☕ Afternoon briefing on December 16

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on December 16 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a briefreview of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived in Hanoi on December16 afternoon, concluding a successful trip to Europe during which he attended acommemorative summit in celebration of ASEAN-EU relations, and paid officialvisits to Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium from December 9-15.

In his tour, PM Chinh engaged in more than 60bilateral, multilateral and community activities. In addition to talks andmeetings with almost all senior leaders of Luxembourg, the Netherlands andBelgium, he held 14 meetings with leaders of the European Union, as well asASEAN and EU member states. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a Vietnam-BelgiumBusiness Forum in Brussels on December 15 (local time), within the framework ofhis official visit to the European country.

Speaking at the event, PM Chinh said that theVietnam-Belgium relations are developing well in all fields. Two-way trade isestimated to reach nearly 5 billion USD this year. The European nation has sofar invested 1.1 billion USD in the Southeast Asian country. Read full story
☕ Afternoon briefing on December 16 ảnh 2PM Pham Minh Chinh and EC President Ursula von der Leyen at a meeting in Brussels on December 14 (Photo: VNA)
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visits toLuxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium, and attendance in the ASEAN - EUCommemorative Summit were highly successful, Minister of Foreign Affairs BuiThanh Son told the media.

In an interview granted to the press, Minister Sonsaid the tour from December 9 to 15 took place amid flourishing relationsbetween Vietnam and the three European countries. This was the first visit toLuxembourg by a high-ranking leader of Vietnam in 20 years and the firsthigh-level delegation exchange with the Netherlands in three years. Read full story

- Vietnam, on behalf of the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN), affirmed the bloc’s priority and commitment in promotingmultilateralism at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s recentopen debate on a new orientation for reformed multilateralism.

In his speech, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang,Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, highlighted ASEAN's priority andcommitment to the respect and promotion of multilateralism for a more peaceful,prosperous, and fair world. The bloc recognises a need for reformedmultilateralism in response to today's challenges, he added. Read full story

- Vietnam will investigate and handle all cases of thecountry’s fishing vessels being arrested by foreign countries, strictly punishall acts related to illegal fishing in the foreign waters and name them on themass media, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentPhung Duc Tien.

In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam NewsAgency, Tien admitted the fact that there remain a small number ofVietnamese-flagged fishing vessels still illegally fishing in foreign waters.Read full story

- A nine-month communications campaign launched by Vietnam’sHealth Ministry, UNICEF, and WHO about  the COVID-19 pandemic preventionand control has reached more than 60 people in the country.

The ‘Safe Journeys’ launched in March 2022 aims at strengtheningthe awareness of the importance for all in Vietnam to comply with preventivepractices, including vaccination. Read full story

- The Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi is expected toserve 450 flights and up to 80,000 passengers on the peak day during the travelseason for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday (Tet) – Vietnam’s biggest andlongest traditional festival.   

However, the figure is yet to match the highestdaily passenger number during the summer of 2022. June 25 saw over 104,000passengers, nearly 93,000 of whom were domestic travellers, going through theairport. Read full story
☕ Afternoon briefing on December 16 ảnh 3At the opening ceremony of the space (Photo: VNA)
- A thematic space has freshly been opened at the VietnamNational Museum of History, shedding light on the 12 days and nights of fiercefights in Hanoi at the end of 1972 against the US air force in the “Dien BienPhu in the air” victory which led to the end of the foreign aggression war in Vietnam.

Documents, photos, items, and stories on displaygive insights into the then life and fights, the final victory, the capital’sgrowth after 50 years, and the diplomatic relations and cooperation betweenVietnam and the US in the period of reform and international integration./.Read full story
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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witness the exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-India relations enter new phase of development: Indian expert

The elevation of bilateral ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the increasingly deep convergence of geopolitical, economic, maritime and civilisational interests between the two countries, former Indian Deputy National Security Adviser S.D. Pradhan told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in New Delhi.

At the meeting between Vietnam's Politburo member Nguyen Thanh Nghi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka G. Weerasinghe and General Secretary of the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Solidarity Association Sudasinghe Sugathapala. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party official meets leaders of Sri Lankan political parties

Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Politburo member, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Policies and Strategies, held meetings in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 8 with leaders of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP - People's Liberation Front), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Solidarity Association.

Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş (R) receives Vietnamese Ambassador to Türkiye Dang Thi Thu Ha (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Türkiye strengthen parliamentary cooperation

Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş affirmed that Türkiye considers Vietnam an important partner in Southeast Asia, emphasising that similarities in historical depth, cultural identity, foreign policy orientations and family values provide a strong foundation for elevating bilateral ties to a new level.

Participants pose for a group photo at the ceremony in Hanoi on the evening of May 8,2026, to celebrate Europe Day (May 9). (Photo: VNA)

Europe Day 2026 marked in Hanoi

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to accompanying Vietnam in achieving its goals of becoming a developed economy by 2045 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, while ensuring energy security amid global uncertainties.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet the press to announce the outcomes of their talks. The two sides issued a joint statement on the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader’s visits opening new phase of deeper, more effective ties with India, Sri Lanka: FM

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung described the visits as particularly important and historic, taking place at a meaningful moment as Vietnam and India mark the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and just one month after the top leader of Vietnam assumed his new position. For Sri Lanka, this was the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attends the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s presence in ASEAN Summit spreads message of dynamic, strongly rising Vietnam: official

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said that the Vietnamese delegation made important contributions to the summit’s success, reflecting the foreign policy orientation set out by the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which continues to place ASEAN at the centre of Vietnam’s regional engagement, as well as its commitment to proactive, positive and responsible contributions to ASEAN Community-building process.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam reviews the honor guard. Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s top leader concludes successful state visit to Sri Lanka

Vietnam and Sri Lanka agreed to elevate political trust and comprehensively develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation as well as expand high-level and all-level exchanges and contacts, regularly implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various fields.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on the afternoon of May 8. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with Sri Lankan PM in Colombo

The two leaders agreed that their countries will work together to turn the good intentions and aspirations for bilateral relations into tangible outcomes so that in the future, they could look back with pride on the achievements born from today’s determination.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (fifth, left) and heads of delegations from ASEAN countries attend the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit on May 8, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

PM Le Minh Hung concludes trip to 48th ASEAN Summit

The trip was considered a success both multilaterally and bilaterally, leaving a positive impression of Vietnam’s proactive, active and responsible spirit, as well as its substantive and effective contributions to ASEAN’s common work and efforts to promote ties with member states.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone at their meeting in Cebu on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam PM meets with Lao, Malaysian counterparts in Philippines

Vietnam always gives the highest priority to the Vietnam–Laos relationship and will continue joining Laos in nurturing and deepening bilateral cooperation in a sustainable and practical manner for the benefit of the two countries' people, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) meets with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets ASEAN Secretary-General

Vietnam wishes to continue working closely with ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat in the community building process, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung while meeting ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on May 8 on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at their meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese PM meets leaders of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held separate meetings with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on May 8 as part of his trip to attend the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.