Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 20

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 20

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

- Party General Secretary To Lam on March 20 urged the young generations of both Vietnam and China to inherit the tradition of friendship and bring a bright future to the bilateral relations.

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

Addressing a get-together of Vietnamese and Chinese students who have learned in the two countries from different periods, held on the occasion of the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange 2025, the Party chief hailed the significance of the programme, considering it as an opportunity to share about the bilateral friendship, and to convey the message about the role and determination of students over the years in promoting the vision for a new era of development for each Party, each nation, and the bilateral relationship.Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong hosted a reception for out-going Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Vietnam Jaime Francisco Rodriguez in Hanoi on March 20.

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State President Luong Cuong (R) receives out-going Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Vietnam Jaime Francisco Rodriguez. (Photo: VNA)

Cuong highly valued the diplomat's contributions to strengthening the bilateral relations during his tenure through all-level delegation exchanges, cultural promotion events, and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums. Read full story

- Representatives of US businesses affirmed their interest and readiness to invest and expand operations in Vietnam while meeting with Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh in Hanoi on March 19.

At his reception for a delegation from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) led by its Chairman and CEO Ted Osius, Thanh underlined the crucial role played by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the US in Vietnam’s socio-economic development, investment and trade, science - technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Read full story

- The Vietnamese Government has issued a new decree stipulating that foreign investors could only buy treasury stocks which were purchased by credit institutions before January 1, 2021.

Decree No. 69/2025/ND-CP amends several provisions of Decree No. 01/2014/ND-CP regarding foreign investment in Vietnamese financial institutions. The changes specifically address purchase methods, ownership limits, and investor obligations. Read full story

- To enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, the Politburo has issued a conclusion regarding the research and proposals to continue reorganising the structure of the political system, including the merger of some provincial-level administrative units, the elimination of district-level ones, and the further merger of commune-level units.

The issuance of Conclusion 127-KL/TW of the Politburo and the Secretariat on February 28, 2025 is seen as an important step in the administrative reform process, contributing to streamlining the apparatus, improving service quality for the people, and optimising resources. Read full story

- Vietnam's shrimp exports have demonstrated impressive resilience in the first two months of 2025, solidifying their status as the leading export product of the seafood industry.

The shrimp export value in the first two months of 2025 reached 542 million USD out of a total seafood export value of 1.4 billion USD, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Read full story

- The World Bank is committed to mobilising additional non-refundable aid to support Vietnam’s project on developing one million hectares of high-quality and low-carbon rice in association with green growth in the Mekong Delta region, a senior WB official has said.

Shobha Shetty, Global Director of the Agriculture and Food Global Practice at the World Bank, made the statement while making a field trip to a rice cultivation site at New Green Farm Cooperative in Thot Not district, Can Tho city, on March 19. Read full story

- After skyrocketing to fame in 2024, Phu Quoc shows no signs of slowing down in early 2025, as it continues to be recognised by prestigious travel magazines and media outlets worldwide.

Recently, Asia's leading travel magazine, DestinAsian, announced its list of the Best Islands of 2025, highlighting the top 10 islands in Asia as voted by readers. This annual award celebrates outstanding destinations, hotels, airlines, and services across the region. Last year, Phu Quoc ranked 6th on this list, but in 2025, it has climbed to the 5th position, making it the only representative from Vietnam. This recognition underscores the island’s growing prominence on the global tourism map and increasing visitor satisfaction with its services./. Read full story

VNA
#To Lam #Luong Cuong #China #USABC #Ted Osius #Green and Smart Mobility #Phu Quoc
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