Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc takes an oath (Photo: VNA) 
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh swears in (Photo: VNA) 
Lawmakers are expected to discuss the supplementary assessment of the implementation of the 2025 socio-economic development plan and state budget, as well as performance in the early months of 2026. They will also review the five-year socio-economic development plan for 2026–2030, thrift practices and anti-wastefulness efforts in 2025, and progress in achieving national gender equality targets. The session is broadcast live on radio and television, enabling voters and the public to follow proceedings.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said that over 15 NA terms spanning more than 80 years, ethnic minority deputies have grown steadily in both capacity and contribution, participating more actively in legislative work, oversight and decisions on major national issues.
With the nature of a comprehensive strategic partnership, the state visit to Vietnam by President Lee Jae Myung is expected to herald a new phase of development with long-term strategic orientations for bilateral relations.
If approved, Dong Nai will become Vietnam’s seventh centrally-run city, opening up a new development space for the Southeastern region and the country as a whole. The six existing centrally-run ciites are Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
Presenting the Government’s proposal, Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan said the draft law proposes not to stipulate specific revenue thresholds for exemption from personal income tax or value-added tax for household and individual businesses in the law, instead assigning the Government to set these thresholds.
The draft resolution seeks to lure more investment into cultural industries, aiming for the sector to contribute 7% to GDP by 2030 and 9% by 2045. It also sets ambitious goals of ranking Vietnam among the top three countries in Southeast Asia and the global top 30 for national soft power.
With continued high-level guidance, deeper strategic trust, expanded mutually beneficial cooperation and stronger public support, the building of the China–Vietnam community with a shared future is expected to make steady and substantive progress.
Under the NA's draft Resolution on the Vietnamese cultural development, investment incentives feature a 5% value-added tax rate for film production, distribution and exhibition, as well as sports and performing arts activities.
Vietnam remains relatively little known among Swiss youth, but its socio-economic model could serve as an inspiring case, said General Secretary of the Communist Party of Switzerland. Massimiliano Ay.
In the morning sitting on April 20, deputies are expected to hear proposals and verification reports on a range of draft resolutions. The documents cover breakthrough mechanisms and policies for the development of Vietnamese culture; the establishment of Dong Nai as a centrally run city; a pilot framework for public lawyer institution; and special mechanisms to address land law violations committed prior to the 2024 Land Law taking effect, alongside measures to resolve long-delayed and stalled projects.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.
With the foundation of traditional friendship and clear orientations for cooperation in key areas such as science and technology, environment, and human resource training, Vietnam and China are fully capable of elevating their cooperation to a higher level, making practical contributions to sustainable development in each country and the region.
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.
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.
In recent years, China and Vietnam have jointly advanced their paths toward modernisation, making continuous progress in infrastructure connectivity.
PM Le Minh Hung affirmed that while responsibilities may evolve over time, the trust of the Party, State, and people in Military Region 4 remains steadfast.
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.
With railway cooperation expected to emerge as a new highlight of bilateral strategic cooperation, China expressed readiness to collaborate with Vietnam on financing, technology, training, and industrial capacity in the railway sector while encouraging capable enterprises to participate in railway construction.
