Former Senate President of Cambodia Samdech Say Chhum was recently appointed personal advisor to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. (Photo: VNA) 
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang commended the unity and sense of responsibility shown by the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani and across Thailand, urging them to continue preserving the Vietnamese language and cultural identity while helping build a positive image of Vietnamese people and contributing to bilateral relations.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
Vietnam expects Mauritania to act as a bridge for substantive cooperation between Vietnam and the African Union (AU), said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang during a reception in Hanoi on July 16 for Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government Moctar Al Housseynou Lam.
The drafting agency proposed eliminating 38 administrative procedures and 40 business conditions, and simplifying another 13 procedures. The reforms are expected to slash total processing time by 904 days and trim an estimated 189.9 billion VND (7.3 million USD) in compliance costs.
The two officials agreed to continue their long-standing coordination at multilateral forums, including the Francophonie, while reinforcing practical collaboration with regional organisations such as ASEAN and the AU, for the benefit of their people and for peace, stability and development in their respective regions and globally.
Vietnam and Laos have agreed to step up cooperation in finance, agriculture, natural resources and environmental management, with a focus on sustainable agricultural development, forest protection and green energy.
The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in overseas Vietnamese and overseas Lao affairs for the 2026–2030 period, providing a framework for future collaboration. Laos will send a delegation to Vietnam to study preparations for the World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, scheduled for December 2026.
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
The draft law comprises four chapters and 37 articles, setting out the principles, measures, policies and responsibilities of state agencies, organisations and individuals in preventing the proliferation of WMDs. It would apply to Vietnamese organisations and individuals, as well as foreign entities and individuals operating or residing in Vietnam.
The Party and State leader urged Son La to clearly define its development model and strategic role in the Northwest, focusing resources on sectors with the greatest potential rather than spreading investment too thinly.
According to the diplomat, the strength of the EU-Vietnam relationship is reflected in the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), as well as the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during European Council President António Costa’s visit to Vietnam in January 2026.
Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hai Luu stressed that with only four years left to deliver the 2030 Agenda, the international community must take more decisive action to accelerate the realisation of the SDGs.
Mayor Kostas Peletidis said Patras is ready to work with the Vietnamese Embassy to promote the country as well as its culture and people through local cultural events and festivals, including the Patras Carnival, one of Greece’s largest annual festivals, the mayor remarked.
The inauguration not only meets the embassy's operational needs but also demonstrates Vietnam's long-term commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Timor-Leste.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
Shirley Nuevo, Acting Consul General of the Philippines in Ho Chi Minh City, said the past 50 years have demonstrated how the two countries and their peoples have grown together as friends, trusted partners and close neighbours within the ASEAN family.
The PM chaired a working session on July 15 with the Standing Board of the Tuyen Quang Party Committee on socio-economic development, the double-digit growth target, public investment disbursement, the operation of the two-tier local government model, implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 57, and measures to address local challenges.
A CPV official has affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to work with China to further strengthen ties between the two Parties and countries for the benefit of their peoples, while contributing to regional and global peace, stability and development.
Deputy FM Dang Hoang Giang, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, spoke highly of the positive progress in the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership, noting that the EU has become one of ASEAN's most reliable partners and has provided substantial support for the ASEAN Community-building process.
Ambassador Choi Young Sam affirmed that Vietnam has become one of the RoK's most important partners in the latter's foreign policy towards the region, and the RoK has established itself as a trusted partner of Vietnam across a wide range of fields.
