☕ Afternoon briefing on April 9

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

☕ Afternoon briefing on February 28
☕ Afternoon briefing on February 28

Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Whether in times of war or peace, war veterans, former youth volunteers and militia members have remained a key force and a steadfast support for the Party, the Government, and people, Party General Secretary To Lam has stated.

Addressing a meeting with a delegation of war veterans, former youth volunteers and militia members in Hanoi on April 9, the Party chief expressed the profound gratitude and utmost respect of the Party and State for their immense, enduring, and silent contributions and sacrifices for national liberation and people’s happiness. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 9 held talks with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez, who is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam, during which the two sides agreed to boost comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.

The host leader highlighted the significance of the visit - the first by a Spanish government leader since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, expressing his belief that it opens up a new chapter in bilateral ties, elevating the Vietnam–Spain Strategic Partnership to new heights. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony in Hanoi on April 9 morning for his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez who is paying an official visit to Vietnam from April 8 to 10.

This marks the first visit by a Spanish Prime Minister to Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1977, and also the first official to Vietnam visit by a high-ranking Spanish leader in 19 years, following that of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in 2006. Read full story

- National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, his spouse Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, and a high-ranking delegation from the Vietnamese parliament returned to Hanoi on April 9 morning, successfully wrapping up their trip to Uzbekistan for the attendance at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-150) and an official visit to the Central Asian country.

The trip was made at the invitation of IPU President Tulia Ackson, IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong, President of the Senate of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva. Read full story

- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s official visits to Armenia and Uzbekistan from April 2-8 breathed a fresh air to the sound traditional friendship between Vietnam and the two nations while opening up an era of more comprehensive and effective cooperation aligned with their development goals, according to NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Le Quang Tung.

He told the press that Man’s working trip was a remarkable success, with both nations extending warm welcome to the Vietnamese delegation. It featured a substantive agenda, including high-level talks, meetings with top leaders of both countries, and business forums. Read full story

- The April 30, 1975 great victory of the Vietnamese people sparked hope and the fighting spirit of revolutionaries worldwide, according to Patricia Abarzúa Muñoz, President of the Chile-Vietnam Friendship Association.

Recalling that time, she said in Chile, people were still living under the oppression of the military dictatorship, and the mainstream media provided very little coverage of the situation in Vietnam. However, news of the April 30 victory quickly spread from person to person, and the joy overwhelmed across the country. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez co-chaired a joint press conference in Hanoi on April 9 to announce the outcomes of their just-ended talks.

Emphasising the significance of the visit, PM Chinh stated that he and his Spanish counterpart had a substantial, sincere, open, and trustworthy discussion during which they exchanged in-depth views on cooperation issues in various fields, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Read full story

- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has forecast Vietnam’s economy to grow at 6.6% and 6.5% in 2025 and 2026, respectively, following a robust 7.1% growth last year.

Its flagship annual economic publication Asian Development Outlook (ADO) released on April 9 also highlighted risks to the forecasts, which were finalised before the US announcement of new tariff measures. Read full story

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The liberation flag flies at the Tan Son Nhat airport. (Photo: VNA)

- The April 30, 1975 victory stands as one of the most extraordinary moments in the history of the Vietnamese people, said Professor Ezequiel Ramoneda, President of the Latin American Association for Asian and African Studies (ALADAA) in Argentina.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) ahead of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, Prof. Ramoneda emphasised the enduring global significance of the victory, not only for Vietnam but for the world at large. He described it as one of the great global milestones of the 20th century./. Read full story

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (right) and French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad Laurent Saint-Martin in Hanoi on April 12 (VNA)

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) meets with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping on August 19, 2024 (Photo: VNA)

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Professor Carl Thayer of the Australian Defence Force Academy under the University of New South Wales (Photo: VNA)

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