Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on December 24

Outstanding domestic and international events of 2025 selected by the VNA, the Christmas atmosphere in Vietnam, and a seminar aimed at exploring cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and Russia in the digital era are among news highlights on December 24.

☕ Afternoon briefing on December 24

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

– As 2025 is nearing its end, the Vietnam News Agency has selected the top 10 outstanding domestic events in the year.

The apparatus streamlining, severe impacts of natural disasters, and the signing of the Hanoi Convention are among the issues that have shaped Vietnam in 2025. Read full story

– The US' imposition of reciprocal tariffs, the Thailand – Cambodia border conflict, and the AI race are among the 10 prominent international events in 2025 as selected by the Vietnam News Agency.

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The Port of Long Beach in California, the US. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10% to 49% on most imports to protect domestic production, thereby disrupting the global trade order, interrupting supply chains, and pushing gold prices to record highs. Economies around the world were forced to adjust policies in response and accelerate negotiations to reach trade agreements. As a result of the tariff war, trade tensions between the US and China have reached their most severe level since 2018. Read full story

– Personnel decisions within the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) are of paramount importance, directly tied to the nation’s destiny and public trust in its leadership. As the Party Central Committee finalised nominations ahead of the 14th National Party Congress, the process drew intense public attention.

At this sensitive moment, a wave of misleading information has surfaced, underscoring the need for the public to remain vigilant in distinguishing right from wrong and truth from falsehood. Read full story

– The management of emission quotas will be officially and mandatorily implemented nationwide across all sectors and enterprises from 2028, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said while chairing a meeting in Hanoi on December 24.

Ha stressed the importance of piloting the allocation of greenhouse gas emission quotas as a crucial stepping stone for completing the management mechanism before nationwide mandatory application. Read full story

– Germany’s completion of the ratification process for the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in 2025 – the year marking the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations has become a highly symbolic milestone, reflecting the depth of political and economic trust between the two countries.

The move represents not only an important legal step but also carries profound strategic significance for Vietnam–Germany relations in particular and Vietnam–EU ties more broadly. Read full story

– A seminar aimed at exploring cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and Russia in the digital era was held on December 23 at the Hanoi – Moscow multifunctional commercial centre in Moscow.

The event was organised with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and the Vietnam Trade Office in Russia. It was jointly convened by the Vietnam Advertising Association (VAA), through the International Cultural and Commercial Centre (ICC), a VAA member, in coordination with the Vietnam – Russia Friendship Association and the Association of Vietnamese Businesses in Russia. Read full story

– Total state budget allocation for the national target programme on building new-style rural areas, sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2026–2030 period is around 423 trillion VND (16 billion USD).

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By 2030, Vietnam strives to raise average income of ethnic minority people to at least half of the national average. (Photo: VNA)

Of the total, about 100 trillion VND will come from the central budget, 300 trillion VND from local budgets, and roughly 23 trillion VND from state-funded policy credit sources, according to Resolution No. 257/2025/QH15, freshly certified by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. Read full story

– In recent days, people in Hanoi, other major cities, and Catholic parishes nationwide have been joyfully welcoming Christmas 2025.

The festive mood is everywhere as families and businesses shop for decorations, adorn homes and storefronts, and exchange gifts to usher in a merry Christmas season. It is increasingly evident that Christmas is no longer solely a major religious holiday for Catholics, but has grown into a community-wide celebration that enriches Vietnamese people’s spiritual and cultural life. Read full story./.

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