☕ Afternoon briefing on January 18

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on January 18 ảnh 1

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

-Speakerof the National Assembly (NA) of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Kim Jin-pyo andhis wife left Hanoi on January 18, concluding their seven-day official visit toVietnam at the invitation of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

While in Vietnam, the RoK leader paid tribute tolate President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum; paid a courtesy call to PartyGeneral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh;and held talks with NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.Read full text

-Onbehalf of the Vietnamese Government, Nguyen Hong Dien, member of the PartyCentral Committee and Minister of Industry and Trade, has delivered apre-recorded congratulatory speech on the occasion of the 73rd foundinganniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties (January 18, 1950 - 2023).

In his remarks, Dien highlighted the traditionalfriendship that is “both comradeship and brotherhood” between the Vietnameseand Chinese people.Read full text

-VietnameseDeputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on January 17 joined leaders of globalenterprises in a discussion, and met with senior foreign officials as part ofhis activities at the 53rd World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos,Switzerland.

The discussion with leaders of global enterpriseswas an event WEF held specifically for Vietnam at this year’s meeting. Itattracted about 20 executives of WEF member businesses operating in such fieldsas energy, green technology, and finance - banking.Read full text

-DeputyPrime Minister Tran Hong Ha on January 17 attended, delivered speeches atimportant sessions, and had bilateral meetings, as part of his activities atthe 53rd World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

At a discussion of the Food Action Alliance, Hashared Vietnam’s experience in ensuring food security and agriculturaldevelopment, saying the country has attached special importance to agriculture,taking it an economic spearhead.Read full text

-Thepioneering role of the diplomatic sector will be carried forward in buildingand maintaining an environment of peace and stability, mobilising externalresources to serve the national development and raising the country’s positionand reputation in the international arena, Minister of Foreign Affairs BuiThanh Son has said.

This is one of the economic diplomacy focuses setfor 2023 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to contribute to achievingthe socio-economic targets, the official said in an interview granted to thepress on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.Read full text

-Sharinga common approach in economic and trade policy as well as supporting aninternational rules-based order, being open, transparent and having inclusivegrowth are the main driving forces for increased engagement between Vietnam andNew Zealand in recent months, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobsonhas said.

“From my perspective, I think that bodes very wellfor both countries going into 2023 and I'm pleased to see that both countriesare showing strong signs of growth – Vietnam of course especially so,” theambassador said in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on the occasionof the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.Read full text

-Vietnamexpects to earn 25 billion USD from the export of wood and wooden products by2030.

The export turnover would set a record high of 18billion USD by 2023, with wood pellets and woodchips forecast to enter theone-billion USD club.

President of the Vietnam Timber & ForestProducts Association (Viforest) Do Xuan Lap said that the figure will representa growth rate of 7-9%.Read full text/.

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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse at Istanbul Airport in Türkiye (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam a proactive, responsible partner in promoting parliamentary cooperation

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s working trip to Italy and Türkiye achieved important and comprehensive results at both bilateral and multilateral levels. It not only highlighted a proactive and responsible Vietnamese National Assembly with active and practical contributions to the IPU, but also created new momentum to deepen relations with key partners, including in Europe and the Middle East.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga at the farewell ceremony at Istanbul Airport, Türkiye. (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman wraps up successful working visit to Türkiye

With substantive activities, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man's working visit to Türkiye was a great success, contributing to affirming Vietnam’s image as a proactive and responsible partner in promoting parliamentary cooperation and strengthening multilateralism.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the general debate of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul on April 16, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy FM highlights parliamentary diplomacy gains from IPU-152, European trips

Regarding bilateral engagements in Italy and Türkiye, the deputy minister said the trips marked a meaningful step in implementing Vietnam’s foreign policy following the 14th National Party Congress, helping deepen relations with European and Middle Eastern partners while mobilising external resources for national development.

Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam, Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and their spouses attend a tea reception during the former's state visit to China from April 14 to 17, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China elevate strategic connectivity in new phase of development

With railway cooperation expected to emerge as a new highlight of bilateral strategic cooperation, China expressed readiness to collaborate with Vietnam on financing, technology, training, and industrial capacity in the railway sector while encouraging capable enterprises to participate in railway construction.

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (left) meets with Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmus in Istanbul on April 17. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislators of Vietnam, Türkiye meet on sidelines of IPU-152 in Istanbul

The top Vietnamese legislator expressed his admiration for Türkiye’s cultural identity and its friendly, hospitable people, while highly valuing the European country’s growing role and position at multilateral forums and in regional mediation efforts. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening ties with Türkiye.

Officials sign cooperation documents in the presence of Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam, and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on April 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China sign 32 cooperation documents

The documents include a cooperation plan between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the 2026–2030 period; a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Organisation Commission of the CPV Central Committee and its Chinese counterpart; and a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The meeting between Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia’s Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko in Istanbul, Türkiye, on April 17 (Photo: VNA)

Parliamentary leaders hail development of Vietnam – Russia ties

The top legislator of Vietnam proposed that both sides deepen political and diplomatic connections, as well as parliamentary cooperation, through delegation exchanges, high-level meetings through various channels, and the successful organisation of a visit to Vietnam by the Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council and a trip to Russia by the NA Chairman to co-chair the 5th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in 2026.

Wei Wei, a researcher on Vietnam and head of the Vietnamese-language service at the China Media Group, grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Expert highlights new trends in Vietnam – China relations

A Chinese expert has paid attention to General Secretary and President To Lam's visit to the Xiong'an New Area, meeting with youth representatives of both countries together with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, and experience of high-speed rail travel.