☀️ Morning digest April 10

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

- State President Vo Van Thuong will pay an official visit to Laos from April 10-11 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

President Vo Van Thuong (Photo: VNA)

This marks the President’s first overseas trip, and Laos is the first country he will visit in his new position. The visit takes place in the context of the continued development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Read full story

- Vietnam always considers the US as one of the most important partners in its foreign policy, and highly appreciates the US government and political circles' support for a strong, prosperous, self-reliance and independent Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a delegation of the US Congress led by Senator Jeff Merkley in Hanoi on April 8. 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Senator Jeff Merkley (Photo: VNA)

In his reception for the delegation in Hanoi, the Vietnamese government leader said the delegation's working visit to Vietnam helps tighten cooperation between the legislative bodies and  the governments of the two countries, contributing to promoting the Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership in a substantive and effective manner. Read full story

- Vietnam always considers the US one of the top important partners, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue told a delegation of members of the US Congress led by Senator Jeff Merkley during a reception in Hanoi on April 8.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Senator Jeff Merkley (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman Hue stressed that Vietnam wishes to develop a stable and long-term strategic partnership with the US in a substantive, trustworthy and extensive manner in the spirit of setting aside the past and looking toward the future, and respecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regime of each other. Read full story

- Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for a delegation of members of the US Congress led by Senator Jeff Merkley in Hanoi on April 8.

The minister said the visit of the US Congress delegation is significant in the context of the two countries preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive partnership. Read full story

- Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Ministerial Declaration on starting negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between the two nations right after Vietnam completed its procedures.

The signing took place after a meeting between Dien and Al Zeyoudi during the Vietnamese minister's working visit to the UAE from April 5-6. Read full story

- Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai paid a courtesy visit to Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and had talks with Mayor of Vientiane Atsaphangthong Siphandone on April 8 as part of his ongoing working visit to Laos.

The Lao PM highlighted the significance of the HCM City delegation’s visit, and thanked the Vietnamese locality for working closely with many localities of Laos, affirming that the cooperation has contributed to deepening the special solidarity relationship between Vietnam and Laos. Read full story

- Brekke Fletcher, a writer for the world's leading travel magazine Lonely Planet, has chosen Vietnam as a culinary destination to explore for the Elsewhere section.

Lan Ha Bay in Hai Phong (Photo: VNA)

Fletcher spent 9 days discovering the diverse cuisine of various regions in Vietnam together with photographer Thanh Huynh. She said riding a scooter through the streets of Hanoi in Vietnam is one of those things she's always wanted to do but was too afraid to attempt.  Read full story

- In an exhilarating match at Dasarath Stadium, Vietnam secured their place in the second Olympic women's football qualifier after defeating Nepal 2-1 on April 8.

Vietnam and Nepal were the only teams left in Group C after Palestine and Afghanistan withdrew from the competition. The upperdogged Vietnam quickly took control of the game and dominated Nepal from the very start./. Read full story