☕ Afternoon briefing on September 15

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on September 15

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

- Along with researching and manufacturing modern weapons, equipment, and military technology with strategic significance, the Ministry of National Defence’s General Department of Defence Industry must engage in national industrial development strategy and enhance international cooperation, Party General Secretary To Lam requested while attending a ceremony in Hanoi on September 15 to mark the 80th anniversary of the general department’s traditional day.

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Party General Secretary To Lam sticks the Hero of the People's Armed Forces badge to the traditional flag of the General Department of Defence Industry. (Photo: VNA)

According to Director of the General Department of Defence Industry Lt. Gen. Ho Quang Tuan, over the past 80 years, the General Department has navigated numerous challenges, fulfilling two primary missions of advancing national defence production and supporting the national economy. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong visited and attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 - 2026 academic year at the National Defence Academy on September 15.

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State President Luong Cuong inspects the guard of honour at the National Defence Academy (Photo: VNA)

President Cuong described the academy as a shining example in scientific research, strategic advice provision, theory development, and enhancing the leadership, direction, and management capacity of the Party and State in national defence and security, helping to build the military, strengthen national defence, protect the Fatherland early and from afar, maintain political and social stability, and lay a solid foundation for the national construction and defence cause. Read full story

- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, who is President of the National Election Council (NEC), chaired the council’s second meeting in Hanoi on September 15.

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National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the National Election Council's second meeting (Photo: VNA)

At the event, the council discussed and gave opinions on its draft report regarding the implementation of preparations for the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to the People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term since the first meeting and key tasks for the upcoming period; the proposed programme, content, and plan for organising a national conference to carry out the election work; and the resolution guiding the templates for candidacy dossiers, ballots, and various official documents used in the election. Read full story

- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s upcoming trip to Malaysia for an official visit and attendance at the 46th ASEAN Inter – Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-46) underscores Vietnam’s proactive role in strengthening bilateral ties, supporting ASEAN’s central role, and fostering cooperation for regional stability and sustainable development, according to a Malaysian security analyst.

In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign policy and security expert at the University of Malaya, stated that this is the Vietnamese top legislator’s trip to Malaysia in his current position, demonstrating Vietnam’s priority to consolidate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the country. Read full story

- Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh called on the UK and the City of London to continue supporting and accompanying Vietnam in promoting and introducing its international financial centre (IFC), as well as in connecting investors and attracting resources from London to participate in Vietnam's financial market while addressing the UK-Vietnam high-level IFC conference on September 15.

The conference marks a concrete step toward realising the two sides’ commitment to jointly building the IFC in Vietnam, and stands as a testament to the increasingly close and effective cooperation between the two countries. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently issued a decision, giving a go-head for a project to upgrade the stock market, aiming at transforming it into an important channel for medium- and long-term capital mobilisation, completion of a market mechanism with state management, and deeper international integration.

In short term, the plan sets the target of meeting all criteria required for an elevation from frontier market to secondary emerging market status under FTSE Russel in 2025, while maintaining this classification once obtained. Read full story

- The Ministry of Public Security on September 15 issued a warning about fake news circulating online linked with the recent incident at the Credit Information Centre of Vietnam (CIC).

According to the ministry, in recent days some individuals have exploited public attention on the CIC case to spread false claims of “data leaks” at other agencies and organisations./. Read full story

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addressing the conference of the the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges industry, trade sector to pioneer in six key areas

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that to make a substantive contribution to national development, the industry and trade sector must also achieve double-digit growth, generate new jobs, strengthen traditional growth drivers such as export and consumption, and accelerate emerging engines of growth, including the green, digital, circular, knowledge-based and sharing economies.

State President Luong Cuong (middle) presents congratulatory flowers to the two promoted officers (Photo: VNA)

Two military officers promoted to rank of Senior Lieutenant General

Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Vice Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Lieutenant General Do Van Banh, Political Commissar of the National Defence Academy were promoted to the rank of Senior Lieutenant General at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 19.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (R) hosts a reception for Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam Nguyen Huy Tien. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Laos step up cooperation in procuracy sector

They highly valued the effective and substantive cooperation results achieved by the Supreme People’s Procuracies of Vietnam and Laos in recent years, and called on both sides to continue enhancing coordination, stepping up exchanges of delegations at all levels, sharing professional and technical experience, and maintaining and expanding training and capacity-building programmes for officials.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and other leaders, former leaders at the 4th Dien Hong Awards honouring journalistic works on the NA and People’s Councils in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. (Photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

NA Chairman urges journalists to reflect legislature's strategic vision

The NA leader expressed his confidence that in 2026, journalists will continue to uphold their responsibility, report objectively and from multiple perspectives, accompany the NA in conveying its activities promptly and comprehensively, and identify shortcomings in law-making and legal enforcement to help people-elected agencies operate more effectively and efficiently.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister calls for stronger Vietnam–Laos economic connectivity

Receiving Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides further strengthen economic connectivity, coordinate closely and share development experience for the tangible benefit of the two peoples.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18 (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator receives Lao foreign minister in Hanoi

The top legislator requested that the two sides continue to work closely together to effectively implement the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement, the intergovernmental cooperation agreement, and bilateral cooperation programmes, thereby contributing to preserving and developing the bilateral special traditional friendship.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung (R) and his Lao counterpart Thongsavanh Phomvihane at the 12th Vietnam–Laos political consultation at the foreign ministerial level in Hanoi on December 18, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Lao FMs co-chair 12th political consultation

During the consultation, in a spirit of special trust, the two officials reviewed recent cooperation between the two Parties, countries and foreign ministries. They also discussed future cooperation orientations and held in-depth exchanges on regional and international issues of common concern.

☕ Afternoon briefing on December 18

☕ Afternoon briefing on December 18

The introduction of special mechanisms for technology transfer in key railway projects, the opening of the Vietnam International Gifts and Housewares Expo 2025, and VinSpeed's deal on high-speed rail development with Siemens Mobility GmbH are among news highlights on December 18.

Venezuelan Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Tatiana Pugh speaks at the ceremony on December 17. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Venezuela mark 36th anniversary of diplomatic ties in Caracas

Venezuelan Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Tatiana Pugh affirmed that over more than three decades, the bilateral solidarity, friendship, and cooperation have grown deeper despite complex and unpredictable global and regional developments, serving as a reliable mainstay for the interests of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in their respective regions and worldwide.

☀️ Morning digest on December 18

☀️ Morning digest on December 18

The PM's urgent dispatch detailing key tasks to drive economic growth, Vietnam's endorsement of the joint statement to strengthen the global partnership against online scams, and the conclusion of a four-year partnership to strengthen child justice in Vietnam are among news highlights on December 17 evening.