☕ Afternoon briefing on August 21

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 21

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

– The sub-committee in charge of the personnel work for the 14th National Party Congress convened its second meeting in Hanoi on August 21 under the chair of General Secretary and State President To Lam, head of the subcommittee.

The event was also attended by Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; Politburo member, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man; Politburo member, standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Luong Cuong; Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the committee’s inspection commission Tran Cam Tu; and others. Read full story

– A talk featuring Korean author Cho Chul-hyeon's book on late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has been held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK).

The event was organised by the RoK-Vietnam Cultural Exchange Association (KOVECA) in collaboration with the AJU News media group, the Bichaena cultural exchange organisation and the Roundabout publishing house. Read full story

– The state visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam is a historic one that inherits the past and opens up a new chapter in the bilateral relations, a Chinese expert has said.

Xu Liping, Director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS), told the Vietnam News Agency that the visit creates additional motives for the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations, and promotes a Vietnam – China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance to a deep and substantive manner. Read full story

- Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao visited a wind power project in Hanzinelle - Gerpinnes in the Belgian province of Namur, and had a working session with experts to discuss challenges and opportunities for energy cooperation between the two countries.

This is part of efforts to promote renewable energy cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium, showing Vietnam's interest in Belgium's expertise and technology in renewable energy. Read full story

– It is crucial to roll out more drastic solutions to promote human resources development for cultural and art sectors, said Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung while answering a question at the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee’s question-and-answer session on August 21.

Responding to a query on measures to improve the quality and quantity of human resources in the fields of culture and art, Hung said that without drastic measures, some traditional arts may face difficulties. Read full story

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An aerial view of Cat Ba archipelago. (Photo: VNA)

– Authorities and agencies in the northern port city of Hai Phong has taken trade and tourism promotion activities to further attract investment and tourists from China.

Early this month, from August 4-8, a delegation of the city led by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Le Tien Chau visited Chinese localities,
including Shenzhen and Guangdong. Read full story

– The final round of the "I love Vietnamese" contest was held on August 20 in Savannakhet province, Laos, for both Lao and Vietnamese students in the locality to show their command of the language.

The event was organised by the Vietnamese Consulate General in the province in collaboration with the local Vietnamese Association, aiming to enhance students' knowledge and proficiency in the Vietnamese./. Read full story

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam holds phone talks with President of Switzerland Guy Parmelin on May 11. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader affirms high regard for ties with Switzerland during phone talks

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam held phone talks with President of Switzerland Guy Parmelin, during which the Vietnamese leader voiced his hope that both sides would continue joint work to effectively realise and further deepen the bilateral Comprehensive Partnership established in January 2025.

The delegation checks a venue for activities of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2027. (Photo: VNA)

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.

The second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) is held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam maintains people-centred approach to migration governance

Phan Thi Minh Giang, Deputy Director General of the Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has affirmed that Vietnam maintains a balanced and people-centred approach to migration governance at the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) recently held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung chairs the working session with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Hanoi on May 11. (Photo: VNA)

PM asks for comprehensive overhaul of foreign affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was tasked with improving the quality of strategic research and forecasting to support policy responses and safeguard national security and development, especially in serving the goal of achieving double-digit growth and transitioning towards a growth model driven by science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the NA Standing Committee's second session. (Photo: VNA)

NA Standing Committee calls for thorough handling of public petitions

Voters showed support for the continued implementation of measures aimed at promoting economic growth, stabilising the macroeconomy, controlling inflation and safeguarding major economic balances, as well as ensuring economic, energy, monetary and food security alongside social order and safety.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam speaks at the working session with the Presidential Office on May 11, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader calls for overhaul of Presidential Office's operations and governance

The top leader said that amid the current context, the requirements for the advisory, coordination and support work are becoming increasingly high, requiring the assisting apparatus to operate in a unified, seamless, timely and efficient manner. He stressed the need to clearly distinguish between Party affairs and State affairs to avoid overlaps in roles, responsibilities, authority and procedures.

Secretary-General of the Brazil-Vietnam Friendship Association Pedro Oliveira, together with his daughter and granddaughter at the memorial site dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Rio de Janeiro. (Photo: Brazil-Vietnam Friendship Association)

Brazilian historian affirms enduring value of Ho Chi Minh Thought

President Ho Chi Minh made major political and ideological contributions to the international socialist and communist movements by emphasising that the liberation of the global working class could only succeed if revolutionary parties firmly supported struggles against colonialism and imperialism worldwide, including in Latin America.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man addresses the 16th National Assembly Standing Committee's second session. (Photo: VNA)

NA Standing Committee convenes second session

Opening the session, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man highlighted the significance of the recently concluded first sitting, which lasted 12 working days and accomplished a substantial volume of important tasks.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, head of the Central Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of Corruption, Wastefulness, and Negative Phenomena, chairs a meeting of the committee's Standing Board on March 18, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

📝OP-ED: Controlling power, preventing corruption at roots

As the country enters a new development phase, the anti-corruption focus is shifting from strict punishment alone to prevention at the roots, while also protecting officials who dare to think innovatively and act decisively for the common good.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland Pham Toan Thang (right) presents a souvenir to Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Margaret McDonnell (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Ireland seek to expand all-around cooperation

Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland Pham Toan Thang expressed hope that academic cooperation will continue to expand into areas where Vietnam has growing demand, including high-tech agriculture, biomedical technology, artificial intelligence and computer science.