☀️ Morning digest August 14

The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

☀️ Morning digest August 14

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

- Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on August 13 chaired a meeting of standing members of the sub-committee in charge of drafting documents for the 14th National Party Congress.

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At the meeting of standing members of the sub-committee for documents of the 14th National Party Congress. (Photo: VNA)

Participants contributed their ideas to the draft Political report prepared by the editorial team based on the detailed outline approved at the 9th meeting of the 13th Party Central Committee. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 13 hosted a reception for Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki who has just begun his working term in Vietnam.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki. (Photo: VNA)

PM Chinh asked the ambassador to convey his thanks to leaders and people of Japan for sending the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan, former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, to attend the funeral of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.Read full story

– Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on August 13 received Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and a Thai royal delegation on the occasion of their working visit to Vietnam.

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Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (right) and Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. (Photo: VNA)

At the reception, on behalf of the State and the people of Vietnam, Xuan thanked Thailand for flying the flag at half-mast on August 1-2 to commemorate the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. She emphasized that the gesture demonstrates the close relationship and understanding between Vietnam and Thailand. Read full story

– Minister of National Defence Gen Phan Van Giang and his Russian counterpart Andrey Removich Belousov on August 13 held talks in Moscow as part of Giang’s visit to Russia to attend the International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2024”.

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Minister of National Defence Gen Phan Van Giang and his Russian counterpart Andrey Removich Belousov. (Photo: VNA)

At the talks, Giang emphasised that the visit by the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence aims to concretise the policy of deepening the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders during the Russian President's State visit to Vietnam in June this year. Read full story

– Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien on August 13 received a delegation of the National Immigration Administration of China, led by its deputy head Li Junjie, who are paying a working visit to Vietnam.

Chien affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam always attach importance to consolidating and developing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China. The two countries agreed to build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, with developing more practical defence and security cooperation as one of the six orientations.Read full story

– Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on August 13 stressed the significance of consistency in the technical approach as well as economic efficacy while developing a decree on mechanisms and policies to develop rooftop solar power.

Ha, chairing a hybrid meeting on the day, said that the building of the decree must be aligned with National Power Development Plan VIII, ensuring energy security and meeting socio-economic development requirements. Read full story

- Stronger action is needed to reduce tobacco use in Vietnam and protect people's health and lives, Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam Angela Pratt has stressed.

The WHO representative made the call at a workshop on August 13 which looked at ways to provide information on the harmful effects of tobacco and the role of tax policy in preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco for central-level press agencies’ reporters and editors. She said that although Vietnam has made some progress in combating the harmful effects of tobacco over the past decade, with current trends, it is unlikely to achieve the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control’s target of reducing the smoking rate among men to below 36% by 2030./. Read full story

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Party General Secretary To Lam holds phone talks with Senator Steve Daines (Republican – Montana) and Senator Bill Hagerty (Republican – Tennessee), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on February 18 (local time) on the occasion of his trip to attend the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace in Washington, D.C. (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary To Lam holds phone talks with US senators

Vietnam and the US should maintain stable and sustainable economic, trade, and investment ties, and the US Congress should continue allocating resources to assist Vietnam in addressing war legacy issues, particularly the dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa Airport, unexploded ordnance clearance, support for persons with disabilities and war victims, and enhanced assistance in searching for, recovering, and identifying missing Vietnamese soldiers.

Party General Secretary To Lam arrived at Joint Base Andrews in the US at February 18 noon (local time) to attend the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace. Photo: VNA

Party leader arrives in US for inaugural meeting of Gaza Board of Peace

As a founding member, Vietnam wishes to work with other members to promote the role of the Gaza Board of Peace in advancing peace and reconstruction in Gaza on the basis of resolutions of the UN Security Council, ensuring the legitimate interests of all parties, especially the Palestinian people, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

Under the guiding light of the 14th National Party Congress, foreign affairs – a key and regular task – will be carried out comprehensively at a new height. (Illustrative photo: chinhphu.vn)

Promoting comprehensive foreign affairs at new height: Party chief

The new era demands the implementation of “comprehensive foreign affairs at a new height”: Ensuring national interests at the highest; taking peace, independence, self-reliance and self-strengthening as the foundation; placing the people at the centre of all policies; and considering contributions to the international community as a responsibility.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam affirms global responsibility at Board of Peace

Vietnam has practical experience in post-war recovery and stands ready to contribute personnel and resources, within its capacity, to reconstruction efforts, socio-economic recovery and stabilising livelihoods in Gaza.

State President Luong Cuong, on behalf of Party and State leaders, delivers the Lunar New Year message. (Photo: VNA)

State President Luong Cuong conveys Tet greetings on New Year’s Eve

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026, at the sacred moment of transition between the old and new year, State President Luong Cuong, on behalf of Party and State leaders, has delivered a message of greetings to all compatriots, comrades, and soldiers nationwide, and the Vietnamese community abroad as well.

Novice monks at Pho Phuoc pagoda in Thailand are very interested in learning about Vietnamese culture, customs, and traditional Lunar New Year practices through making banh chung and banh tet. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese communities abroad celebrate Lunar New Year 2026

Vietnamese communities around the world have been celebrating the Lunar New Year (Tet) with cultural events that highlight traditional customs, strengthen community bonds, and introduce Vietnamese heritage to international friends.

Party General Secretary To Lam visits Ho Chi Minh Relic Site within the Presidential Palace complex (Photo: VNA)

Party chief offers incense in tribute to kings, President Ho Chi Minh

Party General Secretary To Lam offered incense in tribute to the nation’s forefathers at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and to President Ho Chi Minh at House 67, part of the Ho Chi Minh Relic Site within the Presidential Palace complex in Hanoi on February 16, or the 29th day of the last lunar month.