☕ Afternoon briefing on September 19

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man's talks with leaders of the Malaysian parliament, a new regulation on the list of leadership positions and groups of leadership positions in the political system, and Hanoi’s retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue in eight months are among news highlights on September 19.

☕ Afternoon briefing on September 19

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

– Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man held talks with Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives Tan Sri Dato’ Johari bin Abdul, following an official welcome ceremony organised for the top Vietnamese legislator in Kuala Lumpur on September 19.

Speaker Johari bin Abdul appreciated the significance of Chairman Man’s first official visit to Malaysia, expressing his belief that it will help enhance cooperation between the two legislative bodies, and contribute to the effective implementation of the Vietnam – Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as well as the success of the 46th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter‑Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-46). Read full story

– Vietnam treasures and wants to effectively deploy its comprehensive strategic partnership with Malaysia, serving the interests of the people of both countries, and contributing to the building of a united and cohesive ASEAN, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man told President of the Malaysian Senate Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah.

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National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and President of the Malaysian Senate Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah at their meeting in Kuala Lumpur on September 19, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

At his talks with Ali Basah in Kuala Lumpur on September 19 as part of his official visit to Malaysia, the top Vietnamese legislator reaffirmed his support for the “Sustainability and Inclusivity” theme of ASEAN 2025, and pledged close coordination with Malaysia— ASEAN Chair 2025 and AIPA-46 President - and other member states to implement the set priorities. Read full story

– On behalf of the Politburo, Politburo member and Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu has signed off Regulation No. 368-QD/TW on the list of leadership positions and groups of leadership positions in the political system.

A key change is that the post of Permanent Member of the Secretariat is added to the list of "key Party and State leaders", alongside the Party General Secretary, State President, Prime Minister, and National Assembly Chairperson. Read full story

– Professor and Academician Le Truong Giang, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), has been recognised an academician of the International Association of Academies of Sciences (IAAS), becoming the second Vietnamese to receive this title.

The title presentation ceremony took place on September 18 within the framework of the 38th meeting of the IAAS Council in Minsk, Belarus. Read full story

– Vietnam is forging powerful development momentum for a new era through sweeping reforms and transformative policies to create fresh impetus for its economic growth while opening unprecedented cooperation opportunities with international partners, including Italy, according to Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang.

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Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang speaks at the Vietnam – Italy Investment Connection Forum in Milan, the capital of Italy's Lombardy region, on September 18 (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

At the Vietnam – Italy Investment Connection Forum in Milan, the capital of Italy's Lombardy region, hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance on September 18 (local time), Thang underscored that the Vietnamese Government is drastically completing economic institutions, improving the business and investment environment, comprehensively removing bottlenecks to unlock all resources for development. Read full story

– Hanoi’s total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue reached 615.7 trillion VND (23.3 billion USD) in the first eight months of 2025, up 12.6% year-on-year, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance.

Retail sales accounted for the largest share at 387.9 trillion VND, up 12.2%. Revenue from accommodation and restaurant services totalled 85.2 trillion VND, making up 13.8% and rising 16.1%. Tourism earnings stood at 22.1 trillion VND, representing 3.6% and surging 21.4%. Other services generated 120.5 trillion VND, accounting for 19.6% and increasing 10.2%. Read full story

– The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has reported that the national men’s football team fell one place to 114th in the latest FIFA rankings for September 2025, despite not playing any international matches during the recent FIFA Days.

The slip was largely due to Libya, previously behind Vietnam, climbing five places from the 117th to 112th place after consecutive victories over Angola and Eswatini. Read full story./.

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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse at Istanbul Airport in Türkiye (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam a proactive, responsible partner in promoting parliamentary cooperation

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s working trip to Italy and Türkiye achieved important and comprehensive results at both bilateral and multilateral levels. It not only highlighted a proactive and responsible Vietnamese National Assembly with active and practical contributions to the IPU, but also created new momentum to deepen relations with key partners, including in Europe and the Middle East.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga at the farewell ceremony at Istanbul Airport, Türkiye. (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman wraps up successful working visit to Türkiye

With substantive activities, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man's working visit to Türkiye was a great success, contributing to affirming Vietnam’s image as a proactive and responsible partner in promoting parliamentary cooperation and strengthening multilateralism.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the general debate of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul on April 16, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy FM highlights parliamentary diplomacy gains from IPU-152, European trips

Regarding bilateral engagements in Italy and Türkiye, the deputy minister said the trips marked a meaningful step in implementing Vietnam’s foreign policy following the 14th National Party Congress, helping deepen relations with European and Middle Eastern partners while mobilising external resources for national development.

Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam, Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and their spouses attend a tea reception during the former's state visit to China from April 14 to 17, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

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Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (left) meets with Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmus in Istanbul on April 17. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislators of Vietnam, Türkiye meet on sidelines of IPU-152 in Istanbul

The top Vietnamese legislator expressed his admiration for Türkiye’s cultural identity and its friendly, hospitable people, while highly valuing the European country’s growing role and position at multilateral forums and in regional mediation efforts. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening ties with Türkiye.

Officials sign cooperation documents in the presence of Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam, and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on April 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China sign 32 cooperation documents

The documents include a cooperation plan between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the 2026–2030 period; a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Organisation Commission of the CPV Central Committee and its Chinese counterpart; and a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The meeting between Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia’s Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko in Istanbul, Türkiye, on April 17 (Photo: VNA)

Parliamentary leaders hail development of Vietnam – Russia ties

The top legislator of Vietnam proposed that both sides deepen political and diplomatic connections, as well as parliamentary cooperation, through delegation exchanges, high-level meetings through various channels, and the successful organisation of a visit to Vietnam by the Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council and a trip to Russia by the NA Chairman to co-chair the 5th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in 2026.

Wei Wei, a researcher on Vietnam and head of the Vietnamese-language service at the China Media Group, grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

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