☕ Afternoon briefing on May 27

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on May 27

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

- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) need to work together to shape a new-generation model of inter-regional cooperation, based on sincerity, substance, comprehensiveness, cohesion, and greater effectiveness, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at the second ASEAN-GCC Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 27.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the second ASEAN-GCC Summit. (Photo: VNA)

This move will generate strong momentum for development cooperation, enhance the harmonisation of interests between the two sides, and contribute to peace, stability, and shared prosperity in both regions and the world, he stressed. Read full story

- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam on May 27 on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur.

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam in Kuala Lumpur on May 27. (Photo: VNA)

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah opened the meeting by extending his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese State, Government and people over the passing of former State President Tran Duc Luong. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with his Timor-Leste counterpart Xanana Gusmao in Kuala Lumpur on May 27, within the framework of his official visit to Malaysia and his attendance at the 46th ASEAN Summit and related Summits.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with his Timor-Leste counterpart Xanana Gusmao. (Photo: VNA)

During the meeting, PM Chinh congratulated Timor-Leste on receiving unanimous support from ASEAN leaders for its admission as a new member of the bloc at the 47th ASEAN Summit, scheduled for October. Read full story

- French President Emmanuel Macron on May 27 delivered a keynote speech at a meeting with Vietnamese students and young intellectuals at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) – a flagship institution founded under bilateral agreements signed between the Vietnamese and French governments in 2009 and 2018.

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French President Emmanuel Macron talks to Vietnamese students and young intellectuals at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) on May 27. (Photo: VNA)

The French President, who is paying a state visit to Vietnam from 25-27, underlined the central role of education in the France–Vietnam partnership, which he described as one of the most enduring pillars of bilateral cooperation. Read full story

- Vietnamese industrial conglomerate Truong Hai Group Corporation (Truong Hai Group) has submitted a formal proposal to the Prime Minister to invest more than 1.56 trillion VND (some 61.35 billion USD) in the country’s high-speed railway linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

As part of the proposal, it suggested that land clearance should be treated as a separate, state-led project and therefore excluded from the overall investment cost of the railway scheme. Read full story

- Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC) and French pharmaceutical group Sanofi on May 26 exchanged an agreement to initiate the transfer of Sanofi’s technology for vaccine production at VNVC’s vaccine and biologicals plant.

The partnership marks a significant milestone in enhancing bilateral cooperation in key sectors amid globalisation, especially in healthcare. It also represents a strategic step for Vietnam’s health sector to expand international collaboration in high-tech science, aiming to reinforce national health security and boost its preparedness for future disease outbreaks. Read full story

- Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has welcomed Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea’s wish to join the ASEAN as member states.

“We support Timor-Leste’s becoming a full ASEAN member as soon as possible—if possible, this year,” he said at the plenary session of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 26, as quoted by Indonesia's national news agency Antara. Read full story

- Thailand recorded 53,563 COVID-19 cases with five deaths from May 18 to 24, according the Department of Disease Control under the Thai Ministry of Public Health.

Of the total cases, 2,827 were inpatients and 50,736 were outpatients. The largest group of patients was aged 30–39 (10,740 cases), followed by those aged 20–29 (9,527), 60 and over (8,107), and young children aged up to four years (4,117)./. Read full story

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Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili receives Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Vice President meets with Georgian leaders

Kavelashvili said Xuan's visit is expected to consolidate political trust, deepen mutual understanding and propel ties across all levels and sectors. He welcomed the strides in the bilateral relationship, particularly continued meetings and conservations between leaders and consultation mechanisms between agencies of the two countries.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Khamlieng Outhakaisone at their meeting on October 13 (Photo: VNA)

Defence, security cooperation is an important pillar of Vietnam–Laos ties: PM

Expressing his pleasure at the positive development of the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, the PM highlighted defence and security cooperation as an important pillar of the bilateral ties. He praised the two defence ministries and armies for implementing high-level agreements, strengthening mutual trust and helping maintain a peaceful and stable environment conducive to socio-economic development.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang (left) and his Cambodian counterpart General Tea Seiha review the Honour Guard of the Vietnam People's Army (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cambodia sign defence cooperation plan for 2027

Giang called on agencies and units of the two defence ministries to implement agreed cooperation programmes, focusing on political and ideological education to strengthen political trust, and cooperation between military services and arms. The two sides should step up coordination in border management and protection to build a Vietnam-Cambodia border of peace, cooperation and development.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau (L) and Professor and Academician Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, Director of Tsinghua University's Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM visits China’s Tsinghua University, seeking closer educational cooperation

Tsinghua has worked to implement the Vietnamese and Chinese leaders’ orientations for higher education cooperation. Last year, it admitted 27 Vietnamese students and postgraduates, the highest number to date, all of whom received scholarships. The university also hosted the second Vietnam-China Higher Education Cooperation Forum, helping promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries’ educational institutions.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia and Azerbaijan Dang Minh Khoi (Photo: VNA)

Substantive contributions to CICA help enhance Vietnam's int'l standing: Ambassador

For Vietnam, active participation in and substantive contributions to CICA not only help implement its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, multilateralisation and diversification of relations, but also create more favourable conditions for enhancing the country’s standing and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man explores AI-powered interactive display products at Guangzhou Shiyuan Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (CVTE) on October 13, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

NA President visits Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area

The National Assembly was ready to listen to businesses’ legitimate proposals and further improve the legal framework to support foreign enterprises’ long-term and effective operations in Vietnam, ensuring compliance with the law and balancing the interests of all parties, said President of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (R) and his Lao counterpart General Khamliang Outhakaysone in Hanoi on October 13. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos strengthen defence cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang held talks with his Lao counterpart General Khamliang Outhakaysone in Hanoi on October 13, focusing on measures to deepen bilateral defence ties and advance strategic connectivity between the two countries.