☕ 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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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman chairs meeting on preparations for 16th NA’s first session

The 16th National Assembly’s first session will elect finalise key state leadership positions, including the State President, Prime Minister, NA Chairman, NA vice chairpersons, Deputy PMs, Cabinet members, members of the NA Standing Committee, head of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs and heads of NA committees.

Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh (standing, left) and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin (standing, right) witness the signing of the agreement between the two governments on cooperation in building a nuclear power plant on the territory of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s Russia visit yields substantive outcomes: Deputy FM

During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Russia on March 22-25, Vietnam and Russia reached strong consensus on deepening political trust and mutual understanding, building on their long-standing traditional friendship.

Vietnamese mission staff and overseas Vietnamese in Australia visit Ship 016–Quang Trung (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese naval ship completes mission at Kakadu Exercise 2026

Ship 016–Quang Trung of Brigade 162 under Naval Region 4 departed Sydney Harbour on the morning of March 25 for home after successfully completing activities within the framework of the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review 2026 marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and the multilateral naval exercise Kakadu 2026.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has wrapped up the official visit to Russia from March 22 to 25. (Photo: VNA)

PM arrives in Hanoi, concluding official visit to Russia

With the outcomes achieved and strong implementation efforts by both sides, the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is expected to grow further, contributing to socio-economic development in each country as well as to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the world.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 25. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets Russian President in Moscow

President Putin said Vietnam remains a sincere friend and an important partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific, stressing that Russia attaches importance to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (Source: MoFA)

Vietnamese, Philippine foreign ministers hold phone talks

They agreed to further elevate cooperation across all areas, including politics, diplomacy, defence, security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, contributing to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (July 12, 1976 – 2026).

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh (R) receives Chay Borin, Minister of Cult and Religion of Cambodia, in Hanoi on March 25 (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM receives Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion in Hanoi

Deputy PM Mai Van Chinh welcomed Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion Chay Borin and his entourage on their working visit to Vietnam to implement the cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and Cambodia’s Ministry of Cult and Religion for the 2026–2030 period.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam (R) and Thongly Sisoulith, member of the Lao Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union at a photo exhibition held as part of the ceremony marking he 95th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Vientiane on March 25. (Photo: VNA)

95th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union marked in Laos

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam described Vietnamese and Lao youth as the “architects” of the future of bilateral ties and called on young Vietnamese in Laos to strengthen their political awareness, pioneer digital transformation and entrepreneurship, and act as ambassadors of friendship between the two countries' people.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu pays a New Year visit to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cambodia foster friendship, solidarity

At a meeting on March 25 at the headquarters of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces High Command, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu conveyed his best New Year wishes to General Vong Pisen and all officers and soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.