☀️ Morning digest January 26

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

- Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue on January 25 extended greetings and presented gifts on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (called Tet in Vietnamese) to families of policy beneficiaries, revolutionary contributors, poor households, Agent Orange/dioxin victims, and workers facing difficulties in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu.

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue presents gifts to policy beneficiaries in Bac Lieu. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the gathering with the groups, the NA Chairman urged local authorities and mass organisations to prepare the best possible conditions for local people to celebrate Tet, which is the biggest festival in a year for Vietnamese, in a joyous, healthy, safe, and economical manner.Read full text

- President Vo Van Thuong visited and offered Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to people, the mobile police, and the customs force of the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on January 25.

President Vo Van Thuong (3rd from left) presents tokens of charity houses for needy citizens in Dong Thap. (Photo: VNA)

In Hong Ngu, he applauded this border district’s fulfillment of all development targets for five consecutive years, 2019 - 2023, with rapid poverty reduction and people’s improved life quality.Read full text

- President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics on January 24 expressed a strong desire to enhance cooperation with Vietnam across all domains, with an aim to deepen the bilateral relationship and deliver practical benefits to the people of both nations.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Latvia Tran Van Tuan (second from right), President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics (third from right) and staff of Vietnamese embassy (Photo: VNA)

During a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Latvia Tran Van Tuan, who came to present his letter of credentials, Rinkevics expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of relations between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) in general and Latvia in particular, especially in economy and trade.Read full text

-The investigation into a terrorism case in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, which occurred on June 11, 2023, has been conducted in accordance with Vietnam’s law, said Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang.

During the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on January 25, Hang responded to questions from reporters regarding the joint efforts between Vietnam and the US during the investigation amid claims of racial bias surrounding the case, saying that relevant agencies of the two countries have regularly shared information concerning involved organisations and individuals in line with their legal regulations and international law.Read full text

-The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission convened its 36th session in Hanoi on January 24-25, during which it mulled over violations in Bac Ninh province.

According to the commission, the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the provincial People’s Committee has violated the principle of democratic centralism and working regulations, and showed a lack of responsibility and relaxed leadership.Read full text

-The Government has issued Decree 5/2024/ND-CP on special preferential import tariffs for Cambodian goods as part of the implementation of the Vietnam-Cambodia trade promotion agreement for the 2023-2024 period.

The decree provides details on special preferential tax rates and conditions for being entitled to those rates, including being on the list in Appendix I to the decree, having C/O form S issued by authorised agencies of Cambodia, and being transported through pairs of border gates stipulated in Appendix III to the decree. Read full text

-Ho Chi Minh City plans to illuminate the sky with fireworks displays across eight locations on the eve of the upcoming Lunar New Year, an increase of two venues compared to the similar occasion last year.

Bui Xuan Duc from the municipal Department of Culture and Sports told a meeting on January 25 that there will be high-altitude fireworks display at two sites and low-altitude shows at six locations.Read full text

-Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung joined his counterparts from nine ASEAN member countries and Timor Leste at the 27th Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers that took place in Vientiane, Laos on January 25.

Addressing the event, Hung noted that ASEAN tourism showed bright signs in 2023. However, he held that ASEAN member countries should continue to work hard to promote the growth of regional tourism to catch up with other regions.Read full text/.