Politics

☕️Afternoon briefing on February 21

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕️Afternoon briefing on February 21 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the VietnamNews Agency.  

- Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh attended the high-level session of the annual Vietnam Business Forum(VBF) in Hanoi on February 21 under the theme “Restoring the economy &Developing supply chain in the new normal”.
☕️Afternoon briefing on February 21 ảnh 2Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the session (Photo: VNA)
Addressing the event, the PM stated that Vietnam will roll out measures torecover the supply chains as well as business and production activities, whilespeeding up administrative reform, and developing different factors servingproduction such as capital, land, resources and science-technology markets. Read full story

- Thebusiness community have put forward various recommendations at the VietnamBusiness Forum (VBF) 2022 on how to revive and sustainably develop the economyin the face of adverse impacts from the COVID-19.

Themed “Restoring the economy and developingsupply chain in the new normal,” the VBF was co-hosted by the Vietnam Chamberof Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Ministry of Planning and Investment, WorldBank (WB), and International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Hanoi on February 21. Read full story

- Retailpetrol prices continued to rise by nearly 1,000 VND per litre from 3pm onFebruary 21 following the latest adjustment by the Ministry of Industry andTrade and the Ministry of Finance.

This is the fourth consecutive increase of petrolprices in 2022 and the fifth in a row, with total increase of nearly 3,500 VNDper litre. Read full story

- Vietnam’s seaports handled an estimated 117 million tonnes ofcommodities in the first two months of 2022, posting a year-on-year rise of 7percent, according to the Vietnam Maritime Administrative (VMA). Read full story

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism(MoCST) has proposed to let foreign visitors test for COVID-19 using rapidantigen test kits and those who have negative testing results travel freelywhen they are in Vietnam, as the country plans to welcome foreign tourists backfrom March 15.Read full story

☕️Afternoon briefing on February 21 ảnh 3First passengers in the Vietnam-Australia air route operated by Bamboo Airways (Photo: VNA)
- Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways operated the first flight connecting Ho Chi MinhCity and Melbourne in Australia on February 19-20. Read full story

- Vietnam’s U23football team are facing a serious personnel loss when more players have becomesuspected cases of COVID-19, posing a great challenge to the decisive matchagainst Thailand in the 2022 AFF U23 Championship. Read full story./.

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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)

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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