Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 17

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on March 17 ảnh 1
Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

-PermanentVice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man heldseparate talks with Vice President of the Senate Cristina Narbona and FirstVice President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Alfonso Rodriguez in Madridon March 16.
Man, who is on a visit to Spain, congratulated thecountry on its holding of the rotating European Council Presidency in thesecond half of 2023 and asked it to further promote and turn the ASEAN - EUcooperation into a priority in the EU’s agenda.Read full text

-Vietnamalways treasures and wants to promote its traditional friendship andcomprehensive cooperation with Poland, one of its prioritised partners inCentral Eastern Europe, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen DucHai said while receiving Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau inHanoi on March 17.
Welcoming the Polish official’s visit, Haiaffirmed that the Vietnamese NA always supports the comprehensive cooperationbetween the two governments.Read full text

-DeputyPrime Minister Tran Hong Ha hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 16 for TienQuoc Hao, Chief Executive Officer of Asia Region of Japan’s Toyota MotorCorporation (TMC) and President of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP), duringwhich he asked for Toyota’s technical support to help Vietnam catch up with andeven lead the digital transformation and sustainable energy transition process,and realise the goal of net-zero emissions.
Laterthe same day, Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha received Kirsten Schuijt, Director Generalof the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), who highly valued the directions givenby the Government of Vietnam in domestic and global conservation efforts.Read full text

-As a member of ASEAN and the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2023-2025,Vietnam will continue its close coordination with the 10-member grouping andthe international community to help Myanmar overcome difficulties, promotedialogues, enhance understanding and narrow differences, the PermanentRepresentative of Vietnam to the UN has said.
Speaking at an informal meeting of the 77th UNGeneral Assembly in New York on March 16, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang notedVietnam’s concern over the situation in Myanmar which saw no improvements overthe past two years, with a fragile economy and a severe humanitarian crisiswhich have greatly impacted women and children.Read full text

-A delegation of the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam, led by Nguyen HuyTien, Permanent Deputy Prosecutor General, attended the 15th InternationalMeeting on Criminal Science and the 3rd conference on the rule of law, law andsociety, organised in Havana on March 15-17.
Theofficial affirmed that the Communist Party and the Government of Vietnamdetermine that the fight against corruption is an important, urgent andcomplicated task that plays a vital role in the construction and development ofthe country.Read full text

-Adelegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence participated in DSEIJapan 2023, the only large-scale, fully integrated defence event in Japan, fromMarch 14-17.
First launched in 2019, the biennial event wassuspended until this year due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.Read full text

-VietnameseAmbassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh paid a working visit to Hannover city,Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) state on March 15-16.
In meetings with local officials, Minh reviewedthe situation and prospects of the Vietnam-Germany relations, affirming thatthe bilateral Strategic Partnership has been strongly promoted in variousfields.Read full text

-The2023 Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) opened in Hanoi on March 17 under the themeof “Business Community in Partnership with Government of Vietnam in FosteringGreen Growth”.
The annual forum, co-organised by the VietnameseMinistry of Planning and Investment and the World Bank Group’s InternationalFinance Corporation (IFC), serves as an uninterrupted and close dialoguemechanism between the Government and the domestic and foreign businesscommunities in order to improve business conditions to promote the developmentof the domestic private sector and facilitate the investment environment, thuscontributing to Vietnam's sustainable economic growth.Read full text

-Vietnamesefilm lovers will have a chance to enjoy outstanding cinema works from theFrancophone community at the 13th Francophone Film Festival which is set to runin Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from March 18 to 24.
Aspart of cultural activities on the occasion of International Francophone Day,the festival will present seven films from nine countries including Vietnam,Switzerland, France, Canada, Tunisia and Belgium-Wallonie-Bruxelles.Read full text/.

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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Editorial team meets to begin review of 100-year Party leadership

Politburo member Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang described the review as a major strategic political task, adding that the process must deliver historical depth, theoretical vision, and strategic foresight to guide Vietnam toward fast and sustainable development in the decades ahead.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the working session with standing members of the NA's Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs in Hanoi on May 20. (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman asks for enhanced policy advisory to support double-digit growth target

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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) and Ambassador Rick Switzer, Deputy US Trade Representative, in Hanoi on May 20, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister receives Deputy US Trade Representative

The Vietnamese Government will continue to work closely with the US side to soon finalise the agreement, thereby further deepening economic, trade, and investment cooperation as the main driving force for bilateral relations, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius in Hanoi on May 19, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam sees Sweden one of leading European partners in innovation, green development

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, both sides affirmed their support for multilateralism and free trade, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts in line with international law and the UN Charter. They also stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang (R) and US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam wants to boost stronger economic, trade ties with US: Minister

Quang said the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies are willing to work closely with the US side to address existing challenges, advance substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation, and ensure balanced interests for businesses and citizens of both countries.

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau Le Duc Hanh and representatives of Vietnamese agencies in Hong Kong offer flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the Tai Kwun heritage site. (Photo: VNA)

Historic relic sites in Hong Kong inspire national pride among overseas Vietnamese

In addition to Tai Kwun, Hong Kong is home to several other historic landmarks linked to President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary activities in the early 20th century, including Sung Wong Toi Park, where a stone from Sung Wong Toi Hill marks the site where he convened the conference leading to the establishment of the CPV. House No. 186 Tam Kung also served as one of his secret residences before his arrest.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman hold talks in Hanoi on May 19, 2026. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam always treasures bilateral relations with Croatia: FM

Welcoming the first-ever visit to Vietnam by a Croatian foreign minister since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1994, Trung described the trip as a strong signal of Croatia’s commitment to expanding multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. He affirmed that Vietnam always treasures relations with traditional friends, with Croatia regarded as one of its priority partners in the Balkan region.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (R) receives Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman. (Photo: VGP)

Vietnam, Croatia seek to enhance defence cooperation

Affirming that Vietnam always values its traditional friendship with countries in the Balkan region, with Croatia regarded as one of its priority partners, Giang spoke highly of bilateral collaboration achievements in politics-diplomacy, economy, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.