☕ Afternoon briefing on May 20

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on May 20.
☕ Afternoon briefing on May 20 ảnh 1

Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a briefreview of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on May 20.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receivedvisiting Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin in Hanoi on May20, emphasising that Singapore is always one of the leading partners of Vietnamin the region. The host described his guest’s official visit as highlyimportant to promoting the two countries’ strategic partnership. Read full story

– Overseas Vietnamese people organised manyactivities on May 19 to mark the 132nd birth anniversary of late President HoChi Minh. Read full story

– The visit by National Assembly (NA) ChairmanVuong Dinh Hue to Laos from May 15-17 was a success, helping further foster thecooperative relations and mutual support between the two parliaments, andbolster the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive partnershipbetween the two countries, according to Chairman of the NA Committee forExternal Relations Vu Hai Ha.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency followingthe visit, Ha said that senior leader of Laos highly valued the first visit byHue as the Vietnamese top legislator during the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-VietnamSolidarity and Friendship Year 2022, making him the first foreign parliamentleader to visit Laos during the ninth tenure of the Lao NA. Read full story

– Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City’s People’sCommittee Phan Van Mai has promised to boost the relationship between Vietnamand Cuba at a reception on May 19 for Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen,the new Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam. Mai and the Ambassador agreed topromote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of diplomacy, youthand cultural exchange. Read full story

– Vietnam considers food security as thefoundation of peace, stability and development, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang,Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations stated at an opendebate on conflict and food security held by the UN Security Council (UNSC) inNew York on May 19.

During the debate, the Vietnamese diplomat saidVietnam shares the international community's common concern about increasingchallenges facing the global food system due to the impacts of the COVID-19pandemic, climate change and natural disasters. Read full story

– The United Nations (UN) has affirmed itswillingness to support Vietnam in establishing a partnership on energytransition with the Group of Seven (G7) nations in a letter of UNSecretary-General Antonio Guterres to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Climate Action Selwin Harthanded over the letter to Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representativeof Vietnam to the UN at a meeting in New York on May 18. Read full story

– The Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) and the Japan Science and Technology (JST), in cooperation with theHanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) and the Nagaoka University ofTechnology (NUT) of Japan, organised a signing ceremony of Record ofDiscussions for the “Project for Innovation of Science and Technology onNatural Rubber for Global Carbon Process” in Hanoi on May 19.

Theproject is funded with the official development assistance (ODA) of theGovernment of Japan through the Science and Technology Research Partnership forSustainable Development (SATREPS) Programme which is co-financed by JICA andthe JST. Read full story/.
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Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), meets with Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) receives Athsaphangthong Siphandone, member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, in Hanoi on May 12, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung receives Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei in Hanoi on May 12. Photo: VNA

Prime Minister receives Chinese Ambassador

The Party and State of Vietnam always value the assistance China has provided to Vietnam during its past struggle for national independence as well as in national development today. Vietnam consistently regards the development of relations with China as a steadfast policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Tran Duc Thang and Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee Atsaphangthong Siphandone witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Women’s Unions of Hanoi and Vientiane for 2026–2030, as well as a memorandum on enhanced cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Hanoi and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union of Vientiane for the same period. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi, Vientiane promote comprehensive cooperation in new phase

The capitals of Vietnam and Laos signed memoranda of understanding on joint work in the fields of public communication and mass mobilisation, women and youth affairs, foreign relations, industry and trade, education and health care. These are expected to provide an important basis for implementing their cooperation priorities for 2026–2030.

An overview of the seminar held in Hanoi on May 12 (Photo: VNA)

Two-tier local administration improves public service delivery: Seminar

The two-tier local government model has operated relatively stable despite heavy workloads and high reform demands. Many localities have quickly adapted, while people have shown support for streamlined administration and expectations for a more modern, efficient and accountable public sector.

At the VFF's 11th National Congress for the 2026-2031 tenure. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Fatherland Front must better harness strength of great national unity: Top leader

In the new era, great national unity is not only a spiritual tradition, but also a national development capacity and a source of strength to unlock resources and creativity, create social consensus, and safeguard the country early and from afar. Unity now means respecting legitimate differences, harmonising interests, taking national interests as common ground, and rallying all patriotic Vietnamese around the aspiration to build a peaceful, independent, democratic, strong, prosperous, civilised, and happy Vietnam, the top leader said.

At the opening of the VFF's 11th National Congress. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Fatherland Front convenes 11th National Congress for 2026-2031 term

With the spirit of “Unity – Democracy – Innovation – Creativity – Development”, the Presidium called on delegates to uphold their sense of responsibility, solidarity, and wisdom, and contribute substantive and quality opinions on documents so that the congress would become a major milestone in the process of renewing and improving the VFF’s effectiveness in the new revolutionary period.

A flower-laying ceremony is held at the plaque in commemoration of President Ho Chi Minh on May 9 in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro city. (Photo: VNA)

Ceremony in Brazil honours President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam–Brazil friendship

Addressing a ceremony dedicated to the Vietnamese leader in Rio de Janeiro city on the occasion of the 136th anniversary of his birth (May 19, 1890–2026) and the 37th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Brazil (May 8, 1989–2026), Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi highlighted that Ho Chi Minh’s forward-thinking vision laid the foundation for friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Vietnam and Brazil more than a century ago.