☕ Afternoon briefing on November 22

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on November 22

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

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam delivered a policy speech at the University of Malaya, the oldest and most prestigious university of Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur on November 22 as part of his ongoing official visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Lam praised the university as a symbol of Malaysia's educational system but also as one of the leading centres of knowledge in the ASEAN region. With a history of over 100 years, the University of Malaya has nurtured many generations of talented individuals, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and four other former Prime Ministers. Read full story

- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivered a keynote speech at the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP 12), which kicked off in Phom Penh, Cambodia on November 22 morning, affirming Vietnam's consistent stance in supporting ICAPP's efforts to foster a peaceful, secure, and stable environment in the region.

He emphasised that the world is undergoing significant upheavals with rapid and complex developments, which pose obstacles to global peace and human security and even threaten the shared prosperity of Asian nations at some moments. Read full story

- As Vietnam and Bulgaria will celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, the official visit to Vietnam by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his spouse from November 24-28 will mark a significant milestone in their enduring friendship and create momentum for the two countries to develop the bilateral ties towards a strategic partnership in the coming time, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long.

The diplomat told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporter that the visit will be the first trip to Vietnam by a Bulgarian president in 11 years. This is also the first visit to Vietnam by President Radev who will be the first head of state to be officially welcomed by State President Luong Cuong since the Vietnamese leader took office. This diplomatic activity underscores Vietnam's high regard for Bulgaria as a traditional, trusted and important partner in the Balkans region. Read full story

- National Assembly (NA) deputies on November 22 morning discussed in groups the draft amended Law on Corporate Income Tax and the draft amended Law on Special Consumption Tax as part of the ongoing second phase of the 15th National Assembly’s 8th session.

At the discussion on the Law on Special Consumption Tax, a majority of deputies agreed to add beverages with a sugar content above 5 grams per 100ml that meet Vietnamese standards subject to the special consumption tax. Read full story

- The Trang An Landscape Complex, the first-ever Mixed Heritage Site of Vietnam and Southeast Asia, has not only become a key driver of socioeconomic development for the northern province of Ninh Binh but also served as a model for inspiring the preservation of humanity’s valuable assets. The province has made remarkable strides in conserving and promoting the site's values, reinforcing its status as a World Heritage Site.

Spanning 12,252 hectares, the Trang An Landscape Complex features several nationally significant sites, including the Trang An Eco-tourism Complex, Tam Coc-Bich Dong Tourist Area, Bai Dinh Pagoda, and the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Special National Relic. These landmarks are interconnected by the Hoa Lu Special-Use Forest ecosystem, which encompasses limestone mountains, wetlands, and a network of rivers, lakes, and ponds. Trang An is not only a showcase of natural beauty but also a repository of prehistoric relics and a blend of diverse cultural elements that bridge the past and present. Read full story

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UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay (seventh from right) visits Hue royal palace in September 2022. (Photo: VNA)

- The central province of Thua Thien-Hue is now the only locality in Vietnam, and also Southeast Asia, to boast six UNESCO World Heritages. These include the Imperial City of Hue, the Hue Court Music, the Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Official Records of the Nguyen Dynasty, the royal literature on Hue royal architecture, and the castings on the Nine Dynastic Urns in the Hue Imperial Palace.

This impressive collection underscores the locality’s unique historical and cultural significance, earning global recognition for the Imperial City of Hue as a key site in the story of human civilisation. These heritage treasures have become vital assets for the local economy, offering immense potential for its socio-economic growth, while positioning Hue as a distinctive cultural and heritage hub in Vietnam. Read full story

- The Vietnamese women's national futsal team beat their Thai rivals 2-1 in the final match of the 2024 ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championships in the Philippines on November 21.

Both teams entered the game with the high determination, resulting in a tense first half. Vietnam created several dangerous opportunities, but Thailand's skillful goalkeeper Suksen kept the score at 0-0./. Read full story

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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (third, left) meets with Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, in New Delhi on September 12 (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister meets with Cuban FM

Vietnam always attaches importance to its special friendship with Cuba, closely follows the situation in the Caribbean island nation, shares difficulties and challenges with Cuba, and stands ready to provide support within its capacity, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (L) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi before their talks in New Delhi on September 12. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister holds talks with Indian counterpart

Vietnam and India are among the world's fastest-growing economies and have highly complementary strengths, with substantial untapped potential for cooperation. They expressed determination to step up measures to achieve the target of 25 billion USD in bilateral trade at an early date and facilitate market access for products from both countries, particularly pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, fisheries and livestock products.

Hélène Luc, French Honorary Senator and Honorary President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association talks to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Paris (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-France ties poised for deeper, more substantive cooperation

Vietnam-France relations are entering a new phase with opportunities to translate high-level orientations and agreements into concrete cooperation programmes while expanding bilateral ties in economy, science and technology, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam lay a wreath at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in G20 Park in the Indian capital of New Delhi on September 12 (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister pays tribute to President Ho Chi Minh in New Delhi

The statue of President Ho Chi Minh stands prominently in the Diplomatic Enclave of Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. It holds special political and diplomatic significance, reflecting the close ties between the leaders and people of the two countries, as well as India’s special sentiments toward President Ho Chi Minh in particular and Vietnam in general.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung leaves Hanoi on September 12 morning for the 18th BRICS Summit and bilateral activities in India. Photo: VNA

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung sets off for 18th BRICS Summit in India

Vietnam's participation in the 18th BRICS Summit in India further reflects its consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; multilateralisation and diversification of external relations; and proactive, active, comprehensive, extensive and effective international integration.

Prof. Reena Marwah in the interview with Vietnam News Agency reporters in New Delhi. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam can bring much to BRICS as partner country: Indian expert

Vietnam has demonstrated robust growth capacity, extensive integration and a foreign policy of independence. As a result, Vietnam can contribute to BRICS on multiple issues as a partner country, while BRICS members can draw lessons from Vietnam’s experience in development, integration and supply chain connectivity.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, his wife, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation are seen off by French officials at Orly Airport in Paris. Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s top leader concludes official visit to France

Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s official visit reaffirmed Vietnam’s particular importance attached to its comprehensive strategic partnership with France. It also provided an opportunity to connect France’s strengths in science and technology, innovation and strategic technology sectors with Vietnam’s emerging development needs.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (R) and President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with President of French Senate in Paris

The Vietnamese leader expected that the French National Assembly would soon complete the ratification of the European Union - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); and asked France to continue leveraging its role in the European Union to support stronger Vietnam-EU ties and tackle the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

Deputy Chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee's Office Vo Thanh Hung (fifth, right) receives archives on President Ho Chi Minh handed over by the French National Overseas Archives on September 10. (Photo: VNA)

France hands over archival materials for exhibition at Communist Party of Vietnam Museum

The materials include a reproduction of the front page of the August 24, 1945 issue of Cuu Quoc (National Salvation) Newspaper, its first publicly printed edition after previously being secretly circulated in handwritten form, featuring the Vietnamese national flag; and documents and reports on Nguyen Ai Quoc's activities related to the establishment and orientation of the Communist Party of Annam.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam receives Vietnamese technology experts in France. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader receives Vietnamese technology experts in France

General Secretary and President Lam stressed that while the experts work in different fields, they all share a fundamental common view that Vietnam can achieve rapid, sustainable growth and greater self-reliance only by building robust scientific and technological capacity and fully pooling the brainpower of Vietnamese talents at home and abroad.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, BRICS partners to push new growth drivers: Deputy FM

Vietnam’s BRICS attendance gives it a platform to engage members and partners, debate global and regional governance, especially economic and development issues tied to emerging and developing economies; and identify directions and solutions. That supports Vietnam’s shift “from engaging in rule-making to contributing to shaping rules”, raising its voice in international frameworks, rules and standards, and cementing its global standing.

Delegations from Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance and France’s Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Vietnam, France boost economic and financial cooperation

Economic ties have continued to grow across trade, investment and development cooperation. Bilateral trade surpassed 5 billion USD in the first eight months of 2026, with Vietnam exporting 3.1 billion USD worth of goods to France and importing 1.9 billion USD worth of products from the European country.

Madame Ngo Phuong Ly (L), spouse of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, meets with French Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, France step up cultural cooperation

Following the Vietnamese Film Week in France in 2025, Madame Ly put forth the idea of holding a Vietnamese Theatre Week in France in October, featuring water puppetry, musical theatre, contemporary dance and excerpts from traditional Vietnamese performances.

Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

NA President’s official visits to RoK, Mongolia a success: Standing Deputy FM

The discussions showed that both countries attach importance to Vietnam’s role, position, potential and growth prospects, and highly value the Vietnamese Party and State’s vision and recent reforms. Parliaments and political parties of both countries expressed their desire to accompany Vietnam’s development, further tightening the Vietnam-RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Vietnam-Mongolia Comprehensive Partnership.

At the Vietnam-Poland Deputy Foreign Minister-Level Political Consultation in Hanoi on September 11. Photo published by VNA

Vietnam, Poland hold deputy foreign minister-level political consultation

Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to further deepen comprehensive cooperation with Poland, both bilaterally and multilaterally. The country is determined to effectively implementing high-level commitments and agreements to make bilateral ties more substantive and effective and bring them to a new level.