Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 11

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 11

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

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam held talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra on August 11 morning (local time), affirming that Vietnam always attaches importance to Australia’s role and position, and the close and trusted Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries as well.

PM Albanese welcomed General Secretary and President Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on their state visit to Australia, stressing its signficance amid the rapidly growing ties, particularly since the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam held a meeting with President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick in Canberra on August 11.

Welcoming General Secretary and President Lam and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation, the Australian parliamentary leaders spoke highly of Vietnam’s development achievements and expressed their admiration for the dynamism and creativity of the country and its people, particularly young Vietnamese. They said this energy and determination reflected Vietnam’s strong resolve and aspiration to build a prosperous and powerful nation. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam met with Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn in Canberra on August 11 morning (local time).

The meeting followed a formal state welcome ceremony, staged with the highest protocol for visiting heads of state. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese exchanged three joint statements and witnessed the signing of seven cooperation documents between the two countries in Canberra on August 11.

The joint statements comprise one on deepening the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, one on economic resilience cooperation, and another on the enhancement of science, technology and innovation connectivity. Read full story

- The upcoming state visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam to New Zealand is an important opportunity for the two countries to advance the substantive implementation of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, according to Prof. Emeritus Roberto Rabel, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, Prof. Rabel said the visit will enable the two countries’ leaders to exchange views on cooperation priorities, building on New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to Vietnam in 2025. Maintaining high-level visits demonstrates both sides’ commitment to translating the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into concrete outcomes. Read full story

- The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) now places foreign affairs among the country’s key, regular tasks, alongside national defence and security. This marks a shift in thinking, with foreign policy expected to move one step ahead, helping safeguard the country early and from afar, while opening up greater space, resources and opportunities for development. In practice, this requirement is gradually being translated into concrete action.

It is no coincidence that Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW identifies foreign affairs as a key, regular task. In a world changing rapidly and marked by uncertainty, any disagreement or shift in relations among major powers can have a direct impact on Vietnam’s development environment. Read full story

- From applying for e-visas and registering for digital identification to accessing online public services, foreigners in Vietnam are enjoying increasingly convenient experiences as the country advances its digital transformation.

Beyond streamlining administrative procedures, these changes reflect Vietnam’s efforts to build an integrated, user-centred digital ecosystem, improving service quality while enhancing the country’s appeal as a destination for investment, study, work and tourism. Read full story

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Tourists visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue. (Photo: VNA)

- Australia is emerging as one of Vietnam’s key tourism source markets, with visitor arrivals steadily increasing, staying longer, spending relatively more, and showing strong interest in local culture, cuisine, nature and authentic experiences.

Australia has become one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing long-haul tourism markets. Vietnam welcomed 490,880 Australian visitors in 2024, up 26% year on year and around 28% higher than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first seven months of 2026, the country received 396,648 Australian tourists, a year-on-year increase of 25.8%, placing Australia among Vietnam’s top 10 source markets./. Read full story

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (L) shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary and President To Lam, Australian Prime Minister meet the press

Vietnam and Australia will step up cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, digital technology, cybersecurity, green technology and emerging technologies, while supporting each other in enhancing capacity to participate more deeply in regional and global supply chains. The two sides will also strengthen cooperation in education and training and people-to-people exchanges.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) welcomes General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and President To Lam (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader holds talks with Australian PM

PM Albanese welcomed General Secretary and President Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on their state visit to Australia, stressing its signficance amid the rapidly growing ties, particularly since the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam meets with President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick in Canberra on August 11 (Photo: VNA)

Top leader meets with Australian Senate President, House Speaker

Welcoming General Secretary and President Lam and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation, the Australian parliamentary leaders spoke highly of Vietnam’s development achievements and expressed their admiration for the dynamism and creativity of the country and its people, particularly young Vietnamese. They said this energy and determination reflected Vietnam’s strong resolve and aspiration to build a prosperous and powerful nation.

Prof. Emeritus Roberto Rabel, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington (Photo: VNA)

Top leader’s state visit to give fresh impetus to Vietnam–New Zealand ties: expert

The upcoming state visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam to New Zealand is expected to provide fresh momentum for strengthening official cooperation and expanding links among businesses, organisations and communities, said Prof. Emeritus Roberto Rabel, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu and delegates visit an exhibition showcasing outstanding images on people-to-people diplomacy activities in 2025. (Photo: VNA)

📝 OP-ED: Foreign policy must serve the national interest

It is no coincidence that Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW identifies foreign affairs as a key, regular task. In a world changing rapidly and marked by uncertainty, any disagreement or shift in relations among major powers can have a direct impact on Vietnam’s development environment.

Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn hosts a welcome ceremony for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam in Canberra on August 11 morning (Photo: VNA)

Australian Governor-General hosts welcome ceremony for top Vietnamese leader

Following the welcome ceremony, General Secretary and President Lam held a meeting with Governor-General Mostyn, and talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents and met the press. He also had meetings with the President of the Australian Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang leads a delegation from the city's leadership in paying tribute to President of the National Assembly of Laos Xaysomphone Phonvihane at the Lao Consulate General on August 10, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City leaders pay tribute to late Lao National Assembly President

The municipal Party Committee, administration, and people has lost a close comrade who paid special attention to preserving the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos, including the friendship and cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Lao localities.

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President To Lam (R) receives Nicholas Moore, Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, in Sydney on August 10. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader receives Australian Special Envoy for Southeast Asia

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President To Lam said Vietnam considers Australia one of its leading important partners in the Indo-Pacific region, noting that bilateral relations are facing many new opportunities and the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership should continue to be advanced in an increasingly substantive and effective manner.

Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam leads the delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy, and other Vietnamese representative agencies, as well as the Vietnamese community in Laos, to pay their respects to President of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Embassy, community pay tribute to Lao National Assembly President

Writing in the condolence book at the memorial service, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam, on behalf of the Vietnamese Embassy, representative agencies, and community in Laos, expressed profound sorrow and conveyed his deepest condolences to the Lao Party, State, National Assembly and people, and the bereaved family.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam speaks on Resolution No. 23. Photo: VNA

Resolution 23: Four networks connecting OV intellectuals, experts to be established

Overseas Vietnamese are regarded not only as an integral part of the Vietnamese nation but also as an important strategic resource contributing to national strength. They serve as a bridge between Vietnam and the world and participate directly in the cause of national construction, development and defence, according to newly-issued Politburo Resolution No. 23.

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President To Lam (left) and Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley at their meeting on August 10. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with Governor of New South Wales

Suggesting that Australia could explore growing Vietnamese coffee varieties, General Secretary and President Lam said the two sides should step up cooperation across a wide range of areas, particularly high-tech agriculture, biotechnology, agricultural processing, trade and investment.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (right) receives prominent Vietnamese intellectuals and scientists who are members of the Vietnam-Australia Scholars & Experts Association (VASEA) in Sydney on August 10. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader receives Vietnamese intellectuals, scientists in Australia

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam urged Vietnamese intellectuals and scientists in Australia to further strengthen great national unity, promote Vietnamese cultural values, mentor younger generations and Vietnamese students studying in Australia, and help foster closer community ties.