Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on December 14

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on December 14 ảnh 1

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

-PresidentNguyen Xuan Phuc attended a groundbreaking ceremony for infrastructurefacilities of Lien Chieu Port project in the central city of Da Nang onDecember 14. 

Covering an area of 450 ha, the project has atotal investment of 3.4 trillion VND (over 144.5 million USD).Read full story

-Vietnamalways considers Belgium a partner of leading importance in the European Union(EU), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told his Belgian counterpart Alexander DeCroo during their talks in Brussels on December 13 (local time).

Speaking at the talks, which took place followinga welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese leader at Egmont Palace the same day,Croo stressed that Chinh’s visit is of great significance as it contributes totaking the bilateral relationship into a new development period and making itmore intensive, practical and effective, especially in trade and investment.Read full story

-PM Chinh called for more efforts to intensify internationalsolidarity, uphold multilateralisation, and cooperate more closely andeffectively among countries, while attending the 10th ASEAN-EU Business Summitin Brussels on December 13 afternoon (local time).

The leader, now in Belgium to attend the ASEAN-EUCommemorative Summit, suggested that enterprises should strengthenconnectivity, and states should harmonise regulations based on the principle ofharmonious benefits and shared risks between the state, businesses and people.Read full story

-PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with his Lao counterpart PhankhamViphavanh in Brussels on December 13, as part of his trip to Belgium to attendthe ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit.Read full story  

-The 12thNational Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) for the2022-2027 tenue opened in Hanoi on December 14.

In his opening remarks, First Secretary of the11th HCYU Central Committee Bui Quang Huy said the congress, to last toDecember 16, will review the youth union work and youth movements in 2017-2022,and set out targets, tasks and solutions for the new term.Read full story

-A Vietnamese Party delegationattended the 10th Congress of Tanzania's Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) -Party ofthe Revolution - in Dodoma, Tanzania's capital, from December 6 to 9 at theinvitation of the ruling party.

The delegation was led byNguyen Manh Hung, member of the Party Central Committee and deputy head of itsCommission for Information and Education, and Minister of Information andCommunications.Read full story

-Two drivers ofVietnam's economic growth – exports and domestic demand – are moderating,according to a report released by the World Bank (WB) on December 14.

The bank’s December report, Vietnam MacroMonitoring, shows that softer external demand has weighed on Vietnam’s exports.Consumer rebound in the post-COVID period seems to recover slowly and tighterdomestic financial conditions and rising inflation could affect domestic demandin the future.Read full story

-The amount ofremittances flowing to Ho Chi Minh City has continued to increase despitecomplicated geopolitical changes in the world, reaching about 6.8 billion USDso far, according to Nguyen Duc Lenh, Vice Director of the Ho Chi Minh branchof the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Lenh commented that although the amount is lowerthan that of last year, it is still a good result.Read full story

-GeneralDirector of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang and President and CEOof Yonhap News Agency Seong Ghi-hong on December 14 signed a new cooperationagreement to replace the old inked in 2017.

At their talks in Hanoi on the occasion of Seong’svisit to Vietnam from December 13-16, Trang thanked the official and colleaguesof Yonhap for coordinating with the VNA in organising a photo exhibition on 30years of Vietnam-Republic of Korea cooperation, which opened in the morning ofthe day, and another in Seoul from March 31 to May 5.Read full story

-A photoexhibition themed “30 years of Vietnam- Republic of Korea cooperation”,co-organised by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Yonhap News Agency of theRoK, opened in Hanoi on December 14 on the occasion of the 30th foundinganniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (1992-2022).

The 8-day event, which also aims to welcome theelevation of the ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, features 60file photos which reflect the two countries’ partnership in various fields frompolitics-foreign affairs, security-defence, economy, trade, and investment, toeducation, science-technology, and people-to-people exchange.Read full story

-The “VietnamDays in India 2022” programme took place in New Delhi from December 12-14, onthe occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The opener of the programme was the Magical NightArt Performance on December 12 evening by artists from the Viet Bac Folk Musicand Dance Theater.Read full story/.

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Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha (R) and EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City, EU boast ample room for sustainable development cooperation

Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1990, Vietnam and the EU have deepened the bilateral ties into one of the bloc’s most dynamic and in-depth partnerships with an ASEAN member, Ha noted, adding that the relationship entered a new chapter in January when the President of European Council’s visit upgraded it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang speaks at a discussion session on reforming multilateral systems and global governance, held on May 15, 2026, as part of the expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in India. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam ready to strengthen BRICS connection with Asia-Pacific

Hang called on countries to act responsibly in accordance with international law and the UN Charter; respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states; refrain from using or threatening to use force; and settle disputes peacefully through dialogue. She also underscored the importance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation through straits in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (centre), DPRK Vice Minister Pak of Foreign Affairs Sang Gil (left), and Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Ba Vinh cut the ribbon to open the exhibition. (Photo: VNA)

Photo exhibition highlights Vietnam–DPRK relations

Visitors at the exhibition were moved by historical photographs dating back nearly 70 years, including images of the founding leader of the DPRK Kim Il Sung personally welcoming President Ho Chi Minh and a CPV delegation at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport during their visit to the DPRK from July 8–12, 1957. In return, the DPRK leader paid an official visit to Vietnam from November 27 to December 3, 1958.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM calls for substantive assessment of two-tier local administration operations

Chairing a meeting on the development of a scheme to review the first-year operations of the political system’s organisational apparatus and the two-tier local administration model, Tra emphasised that the review must comprehensively and objectively evaluate the nationwide implementation of administrative unit restructuring and the operation of the new local administration model.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi (right) and First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Andrey Yatskin at their meeting in Moscow on May 14. (Photo: VNA)

Key directions for Vietnam–Russia cooperation in 2026

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi had a working session with a delegation from the Russian Federation Council led by First Deputy Chairman Andrey Yatskin, in Moscow on May 14, discussing the expansion of multifaceted cooperation in 2026.

Officials from Cao Bang province of Vietnam and Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China hold talks on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Cao Bang, China’s Baise city eye to boost all-around cooperation

Cao Bang province of Vietnam and Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China are exploring a “red tourism” route linking Pac Bo and Meng Mo (China) to promote revolutionary tradition education and strengthen bilateral friendship. They are also stepping up cooperation in human resource development through training exchanges and efforts to improve workforce quality.

Atsaphangthong Siphandone (centre), Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, speaks at the working session. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane strengthen cooperation for 2026–2030

Under the MoU, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in politics – diplomacy, security – defence, legal and judicial affairs, economic affairs, education, culture and society, cooperation among mass organisations and socio-political organisations, and development support.

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (left) meets with Jo Yong Won, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) and Chairman of the SPA of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in Pyongyang on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam wishes to unceasingly develop ties with DPRK: Foreign Minister

Jo Yong Won, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) and Chairman of the SPA of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPV, headed by General Secretary and President Lam, Vietnam will successfully achieve the strategic goals set forth at the 14th National Party Congress.

New Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar (front) at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government in Budapest on May 12, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Congratulations to newly-elected Hungarian leaders

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on May 15 sent messages of congratulations to Magyar Péter and Forsthoffer Ágnes on their election as Prime Minister and Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary, respectively.

Ministers and deputy ministers from BRICS member and partner countries pose for a group photo while attending the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in India on May 14. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Dr Anatoly Sokolov from the Oriental Research Institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondent in Russia. (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s experience in Soviet Union crucial to Vietnam’s revolution: Russian scholar

The Russian scholar emphasised that Ho Chi Minh’s years in the Soviet Union provided him with essential experience in organising the masses and conducting political work for revolutionary purposes. This knowledge proved crucial when he later successfully led the August Revolution in 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first people’s democratic state in Southeast Asia - without relying on external assistance. The victory became a powerful inspiration for national liberation movements across colonised countries worldwide, he added