Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 16

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 16


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

- The port city of Hai Phong must become a leading growth pole in northern Vietnam, serving as a hub for hi-tech industry, world-class logistics, and modern maritime economy, while also acting as a key gateway linking domestic and foreign markets, said Party General Secretary To Lam.

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Party General Secretary To Lam speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

During a working session with the municipal Party Committee on March 16, General Secretary Lam urged the northern city to sustain high, long-term growth closely tied to modernisation, green transition, digitalisation, and better life quality. The city should further expand its dynamic business community and maintain its top national rankings in investment environment, administrative reform, and digital transformation. Read full story

- The election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term concluded completely at 21:00 on March 15, with a voter turnout of 99.68%, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

As of 23:23 the same day, official data from the National Election Council showed that 76,188,544 voters had cast their ballots, representing nearly all registered voters. Read full story

- Vietnam and China held the first ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue among their foreign affairs, defence and public security ministries, known as the “3+3 Dialogue,” in Hanoi on March 16.

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Vietnamese and Chinese ministers pose for a photo at the first ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue among their foreign affairs, defence and public security ministries. (Photo: VNA)

The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnam’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang, and Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of National Defence Dong Jun, and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong. Read full story

- The Government has issued Resolution No. 46/NQ-CP on the appraisal of the revised investment policy for the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power project.

Under the resolution, the Ministry of Finance will continue to lead the appraisal process, with the Minister of Finance serving as chairman of the appraisal council for the pre-feasibility study report of the project’s adjusted investment policy, as assigned by the Prime Minister in Notice No. 21/TB-VPCP dated January 11, 2026. Read full story

- Vietnam’s wood processing industry is stepping up efforts to enhance its export value by investing in technology, green production, and product design while diversifying markets to strengthen competitiveness in the global market.

According to Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Vu Ba Phu, the wood sector remains one of Vietnam’s key export industries in 2025, with export turnover of timber and wood products reaching about 17.2 billion USD. Read full story

- An incense offering ceremony was held on March 16 at the Son My Memorial Site in Tinh Khe commune, the central province of Quang Ngai, to mark the 58th anniversary of the massacre of 504 civilians in Son My (March 16, 1968–2026).

In her remarks, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Pham Thi Trung recalled the incident and affirmed the determination of local authorities and residents in building a prosperous homeland. Read full story

- A Vietnamese delegation, represented by the Que Huong (Homeland) Choir, participated in the 28th International Choral Festival of Paris, one of the world’s reputable festivals that bring together choirs from many countries.

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Que Huong (Homeland) Choir performs at the 28th International Choir Festival of Paris at Saint Roch Cathedral. (Photo: VNA)

The Que Huong Choir not only brought its distinctive musical colours to the event but also contributed to promoting Vietnamese culture to international friends. Read full story

- The Hanoi Tourism Festival 2026, highlighting green tourism and digital experiences wrapped up on March 15 at Thong Nhat Park after three days of activities.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Nguyen Tran Quang said the event created a vibrant platform to promote the capital’s distinctive cultural and tourism values. It also provided an opportunity for localities and travel businesses to introduce new tourism products and strengthen cooperation for sustainable development./. Read full story

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The two sides also consented to continue close coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums, particularly the IPU, promoting the role of legislatures in advancing multilateralism and respect for international law, and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development regionally and globally.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) receives Chen Gang, member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader receives Secretary of Guangxi’s Party Committee

Vietnam is a close neighbour, trusted friend and one of Guangxi’s most important partners. The Party organisation and authorities of China's autonomous region attach great importance to friendship and cooperation with Vietnamese localities; and will continue to take the lead in thoroughly implementing the important common perceptions reached by the two top leaders, thereby deepening cooperation and friendship between China and Vietnam.

Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at their meeting in Istanbul on April 16, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese NA Chairman meets Turkish President

Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised that economic, trade, and investment ties should serve as key pillars of the relationship. They agreed to create favourable conditions to raise bilateral trade turnover to 4 billion USD, while continuing to encourage Turkish enterprises to invest in Vietnam and contribute to its economic development.

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Vietnam is striving with confidence and self-strengthening to enter a new stage of development, aiming to become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030, and a high-income developed country by 2045, said NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man at the general debate of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-152).

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man speaks at the policy dialogue aimed at promoting Vietnam–Türkiye cooperation (Photo: VNA)

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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man underlined that there remains ample room to further expand cooperation between Vietnam and Georgia in areas where both sides have strengths and potential, including education and training, culture, tourism, sports, logistics and transport, particularly rail transport.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (C, first row) and representatives from 52 leading US enterprises (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister meets delegation of leading US businesses

At the meeting, representatives of USABC, the US Embassy in Vietnam and participating businesses commended Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and improving investment climate, as well as its strategic development orientation toward rapid and sustainable growth driven by science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

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☕ Afternoon briefing on April 16

☕ Afternoon briefing on April 16

Vietnamese PM Le Minh Hung's phone talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man's attendance at the opening of the IPU-152, and the presentation of the 20th Devotion Awards are among news highlights on April 16.

President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Lee Jae Myung (Photo: Yonhap)

RoK President to pay state visit to Vietnam

President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Lee Jae Myung and his spouse will pay a state visit to Vietnam from April 21 – 24 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam and his wife./.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung holds phone talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong on April 16. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister holds phone talks with Singaporean counterpart

PM Hung noted that Vietnam is preparing new policies to attract greater foreign investment, including from Singapore. He called Singapore’s support in developing international financial centres in Vietnam, as well as expanding and upgrading next-generation Vietnam–Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) in tandem with high technology transfer.