Greater efforts needed towards 1,200km of expressways in Mekong Delta: PM

The Mekong Delta is expected to have about 1,200km of expressways, with some 600km to be completed within this tenure, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during a field trip to the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway project on July 13.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (second from left) and officials examine the construction site at Highway 61C intersection in Hau Giang Province’s Phung Hiep district on July 13 (Photo: VNA)
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (second from left) and officials examine the construction site at Highway 61C intersection in Hau Giang Province’s Phung Hiep district on July 13 (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho (VNA) – The Mekong Delta is expected to have about 1,200km of expressways, with some 600km to be completed within this tenure, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during a field trip to the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway project on July 13.

This is his third fact-finding trip to expressway projects in the region, covering Can Tho city and 12 provinces.

The Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway stretches 188.2km, with sub-projects in An Giang, Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang, and total investment amounting to 44.69 trillion VND (1.75 billion USD). Its construction began in June 2023, and the whole route is scheduled to be put into service in 2027.

The Government leader inspected the work in Thanh Tien commune, Vinh Thanh district, Can Tho city, and in Binh Thanh commune, Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province, where he got updates on site clearance, material supply, and obstacles to the subprojects. He asked engineers and workers to speed up the progress, and strive to ensure set targets.

On this occasion, Chinh had a meeting with representatives from ministries, agencies and contractors, during which he urged stronger determination, greater efforts and more drastic actions to meet the target of 1,200km of expressways, thus creating momentum for regional development.

He suggested major contractors to team up with their local peers to mobilise on-site personnel, equipment, materials and logistics, and stressed the need to prevent corruption and other negative phenomena during the construction.

Earlier the same day, the leader and his entourage paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and heroic martyrs at the Can Tho city martyrs’ cemetery./.

VNA

See more

An overview of the meeting. (Photo courtesy of Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela)

Vietnam, Venezuela promote media cooperation

The Venezuelan Vice President proposed that the two countries intensify cooperation in information and communications, and regard this as a key area of people-to-people diplomacy.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, who also serves as President of the National Election Council (NEC), delivers remarks at the NEC's first meeting on July 9. (Photo: VNA)

National Election Council convenes first meeting

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man requested enhancing the supervisory role of the people, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and socio-political organisations to ensure the election process is truly substantive and effective.

Brian Eyler, a senior fellow and Director of the Southeast Asia Programme at the the US’s Stimson Centre (Photo: VNA)

Expert optimistic about Vietnam-US future cooperation prospects

Brian Eyler, Director of the Southeast Asia Programme at the the US’s Stimson Centre, called the war in Vietnam a mistake for the US - one that should have never happened. It affected millions of Vietnamese and hundreds of thousands of Americans. He noted that many US veterans came to realise the wrongs of the past and have since sought reconciliation, viewing Vietnam as both a friend and a partner in building a renewed relationship.

PM Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse leave Rio de Janeiro on July 7 evening (local time), concluding the working visit to Brazil. (Photo: VNA)

PM arrives in Hanoi, wrapping up working trip to Brazil

The trip from July 4 to 8, made at the invitation of Brazilian President Lula da Silva, featured nearly 40 activities, including those within the BRICS summit, meetings with leaders of other counties and international organisations, and bilateral activities with the Brazilian side.

An overview of the ASEAN foreign ministers' interface with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam promotes comprehensive approach to human rights in ASEAN

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son commended the AICHR’s contributions over the past 15 years and expressed confidence in its continued role in advancing the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and other regional cooperation strategies.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper (Photo: VNA)

US Ambassador highlights pillars of US - Vietnam cooperation

Knapper described the Joint Statement on the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023, signed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden, as a "historic achievement", with both sides valuing collaboration in high technology, particularly semiconductors.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva welcomes Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s Brazil visit deepens Vietnam’s ties with traditional partners

PM Pham Minh Chinh ’s July 4–8 trip to Brazil aimed to further implement Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. It conveyed Vietnam’s image as a trusted partner in the international community, adding new dimensions to strategic partnerships and opening a new chapter of cooperation that meets the needs and interests of both countries, especially in a time of complex global developments.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 7 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China agree to beef up cooperation in various fields

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that the Party and State of Vietnam highly valued the diverse and substantive outcomes of recent high-level exchanges, which have helped advance the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ali Bin Al Sayegh in Rio de Janeiro on July 7 (Photo: VNA)

PM holds vibrant activities on BRICS Summit sidelines

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held separate meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ali Bin Al Sayegh in Rio de Janeiro on July 7 (local time) as part of his Brazil visit for the expanded BRICS Summit.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with President of Uruguay on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 7 (local time). (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister meets President of Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed the two sides soon negotiate and sign an agreement on investment promotion and protection, an agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, and an agreement on cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) has a meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 7 (local time) on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS Summit 2025. (Photo: VNA)

PM meets with Indonesian President on BRICS Summit sidelines

PM Chinh proposed that the two countries jointly develop an action plan to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership for the 2025–2030 period, while promoting cooperation in economy, trade, investment, agriculture, and emerging sectors such as digital economy, green transition and energy.