Afternoon briefing

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 3

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 3

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

– Within the framework of his official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 3 delivered a policy speech at the Seoul National University, in which he affirmed Vietnam is willing to cooperate more closely with the RoK, and further develop the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, for happiness of the two peoples and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Analysing the world and regional situations, PM Chinh said that the world's future is being strongly influenced by three key factors, and shaped and led by three pioneering fields. Read full story

– National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man attended the opening of the 15th session of the 10th People’s Council of the southern province of Binh Phuoc.

The NA leader noted that at the just-concluded session, the NA adopted 11 laws and 21 resolutions, including a resolution on the investment policy of the Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh section of the North-South Expressway that connects Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong and other localities in the region with Ho Chi Minh City, creating a growth momentum for the Central Highlands and the southeastern region. Read full story

- General Phan Van Giang, member of the Politburo, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence, hosted separate receptions for the ambassadors of Laos and Japan to Vietnam in Hanoi on July 3.

Receiving Lao Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh, General Giang stressed that defence cooperation continues to be one of the important pillars in the bilateral relations. Read full story

– Vietnamese Ambassador Mai Phan Dung has urged the international community to enhance cooperation to effectively deal with climate change impacts on people’s livelihoods, stressing that ensuring sustainable livelihoods is a top priority of developing countries.

Dung, who is Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, made the appeal while representing the core group of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution on human rights and climate change, comprising Vietnam, Bangladesh and the Philippines, to address a debate on ensuring sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change impacts. The event was part of the HRC’s 56th session in Geneva. Read full story

– Vietnam attaches much importance to the cooperation ties with the Republic of the Marshall Islands which was set up on July 1, 1992, Ambassador to the Pacific Ocean country Pham Quang Hieu has affirmed.

Presenting his credentials to President of the host country Hilda Heine, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed his hope that the two nations will intensify cooperation in the areas of trade-investment, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, health care, and climate change response, among others. Read full story

– Vietnam ranks 57th out of the 125 surveyed countries in terms of budget transparency, up 11 places compared to 2021, according to the Open Budget Survey (OBS) 2023 released recently by the International Budget Partnership.

The OBS is the world’s only independent, comparative and fact-based research instrument that uses internationally accepted criteria to assess public access to central government budget information; formal opportunities for the public to participate in the national budget process; and the role of budget oversight institutions such as legislatures and national audit offices in the budget process. Read full story

– Together with other countries in the world, Vietnam has been taking actions to reduce plastic waste and the use of single-use plastic bags, towards a plastic bag free community.

According to the Worldwatch Institute, it is estimated that since 2002, each year the world has seen about 5,000 billion nylon bags produced and a large proportion of this amount used and then discarded into the environment. Read full story./.

VNA

See more

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang (R) and Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government Moctar Al Housseynou Lam. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

Vietnam seeks Mauritania’s role as bridge to African Union for deeper ties

Vietnam expects Mauritania to act as a bridge for substantive cooperation between Vietnam and the African Union (AU), said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang during a reception in Hanoi on July 16 for Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government Moctar Al Housseynou Lam.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) and Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government, Moctar Al Housseynou Lam. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam treasures traditional friendship with Mauritania: FM

The two officials agreed to continue their long-standing coordination at multilateral forums, including the Francophonie, while reinforcing practical collaboration with regional organisations such as ASEAN and the AU, for the benefit of their people and for peace, stability and development in their respective regions and globally.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (L) pays a courtesy call on Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos strengthen cooperation on overseas community affairs

The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in overseas Vietnamese and overseas Lao affairs for the 2026–2030 period, providing a framework for future collaboration. Laos will send a delegation to Vietnam to study preparations for the World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, scheduled for December 2026.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Greece Pham Thi Thu Huong meets with representatives of the Patras Chamber of Commerce. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy in Greece)

Vietnam seeks stronger ties with Greece’s Patras

Mayor Kostas Peletidis said Patras is ready to work with the Vietnamese Embassy to promote the country as well as its culture and people through local cultural events and festivals, including the Patras Carnival, one of Greece’s largest annual festivals, the mayor remarked.

Nearly 1,000 students and lecturers from universities and colleges across Can Tho city attend the event at Can Tho University on July 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Philippines strengthen people-to-people friendship

Shirley Nuevo, Acting Consul General of the Philippines in Ho Chi Minh City, said the past 50 years have demonstrated how the two countries and their peoples have grown together as friends, trusted partners and close neighbours within the ASEAN family.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung addresses the working session with the Standing Board of the Tuyen Quang Party Committee in Vi Xuyen commune on July 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

PM urges Tuyen Quang to accelerate measures to achieve double-digit growth

The PM chaired a working session on July 15 with the Standing Board of the Tuyen Quang Party Committee on socio-economic development, the double-digit growth target, public investment disbursement, the operation of the two-tier local government model, implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 57, and measures to address local challenges.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang (right), who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, and EU Ambassador to ASEAN Sujiro Seam at their meeting in Hanoi (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam pledges continued contributions to ASEAN-EU ties: Deputy FM

Deputy FM Dang Hoang Giang, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, spoke highly of the positive progress in the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership, noting that the EU has become one of ASEAN's most reliable partners and has provided substantial support for the ASEAN Community-building process.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) receives Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering Sherpa in Hanoi on July 15. (Photo: VNA)

Foreign Minister receives Indian Ambassador

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said Vietnamese authorities are expediting investigations into the cause of the recent speedboat accident and will strictly address any violations while strengthening safety regulations to prevent similar incidents.