Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 9

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 9

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

- Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has urged ministries, sectors and localities to work in close coordination to ensure the effective and timely implementation of four national target programmes and disburse 100% of capital allocated for 2026, including carry-over funds from the 2021–2025 period.

Chairing the inaugural meeting of the Central Steering Committee for National Target Programmes on July 9, PM Hung stressed that agencies at all levels must accelerate implementation, strengthen coordination and improve accountability to maximise the effectiveness of public investment. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Giang has signed Decision No. 1226/QD-TTg approving a project to promote the private-sector engagement in research, development and application of civil cryptography for 2026–2030, with a vision to 2035.

The initiative aims to establish and perfect mechanisms and policies to encourage greater participation from enterprises, organisations, training institutions and individuals in developing civil cryptography technology. It is designed to help the country gradually master some core cryptography technologies and form a “Make in Vietnam” civil cryptography ecosystem with strong competitiveness capable of safeguarding information security, protecting data and strengthening the country’s digital sovereignty. Read full story

- Vietnam is projected to remain the fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) maintaining its growth forecasts of 7.2% for 2026 and 7.0% for 2027 in its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) July 2026 released on July 8.

The forecasts rank among the highest in developing Asia and the Pacific, reflecting the continued resilience of Vietnam’s manufacturing sector, sustained export and investment performance, and stable domestic demand. Inflation is predicted to rise from 3.3% in 2025 to 4% this year before easing to 3.8% in 2027. Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City has significant potential to build a vibrant world-class night-time economy by making better use of its cultural industries, experts said.

According to the National Statistics Office, cultural industries contributed about 3.54% of the city's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in 2020. The figure rose to around 5.7% in 2025 and is expected to continue growing. Read full story

- The central city of Da Nang hopes to become a hub connecting Vietnam’s financial sector with emerging global trends and a gateway for international financial institutions, investment funds and businesses seeking easier access to the Vietnamese market.

Ho Ky Minh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, made the remarks at the opening of the Vietnam Financial Forum 2026 (VFF 2026) on July 9. The forum brought together more than 350 policymakers, international financial institutions, strategic consulting firms, fintech companies and stakeholders in global capital markets and financial infrastructure. Read full story

- Vietnam spent about 3.16 trillion VND (more than 121.5 million USD) on diamond imports in the first six months of 2026, with imports from India accounting for more than half of the total value.

Preliminary data released by the Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance show that Vietnam purchased diamond worth nearly 121.54 million USD during the first half. Read full story./.

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☕ Afternoon briefing on July 8

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 8

The Government’s law-building session for July, the World Energy and Environment Forum – Vietnam 2026, and Vietnam's provision of 300,000 USD in emergency humanitarian assistance to support Venezuela's recovery from the twin earthquakes are among news highlights on July 8.

☀️ Morning digest on July 8

☀️ Morning digest on July 8

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (3rd from left) and his Lao counterpart General Khamliang Outhakaysone (4th from left) in an activity held on July 9, 2026 as part of the third Vietnam – Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange. (Photo: VNA)

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The seminar held in Hanoi on July 8 shares the key experiences of the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Vietnam in leading the cause of socialism building. (Photo: VOV)

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The ninth friendship exchange between Vietnamese and Philippine navies, held on Song Tu Tay island in the Truong Sa (Spratly) special zone of Vietnam, aimed to further strengthen friendship, cooperation, mutual trust and understanding between the army forces and navies of Vietnam and the Philippines, while effectively implementing bilateral naval cooperation agreements.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung speaks at the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Independence Day of the US in Hanoi on July 8. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Vietnam, US pledge to jointly open new chapter in bilateral ties

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said he hopes the two countries will together open up a new chapter of stable, substantive and effective development in their relationship based on respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regimes, as well as mutual benefit.

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Vietnam, France push forward Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

At a meeting with Martin Briens, Secretary-General of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in Hanoi on July 8, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung highlighted the positive developments in bilateral ties since the two countries elevated their relationship. He noted that Vietnam–France cooperation has generated tangible benefits for both peoples while contributing to peace, stability, dialogue, and cooperation in the world.

NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh (right) receives Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg Kalganov Vyacheslav Gennadievich in Hanoi on July 8 (Photo: VNA)

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Russia in general and Saint Petersburg in particular attach great importance to strengthening ties with Vietnam, expressing his hope for more exchanges between high-level parliamentary delegations and broader cooperation with Vietnamese localities to further deepen the bilateral relations.

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Vietnam extends condolences to China over natural disasters

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam cabled his condolences to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping following recent severe rains, flooding, tornadoes and landslides that have caused significant loss of life and property in several localities in China.

The opening ceremony of the 27th Coordinating Board Meeting of the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (ASEAN-OSHNET) in Da Nang, Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

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At the meeting, Thailand officially handed over the ASEAN-OSHNET chairmanship to Vietnam, while Brunei assumed the vice chairmanship. Vietnam also transferred its role as the network’s Secretariat, which it had held for the 2023–2026 term, to Brunei for the 2026–2029 period.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung in the phone talks with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Roberto Velasco Álvarez. (Photo: Vietnames Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

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Vietnam wants to build a substantive and effective relationship and establish a new partnership framework that matches the level of bilateral ties, he said, adding that Vietnam supports Mexico’s efforts to bolster ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), thus contributing to peace, cooperation and development between the two regions.

The meeting between General Phan Van Giang (R), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki in Hanoi on July 8, 2026. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang expressed his hope that the Japanese ambassador will continue to support the implementation of bilateral defence cooperation, helping to secure tangible outcomes.

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