Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on May 23

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on May 23.
☕ Afternoon briefing on May 23 ảnh 1
Hanoi, (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported bythe Vietnam News Agency on May 23. 

-The15th-tenure National Assembly (NA) convened the third session in Hanoi on May23.

The opening session is broadcast live on Radio theVoice of Vietnam (VOV1), the Vietnam Television (VTV), and the NA's TV channel. Read full story

- In order to ensure the highest efficiency of the 15th National Assembly(NA)'s third session, NA agencies and deputies had made careful preparations ondiscussion contents, aiming for the highest outcomes with shortest sittingtime, said NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue while opening the session on May 23.

The toplegislator said that over the past nearly one year, NA deputies have adhered totheir action plans and kept their promises to voters and people, whilelistening to their ideas and requests and working to enhance their capacity andoperational efficiency across all fields. Read full story

-Deputy PrimeMinister Le Minh Khai on May 22 held several bilateral meetings with leaders ofinternational organisations and businesses during his trip to Geneva to attendthe 52nd World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting.

At his meeting with British Cabinet Minister andPresident for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) AlokSharma, Khai said that Vietnam has been implementing many overall andcomprehensive measures in the field of energy transition and growth modeltransformation towards a green and circular direction to realise commitmentsmade at COP26. Read full story

-Vietnam supports a rules-based multilateraltrading system and the World Trade Organization's (WTO) role in the globaltrade system, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh stated atthe Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation  (APEC)'s 28thMinisters Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting.

In his speech at the event, which took place inboth face-to-face and virtual forms in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 21-22, thedeputy minister affirmed that Vietnam is ready to coordinate with WTO membersto promote and approve key contents at the WTO’s 12 ministerial conferenceslated for June this year. Read full story 

-A total of 103 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and expertswho laid down their lives while on duty in the northern Lao provinces ofVientiane, Xaysomboun and Xiengkhuang were returned to Vietnam on May 22 and 23.

The remains were founded by the repatriation teamof central Nghe An province’s Military Command during the 2021 – 2022 dryseason. They will be re-buried at Nghi Loc martyrs’ cemetery on May 25. Read full story

-The retail prices of oil and petrol continued to rise from May 23 followingthe latest adjustment by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry ofFinance.

Accordingly, from 3pm, the price of RON95 bio-fuelRON95 was raised by 670 VND per litre to 30,650 VND (1.32 USD) per litre, whilethat of E5 RON92 rose by 680 VND per litre to 29,630 VND (1.28 USD) per litre. Read full story

-The 8thsummer camp of Vietnamese youth in Europe  “Vietheart Summer Camp2022” will take place in Prague on August 18-21, heard a press conference heldby the Vietnam youth and student associations in the country on May 22.

The camp will be hosted by the standing board ofthe Union of Vietnamese Youth and Student in Europe and the Vietnam Youth andStudent Association after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read full story

-Vietnam have wrapped up their SEA Games 31 run at the top of the medal tablewith 205 golds, including the much-anticipated one in the men’s footballclaimed on May 22 night.  
The hosts broke the record of 194 golds set byIndonesia at the 1997 SEA Games in Jakarta. Thailand came second with 92 goldsand Indonesia third with 69. Read full story/.
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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witness the exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-India relations enter new phase of development: Indian expert

The elevation of bilateral ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the increasingly deep convergence of geopolitical, economic, maritime and civilisational interests between the two countries, former Indian Deputy National Security Adviser S.D. Pradhan told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in New Delhi.

At the meeting between Vietnam's Politburo member Nguyen Thanh Nghi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka G. Weerasinghe and General Secretary of the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Solidarity Association Sudasinghe Sugathapala. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party official meets leaders of Sri Lankan political parties

Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Politburo member, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Policies and Strategies, held meetings in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 8 with leaders of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP - People's Liberation Front), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Solidarity Association.

Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş (R) receives Vietnamese Ambassador to Türkiye Dang Thi Thu Ha (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Türkiye strengthen parliamentary cooperation

Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş affirmed that Türkiye considers Vietnam an important partner in Southeast Asia, emphasising that similarities in historical depth, cultural identity, foreign policy orientations and family values provide a strong foundation for elevating bilateral ties to a new level.

Participants pose for a group photo at the ceremony in Hanoi on the evening of May 8,2026, to celebrate Europe Day (May 9). (Photo: VNA)

Europe Day 2026 marked in Hanoi

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to accompanying Vietnam in achieving its goals of becoming a developed economy by 2045 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, while ensuring energy security amid global uncertainties.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet the press to announce the outcomes of their talks. The two sides issued a joint statement on the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader’s visits opening new phase of deeper, more effective ties with India, Sri Lanka: FM

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung described the visits as particularly important and historic, taking place at a meaningful moment as Vietnam and India mark the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and just one month after the top leader of Vietnam assumed his new position. For Sri Lanka, this was the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attends the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s presence in ASEAN Summit spreads message of dynamic, strongly rising Vietnam: official

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said that the Vietnamese delegation made important contributions to the summit’s success, reflecting the foreign policy orientation set out by the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which continues to place ASEAN at the centre of Vietnam’s regional engagement, as well as its commitment to proactive, positive and responsible contributions to ASEAN Community-building process.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam reviews the honor guard. Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s top leader concludes successful state visit to Sri Lanka

Vietnam and Sri Lanka agreed to elevate political trust and comprehensively develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation as well as expand high-level and all-level exchanges and contacts, regularly implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various fields.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on the afternoon of May 8. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with Sri Lankan PM in Colombo

The two leaders agreed that their countries will work together to turn the good intentions and aspirations for bilateral relations into tangible outcomes so that in the future, they could look back with pride on the achievements born from today’s determination.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (fifth, left) and heads of delegations from ASEAN countries attend the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit on May 8, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

PM Le Minh Hung concludes trip to 48th ASEAN Summit

The trip was considered a success both multilaterally and bilaterally, leaving a positive impression of Vietnam’s proactive, active and responsible spirit, as well as its substantive and effective contributions to ASEAN’s common work and efforts to promote ties with member states.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone at their meeting in Cebu on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam PM meets with Lao, Malaysian counterparts in Philippines

Vietnam always gives the highest priority to the Vietnam–Laos relationship and will continue joining Laos in nurturing and deepening bilateral cooperation in a sustainable and practical manner for the benefit of the two countries' people, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) meets with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets ASEAN Secretary-General

Vietnam wishes to continue working closely with ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat in the community building process, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung while meeting ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on May 8 on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at their meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese PM meets leaders of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held separate meetings with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on May 8 as part of his trip to attend the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.