related crimes.
But O'Brien noted Hanoi had been cutting down the number of crimes punishable by death to around 29 from 43. "It's also clear there is beginning to be a debate in Vietnam about the issue," he said.