☕ Afternoon briefing on August 1

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 1

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

- State President To Lam held talks with visiting President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta in Hanoi on August 1, during which the leaders sought measures to further promote all-round cooperation between the two countries.

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State President To Lam and President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta in Hanoi on August 1. (Photo: VNA)

Lam underlined that the visit, the third by Ramos-Horta to Vietnam, including two as the President of Timor-Leste, will create new momentum for collaboration between the two countries. Read full story

- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over an official welcome ceremony for visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the presidential palace in New Delhi on August 1 morning.

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Visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an official welcome ceremony for the former at the presidential palace in New Delhi on August 1 morning. (Photo: VNA)

At the ceremony, the national anthems of both countries were played by a military band, followed by PM Chinh reviewing the Indian Armed Forces' guard of honour. Afterwards, the two PMs introduced the members of their respective delegations to each other. Read full story

- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man hosted a reception in Hanoi on August 1 for Tokai Kisaburo, member of the House of Representatives of Japan and Chairperson of the Policy Research Council under the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

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National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) receives Tokai Kisaburo, member of the House of Representatives of Japan and Chairperson of the Policy Research Council under the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). (Photo: VNA)

On behalf of the Party and State leaders and people of Vietnam, Man expressed sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nukaga Fukushiro, President of the House of Councillors Otsuji Hidehisa, and members of the Japanese Parliament for their messages of condolences on the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Read full story

- Foreign investors injected more than 2.87 billion USD into the Vietnamese realty market during January-July, a year-on-year surge of 78%, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)’s Foreign Investment Agency.

The agency said that foreign investors funneled their money in 18 out of the 21 economic sectors, with the processing and manufacturing industry attracting the largest share of over 12.65 billion USD, or 70.3% of the total. Read full story

- Vietnam has a market economy, if the pace of reforms it has undertaken from the Doi Moi (Renewal) period in 1986 to now is taken into consideration, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Australia’s Deakin University Dr. Cong Pham has assessed.

Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2007 and has since signed numerous multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with various countries, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement. Read full story

- Vietnam Airlines took delivery of its fifth Boeing 787-10 on July 31, making it the 30th wide-body aircraft in the national flag carrier's fleet.

The Boeing 787-10 is currently the largest passenger aircraft used in Vietnam, with a length of over 68 metres. With 367 seats available, including 24 in business class, the aircraft will help the airline better meet passengers’ increasing demand during peak seasons./.Read full story

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Politburo member and President of the National Assembly of Laos Xaysomphone Phomvihane passed away on August 8 at the age of 70. (Photo: VNA)

Condolences sent to Lao Front over parliamentary leader’s passing

For the VFF and the Vietnamese people, Xaysomphone Phomvihane was a great friend and close comrade who devoted himself to fostering and developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples, as well as between the VFF and LFNC.

New Zealand officials welcome Party General Secretary and President To Lam (R) at Auckland International Airport. (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary and President To Lam begins state visit to New Zealand

Over more than five decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 19, 1975, Vietnam and New Zealand have continuously worked to build a solid foundation for the bilateral ties. The two countries are expanding cooperation in smart agriculture, climate change adaptation and carbon markets in line with Vietnam’s green growth objectives.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha (R) and Vice Chairman of the Champasak provincial Administrative Committee Phimpone Phandanuvong sign an MoU on cooperation between the two localities for the 2026-2030 period. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City-Champasak cooperation: A bright spot in Vietnam-Laos local ties

Cooperation priorities for the 2026-2030 period will cover trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, finance, education and human resources training, and socio-cultural affairs, with a focus on business connectivity, trade and investment promotion, tourism development, and support for education and human resources training.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam (right) meets with Craig Bradshaw, CEO of EQ Resources Limited of Australia. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader highlights strategic mineral, high-tech cooperation with Australian firms

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam received leaders of Australian businesses in Canberra on August 12 morning (local time), highlighting opportunities to expand cooperation in strategic mineral supply chains, high technology and innovation as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations enters a new phase.

Dr Nguyen Thi Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in Chongqing and Sichuan (Photo published by VNA)

New impetus for overseas Vietnamese communities

On August 2, 2026, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam signed the resolution, marking an important shift after more than two decades of implementing Politburo Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW. It affirms that the overseas group is an inseparable part of the nation and one of the country’s important strategic resources, contributing to strengthening national collective power.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (centre) holds high-level phone talks with his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten on August 11. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Netherlands to deepen cooperation, elevate Comprehensive Partnership

Congratulating the Netherlands on its achievements in socio-economic development and foreign affairs, PM Hung thanked the country for considering Vietnam as one of its leading strategic partners in the region under its new foreign policy. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to and wants to further deepen its multifaceted cooperation with the Netherlands.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Gau (right) and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael George DeSombre at their meeting on August 10 (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, US step up cooperation in search for missing Vietnamese soldiers

A Vietnamese official proposed that the US continue increasing resources for dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa and Phu Cat airbases, expand projects supporting people with disabilities, enhance the sharing of historical data, provide DNA technology assistance and continue close coordination in the search for missing US service members and Vietnamese soldiers.

Trinh Van Quyet (left), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Publicity, and Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite at their meeting in Canberra on August 11, 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Australia seek to forge stronger bonds

The two sides highlighted the progress in the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed measures to boost cooperation in areas with considerable potential, including communications, digital trade, cybersecurity, education and people-to-people exchanges.

The executive board of the Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association for the 2026–2031 term makes debut at the congress. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association looks to strengthen people-to-people ties

Nguyen Duc Loi, President of the Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association for the 2021–2026 term, said Vietnam–Spain relations have continued to develop positively across various fields, with political ties increasingly strengthened and cooperation in trade, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.