Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
– Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong met with President of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Saysomphone Phomvihane in Vientiane on April 25, within the framework of his two-day state visit to Laos.
President Cuong expressed his delight to witness Laos’s important development achievements, contributing to stabilising the economy, controlling inflation, improving people's lives, and enhancing its international position, including the success of the 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship and the 2024 ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). Read full story
– President Luong Cuong and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attended a Vietnam-Laos friendship exchange programme in Vientiane on April 25 morning as part of his two-day state visit to the neighbouring country.
The programme with theme "Vietnam - Laos, our two countries, the love is deeper than the Red River - Mekong River" was broadcast live on the Lao National Television. Read full story
– Japan attaches importance to strengthening the diplomatic ties with Vietnam, and its Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s upcoming official visit to Vietnam aims to further expand relations with the Southeast Asian nation, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki has stated.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the visit, the Japanese diplomat stressed that maintaining and strengthening diplomatic relations with Vietnam holds great significance in Japan’s foreign policy. Read full story
– Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha held a meeting with Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on April 24 as part of her working visit to China.
Vietnam regards the development of relations with China as a consistent guideline, a natural and strategic choice, and a top priority in its foreign policy, she stated, affirming that Vietnam supports a strong and growing China that plays an active role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world. Read full story
– Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Belarusian First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs S. Lukashevich co-chaired the 4th Vietnam – Belarus political consultation in Minsk on April 24, discussing measures to enhance bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common interest.
Both sides expressed their delight at the positive development of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, particularly following the official visit to Vietnam by Belarusian Prime Minister R. Golovchenko in December 2023 and the meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Belarusian President A. Lukashenko in October 2024. Read full story
– Vietnam has identified the advancement of science-technology, innovation, and digital transformation as top national priorities, considering them as vital tools to avoid the middle-income trap and to usher the country into a new phase of development, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung.
Delivering a speech at the 81st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), held at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok on April 24, Hung, who also serves as Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to ESCAP, affirmed the country’s support for the UN’s efforts to strengthen global governance of technology in line with its charter and international law. Read full story
– Vietnam made a strong and effective contribution to the 33rd ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting, reaffirming its support for and commitment to fully implementing the ASCC Master Plan 2025.
Addressing the event, held on April 24 in Malaysia, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang emphasised Vietnam’s confidence in the future of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) under Malaysia’s chairmanship, expressing his hope that the bloc will continue to play a pivotal role in regional cooperation, effectively address challenges, maintain resilience and prosperity, and prepare for a more unified, integrated, innovative, and inclusive ASEAN Community by 2045. Read full story
– Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth is forecast to moderate to 5.8% in 2025 due to increased trade policy uncertainty, according to the World Bank (WB)'s latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update.
As a trade-oriented economy, with imports and exports representing almost 170% of the GDP, Vietnam is particularly exposed to ongoing shifts in global trade policies. The US remains the largest export destination of Vietnam, accounting for 30% of its total exports, while China makes up 38% of its imports. Read full story
– Vietnam has risen to the top four largest seafood export partners of Singapore, after Malaysia, Indonesia and Norway, in the first quarter of 2025.
Vietnam's seafood exports to Singapore reached 28.7 million SGD, an increase of 19.3% compared to the same period last year, accounting for 10.1% of the total market share. Read full story
– A new trading system of the Vietnam Securities Market (KRX System) is set to be rolled out from May 5, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE) has officially announced.
In anticipation of the system’s launch, brokerage firms and market participants have begun organising a series of training and information sessions aimed at helping investors navigate the upcoming changes in trading regulations brought about by the platform. Read full story./.
