Politics

☕️ Afternoon briefing on February 22

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕️ Afternoon briefing on February 22 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s eventsas reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United NationsUnder-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, has thanked Vietnam for itsstrong support for as well as personnel contributions to UN peacekeepingoperations.

☕️ Afternoon briefing on February 22 ảnh 2Peacekeepers hold flags of Vietnam and the UN before leaving for the UN Mission in South Sudan (Photo: VNA)
He said Vietnam has sent personnel to the UN peacekeeping forces since 2014 andcontinually made active contributions in this regard. It deployed a Level-2field hospital to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for the first time inOctober 2018. So far, it has sent 75 officers, including 16 females, to thepeacekeeping force, ranking 62nd among the UN member states. It has alsopledged to soon deploy personnel to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, adisputed area between Sudan and South Sudan. Read full story

☕️ Afternoon briefing on February 22 ảnh 3The MoU signing ceremony on February 22 (Photo: congthuong.vn)
- The Ministry of Industry and Trade and Samsung Vietnam on February 22 signeda Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in smart factory development.

The two sides have studied and built a cooperation project to develop SmartFactory in Vietnam with the goal of training 100 Vietnamese experts andassisting in consulting and improving 50 businesses to apply Smart Factory intwo years in order to improve the expertise of the team of consultants, improvethe production operation capacity on the information technology platform of theenterprise. Read full story

- Vietnam has so far reopened air routes to 20 countries and territories,compared to 28 in the 2019 winter flight schedule before the COVID-19 pandemicbroke out.

Eight others to which air routes haven’t been resumed consist of Brunei, India,Indonesia, Myanmar, Macao (China), Finland, Italy, and Switzerland, heard apress meeting on February 22. Read full story

- In order to help customers feel secure during each trip, national flagcarrier Vietnam Airlines, in cooperation with Post and Telecommunication JointStock Insurance Corporation (PTI), has launched flight delay/cancellationinsurance FLY PRO.

Passengersparticipating in the insurance programme will receive maximum benefits whentheir flight schedule is changed, in cases such as flight delayed for 120minutes or more, flight returning to the place of departure, flight landing atanother airport, flight cancellation, or passenger missing the next flight,including that of other airlines. Ready full story

- The exportof phones, which contribute annually over 50 billion USD in the last threeyears, is expected to help Vietnam expand its total export turnover by 6-8percent in 2022.

Phones andcomponents, exported to 50 countries and territories worldwide, reported thelargest export value the first months of 2022 with 4 billion USD, accountingfor 13.8 percent of the country’s total. Read full story

- More than 3,000 social insurance books and nearly 8,900 health insurancecards worth 17.2 billion VND (753,400 USD) will be granted to disadvantagedpeople across 18 provinces and cities in the first quarter of this year as partof the Vietnam Social Security (VSS)’s programme. Read full story

- The National Assembly (NA)’s committees for culture-education, justice, andsocial affairs on February 22 convened a session to discuss and put forthsolutions for violence against children that shocked the public recently. Read full story

☕️ Afternoon briefing on February 22 ảnh 4Frost and ice cover trees in O Quy Ho pass in Lai Chau (Photo: VNA)
- A new cold spell is forecast tohit the northern and north-central regions on February 22 night, causing chillyweather until February 24. The mercury will drop to 8-11 degree Celsius at thelowest, even 3-6 or lower in mountainous areas where rains with snow mayappear. Read full story/.
VNA
Follow VietnamPlus

See more

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.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (fifth, left) and the heads of delegations attend the retreat session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

PM outlines three key proposals to respond to energy crisis at ASEAN Summit

ASEAN should take the lead in upholding rules and strengthening trust in international relations by consistently promoting multilateralism and respect for international law. It should actively contribute to maintaining security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight globally and in the region, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central and President of Vietnam To Lam (second, right) talks to Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne at their meeting in Colombo on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

Top leader of Vietnam stresses parliamentary ties' importance to relations with Sri Lanka

Highlighting the important role of parliamentary cooperation, the Party and State leader of Vietnam expressed his wish for the two legislatures to strengthen coordination, soon sign a cooperation agreement, and work together to effectively supervise the implementation of the high-level agreements and signed cooperation documents, especially economic cooperation initiatives aimed at achieving 1 billion USD in bilateral trade turnover.