☕ Afternoon briefing on December 23

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on December 23 ảnh 1

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

-President Nguyen Xuan Phuc met Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives of Indonesia Puan Maharani on December 22, as part of theVietnamese leader’s ongoing State visit to Indonesia.

The President congratulated Indonesia on its successful organisation of the G20Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20), helping it outstandingly perform the G2Presidency in 2022.Read full story

-PresidentPhuc expressed his hope that the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce andIndustry (KADIN) will encourage Indonesian businesses to pour more investmentsinto Vietnam, in his meeting with KADIN Chairman Arsjad Rasjid in Jakarta onDecember 23.

Lauding cooperation activities of the KADINChairman and Indonesian businesses in the fields of trade and investment, thevisiting leader said they have significantly contributed to collaborationbetween Vietnam and Indonesia, especially in 2023 when the two countries markthe 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership.Read full story

-Vietnamattaches special importance to its relations with ASEAN in its foreign policy,and exerts efforts to actively contribute to building a strong and united ASEANand to uphold its central role in the regional security structure, PresidentNguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed on December 23.

Talking to ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoiand Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires of member states at the ASEAN Secretariatheadquarters in Jakarta, President Phuc, now on a State visit to Indonesia,said that over the past years, despite the complicated and unpredictabledevelopments of the international and regional situations, a united ASEAN hasstood firm, matured, and grown stronger and stronger, with its reputationincreasing, and its central role in the international arena confirmed.Read full story

-PresidentNguyen Xuan Phuc received Budiarsa Sastrawinata, President of the Indonesia -Vietnam Friendship Association, on December 23, within the framework of hisState visit to Indonesia.

President Phuc appreciated contributions by theassociation, including Sastrawinata personally who is also Managing Director ofCiputra Group, to promoting the two countries’ friendship.Read full story

-PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh has asked Samsung to consider Vietnam its importantand global strategic base in terms of production, research and development.

He made the request when attending an inaugurationceremony for Samsung R&D Centre in Hanoi on December 23.

Built from March 2020 at a total cost of 200million USD, the 16-storey facility sits on a site of over 11,603 sq.m,becoming the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia and one of the 18 SamsungR&D Centres across the world.Read full story

-TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (RoK) hosted a banquet inSeoul on December 22 evening to mark the 30th founding anniversary ofVietnam-RoK diplomatic relations.

Foreign Minister Park Jin said that over the past30 years, the two countries have achieved encouraging cooperation results invarious fields thanks to joint efforts of the two governments and peoples,calling this a firm foundation for bilateral relations in the future.Read full story

-PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh on December 23 chaired a teleconference of the NationalSteering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with leaders of 63provinces and centrally-run cities.

He said the meeting aimed to review the COVID-19prevention and control performance and set out tasks to control the pandemicand other infectious diseases in the New Year holidays to “not leave anyonebehind”.Read full story

-Vietnamis expected to surpass Japan to become the third largest trade partner of theRepublic of Korea (RoK), just behind China and the US, according to thenewswire world.kbs.co.kr.

It quoted the Federation of Korean Industries(FKI)’s analysis of investment and trade changes between the two nations duringthe 1992-2021 period as saying that the RoK’s trade surplus with Vietnam grewsteadily from 300 million USD in 1992 to an estimated 31.3 billion USD in 2022,making Vietnam almost certainly exceed the US to become the top surplus partner.Read full story

-Politburomember, Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Manwished Catholic dignitaries and followers in the central province of ThuaThien-Hue a merry Christmas, while visiting the Archdiocese of Hue on December23.

Man hailed the solidarity and consensus of ThuaThien – Hue’s people which has been significantly contributed by religiousorganisations.Read full story

-Hanoi'sDepartment of Tourism has estimated that 18.7 million tourists visited thecapital city in 2022, 4.7 times higher than the figure of 2021 and equal to64.7% of the number in 2019 – the year before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Thetotal number included 1.5 million foreign holidaymakers and 17.2 milliondomestic visitors, the department said.Read full story

-The Vietnam CulinaryCulture Association (VCCA) announced 121 typical Vietnamese dishes for 2022 ata ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on December 22.

The dishes including 47 from the north, 37 fromthe central region and 37 from southern localities.

The dishes were selected basing on their culturalvalues, history, quality, as well as production, processing, preservation andcirculation technology, and economic values.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