☕ Afternoon briefing on August 4

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 4

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

- Party General Secretary To Lam met with outstanding representatives of the People’s Public Security Force at the 9th patriotic emulation congress “For the Fatherland's security” in Hanoi on August 4, emphasising that the emulation spirit starts from each individual’s mindset, dedication, and daily affairs.

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Party General Secretary To Lam speaks at the meeting with outstanding representatives of the People’s Public Security Force at the 9th patriotic emulation congress “For the Fatherland's security” in Hanoi on August 4, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

He commended those who have set aside personal happiness to fulfill their duties and safeguard the peaceful life of the people, noting that the efforts, dedication, and sacrifices of each officer and soldier in all units have produced positive results, bringing happiness and security to the people. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong has expressed Vietnam's desire to join hands with Arab countries to write a new chapter of multidimensional cooperation for peace, collaboration, and development, which is based on the history of solidarity, close attachement and traditional friendship.

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State President Luong Cuong delivers a policy address at the League of Arab States’ headquarters in Cairo on August 4. (Photo: VNA)

While delivering a policy address at the League of Arab States’ headquarters in Cairo on August 4 as part of his state visit to Egypt, President Cuong shared Vietnam’s views on the current global and regional situation, the country's achievements during the Doi moi (renewal) process, directions in the new era, and vision for ties between Vietnam and Arab countries in the coming time. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation had a working session with Vietnamese Ambassadors to African countries in Cairo on August 3 evening on the occasion of his state visit to Egypt.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' report, Africa is a region that is considered a growth pole of the world in the coming decades with huge room and potential to be further exploited and promoted. Vietnam currently has eight diplomatic representative agencies covering a large area with 55 countries. Vietnam's external activities in Africa have made positive progress in recent years and will continue to be promoted in the coming years. Many heads of state and high-ranking leaders of regional countries have paid official visits and attended major events organised by Vietnam, demonstrating their respect for Vietnam's position, prestige and potential as well as their desire to promote relations with the Southeast Asian nation. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for stronger and more coordinated efforts across all sectors to advance Vietnam’s semiconductor industry, stressing that the country must move swiftly to establish itself as a key player in the global value chain.

PM Chinh, who is also Head of the National Steering Committee on Semiconductor Industry Development, made the call while concluding the committee’s second meeting in Hanoi on August 4. He urged accelerated implementation of the national strategy for semiconductor industry development and the associated human resources training programme, calling for cohesive efforts across sectors to transform Vietnam into a global semiconductor hub. Read full story

- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man has underlined the need for the administration to proactively approach the people, ensuring a two-tier local government system that is close to the people with smooth operations.

The top legislator, who is a Politburo member, made the statement while addressing the 1st Congress of the Party Organisation of Thanh Xuan commune of Can Tho city for the 2025-2030 tenure held on August 4. Read full story

- Developing an international financial centre (IFC) has been designated a national strategy with Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang implementing concrete steps to prepare for the centre’s development.

The initiative to build the IFC has been affirmed as a strategic priority through key Party and Government documents, including the Politburo's Resolution 43-NQ/TW, Conclusion 79-KL/TW, and Announcement 47-TB/TW. The Central Steering Committee has issued a detailed action plan outlining the creation of a comprehensive legal framework and policies aimed at attracting capital, advanced technologies, talents, and innovation. Read full story

- Vietnam’s agriculture, forestry, and fisheries exports reached 39.68 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, a 14.7% year-on-year increase, with a trade surplus of 11.52 billion USD, up 15.9%, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Leading the growth were agricultural products, with exports valued at 21.49 billion USD, up 17%. This was followed by forestry products at 10.38 billion USD, up 8.6% and seafood at 6.06 billion USD, up 13.8%. Read full story

- In its article titled "Cross-border trade driving China-Vietnam ties", the China Daily wrote that at dawn, Vietnamese tourists lined up at Hekou Port, the largest land port along the Yunnan section of the China-Vietnam border, drawn by more than mere sightseeing. These vibrant exchanges of goods and people are a microcosm of the ties between China and Vietnam, which have been continuously deepened by the engines of shopping, trade and tourism.

According to the article, this bustling scene is driven by Vietnam's cross-border shopping boom, propelling a wave of Chinese goods southward. This shopping frenzy is reshaping the border economy as foreign consumers increasingly flock to Chinese e-commerce platforms for Made in China products. Read full story

- A new report from Personar, a cybersecurity surveillance platform, has revealed the disproportionate impact of cyberattacks on Thailand and Cambodia.

The data indicates that Thailand has suffered attacks on 438 of its systems, while Cambodia has experienced an even greater number, exceeding 500 system breaches./. Read full story

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Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil and Guyana Bui Van Nghi speaks at the event. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil)

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia–Oceania Department at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs meet in Hanooi on December 19. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy FM meets French official

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Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu speaks at the event in Hanoi on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

Senior Party official reviews preparations for 14th National Party Congress

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu expressed his belief that relevant agencies will continue to make efforts to basically complete organisation- and service-related preparations by December 31, ensuring readiness for the final rehearsals ahead of the opening of the 14th National Party Congress.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addressing the conference of the the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges industry, trade sector to pioneer in six key areas

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State President Luong Cuong (middle) presents congratulatory flowers to the two promoted officers (Photo: VNA)

Two military officers promoted to rank of Senior Lieutenant General

Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Vice Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Lieutenant General Do Van Banh, Political Commissar of the National Defence Academy were promoted to the rank of Senior Lieutenant General at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 19.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (R) hosts a reception for Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam Nguyen Huy Tien. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Laos step up cooperation in procuracy sector

They highly valued the effective and substantive cooperation results achieved by the Supreme People’s Procuracies of Vietnam and Laos in recent years, and called on both sides to continue enhancing coordination, stepping up exchanges of delegations at all levels, sharing professional and technical experience, and maintaining and expanding training and capacity-building programmes for officials.