☕ Afternoon briefing on July 7

PM Pham Minh Chinh's speech at a high-level discussion of the expanded BRICS summit 2025, his meetings with world leaders in Rio de Janeiro, and Vietnam topping Asia-Pacific in international tourist growth during Q1 are among news highlights on July 7.

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 7

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

– As an active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam stands ready to contribute to multilateral mechanisms in order to promote cooperation, enhance connectivity, and address shared challenges towards building a fairer and more sustainable world, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has said.

He delivered remarks at the high-level discussion on “Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic–Financial Issues, and Artificial Intelligence” at the expanded BRICS summit 2025 held in Rio de Janeiro on July 6 (local time). There, he underlined the increasing role and contributions of the Global South in shaping global governance. Read full story

– PM Pham Minh Chinh met with a host of world leaders and head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Rio de Janeiro (Photo: Government Portal)

At a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, PM Chinh congratulated India on its recent achievements and growing role on the global stage, particularly within the BRICS bloc. PM Modi, in turn, described Chinh as a close friend of India. Read full story

– PM Pham Minh Chinh met with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Rio de Janeiro on July 6 (local time), underscoring Vietnam’s strong commitment to cooperating with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to protect public health.

PM Chinh thanked WHO for its effective support, which has contributed significantly to Vietnam’s success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic and achieving swift recovery. Read full story

– PM Pham Minh Chinh met with Jin Liqun, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6 (local time), on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS summit.

PM Chinh highly appreciated the contributions made by the AIIB and Jin himself over the past decade to Vietnam’s development. He affirmed that Vietnam values its partnership with the AIIB and will continue to actively participate in the bank’s suitable cooperation initiatives. Read full story

– Vietnam’s total investment in society during the first half of 2025 reached an estimated 1.59 quadrillion VND (over 60 billion USD), up 9.8% year-on-year, reflecting continued positive momentum across various sectors, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

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Total investment across society is estimated 1.59 quadrillion VND (over 60 billion USD) during the first half of 2025, up 9.8% year-on-year. (Photo: VNA)

By sector, state investment is valued at 445.8 trillion VND (28% of the total), increasing by 14.1%. Non-state investment reached 858.9 trillion VND (54%), up 7.5%, while the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector contributed 287.2 trillion VND (18%), up 10.6%. Read full story

– A Vietnam – Bulgaria business networking event has been held at the Trakia Economic Zone (TEZ) headquarters in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city, aiming to strengthen trade ties and support Vietnamese businesses in accessing the Bulgarian market.

Co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria and the Plovdiv branch of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI–Plovdiv), the event followed the Vietnam – Bulgaria Economic Cooperation Forum held the previous day in Sofia. Read full story

– Vietnam allocated nearly 549 trillion VND (about 21 billion USD) to social welfare efforts in the first six months of 2025, ensuring timely and effective support for people who rendered meritorious service to the revolution, as well as social policy and social protection beneficiaries, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

As of June 25, leaders from central and local governments, various agencies, mass organisations, and kind-hearted individuals visited and presented gifts worth 16.8 trillion VND to social protection beneficiaries. Read full story

– Vietnam exported 4.9 million tonnes of rice worth 2.54 billion USD in the first half of 2025, marking a 7.6% increase in volume but a 12.2% decline in value.

Coffee exports also faced challenges amid rising domestic prices, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Read full story

– Vietnam recorded the highest growth in international tourist arrivals in the Asia–Pacific region during the first quarter of 2025, according to the May edition of the World Tourism Barometer released by the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism).

The country led the region with a 30% increase in international arrivals compared to Q1 2024, and ranked second in terms of recovery rate, with a 34% rise over the same period in 2019. Read full story./.

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FLN Secretary-General Abdelkrim Benmbarek (right) and Ambassador Tran Quoc Khanh at the working session on July 13 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam treasures ties with Algeria: Ambassador

Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Tran Quoc Khanh expressed his belief that relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Algeria's ruling National Liberation Front will continue to be strengthened, serving as an important political foundation for fostering more substantive and effective bilateral ties.

Chargé d'Affaires of Vietnam to Timor-Leste Pham Binh Dam (R) and Timor-Leste's Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam ready to share experience with Timor-Leste ahead of ASEAN chairmanship

Timor-Leste's Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, who also serves as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, praised Vietnam's impressive socio-economic achievements and its consistent support for Timor-Leste's regional and international integration including its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and ASEAN.

☀️ Morning digest on July 14

☀️ Morning digest on July 14

The top leader's meeting with the Police Department of Prison, Correctional Institution and Juvenile Reformatory Management, PM Le Minh Hung's reception for US Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks, and Deputy PM and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang's official visit to Japan are among news highlights on July 14.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung receives US Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks in Hanoi on July 13, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung receives new US ambassador

The Government leader reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently regards the US as one of its most important partners, supports the US playing a constructive role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world, and wishes to elevate the Vietnam–US comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level for the benefit of the two countries' people.

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (R) welcomes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang on July 13, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Japan enhance defence cooperation

Vietnam always regards Japan as one of its leading and long-term partners, and supports the country's increasingly active role in promoting peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Nguyen Tan Cuong (R), Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, and Major General Liu Kai, director of the political department of China's National Defence University, at their meeting in Hanoi on July 13, 2026. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Vietnam, China strengthen exchanges between military academies

Vietnam attaches importance to consolidating and developing its friendly neighbourliness and Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership with the Party, Government, people, and military of China, said General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (front, second from left), other foreign ministers of ASEAN and their Myanmar counterpart attend an informal meeting in Bangkok on July 12. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam ready to work with ASEAN to support Myanmar: FM

Vietnam stands ready to work closely with the ASEAN Chair for 2026 and other member states to support Myanmar to recover the economy, address social issues and combat transnational crimes while promoting bilateral and subregional cooperation for the sake of peace, stability and sustainable development in Myanmar and the region, and for the building the ASEAN Community, stated Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung.

Doctors from Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City are collaborating with doctors from Sun Group International Hospital in Phu Quoc to provide intensive treatment for a victim of the speedboat accident in Phu Quoc (Photo published by VNA)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports efforts to deal with aftermath of Phu Quoc speedboat capsize

In the coming days, the MoFA will continue to work closely with the An Giang provincial People’s Committee, the Phu Quoc Special Zone, relevant agencies, the Vietnamese Embassy in India, the Embassy of India in Hanoi and the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City to closely monitor the situation, carry out consular and citizen protection work, and repatriate the bodies of the deceased tourists to India in accordance with the wishes of their families as soon as possible.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Nam Duong (L) has a working session with Egypt’s Red Sea Governor Walid Al Barqi on July 11. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam seeks stronger economic links with Egypt's Red Sea Governorate

Beyond traditional exports, there remains considerable room to expand bilateral trade. Vietnam has potential to increase exports of tea, rice, frozen shrimp, machinery and electrical equipment, while Egypt could boost shipments of citrus fruits, grapes, fertilisers and, in particular, phosphate ore.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for National Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs Le Tan Toi (R) meets with Jean-Michel Jacques, Chairman of the French National Assembly's National Defence and Armed Forces Committee. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, France seek to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Both sides agreed to continue promoting regular exchanges and practical cooperation within their respective areas of responsibility, contributing to closer ties between the two legislatures and further strengthening the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.