Politics

morning digest

☀️ Morning digest July 18

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

☀️ Morning digest July 18

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

- President To Lam hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 17 for Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo who came to say goodbye to the State leader at the end of his tenure.

The President asked the ambassador to convey regards from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and other key leaders of Vietnam to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other key leaders of China. Read full story

- The UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will give new motives for trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the UK, President To Lam told Ambassador Iain Frew at their meeting in Hanoi on July 17.

Lam noted with pleasure the effective, intensive and extensive development of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, and affirmed the importance Vietnam attaches to enhancing the bilateral relationship. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Thomas Vallely, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Fulbright University Vietnam, and other experts from the university in Hanoi on July 17.

The Government leader thanked Vallely, who is also former Director of the Vietnam Programme at Harvard University, for his significant contributions, especially in the fields of education and policy dialogue, which have supported Vietnam’s economic governance improvement and strengthened the Vietnam-US relationship. Read full story

- Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man asked the northern port city of Hai Phong to further improve its business environment, reform administrative procedures and raise its competitiveness during his working session with the municipal Party Committee on July 17.

At the meeting, the top legislator highlighted the city’s strategic geopolitical - economic - military position, with the two island districts of Cat Hai and Bach Long Vi. Read full story

- The Steering Committee for External Information Service on July 17 held a conference to review activities in the first half of the year and outline tasks for the last six months.

Presiding over the conference, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the committee’s Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia commended the achievements and highlighted the positive changes in one year since the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 57-KL/TW which focuses on continuously improving the quality and effectiveness of the external information work in the new context. Read full story

- Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairwoman of its Commission for Mass Mobilisation, has been appointed Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

Politburo member Luong Cuong, who is also Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, handed over the Politburo’s appointment decision to Hoai at a ceremony held by the municipal Party Committee on July 17. Read full story

- Vietnam has scored higher overall than China and Bangladesh in the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)’s recent survey comparing the competitive advantages of textile-exporting countries to the US.

The survey shows that Vietnam is having better competitive edge thanks to its ability to produce a diverse range of high-value products. Read full story

- Vietnam is joining 30 other countries and territories worldwide in the ongoing 34th Hong Kong Book Fair, whose theme spotlights literature in film and television.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the annual fair runs at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 17-23, featuring over 600 cultural activities. Read full story./.

VNA
#morning digest
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam present greeting flowers to the People'sPolice force on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the force's traditional day (Photo: VNA)

Top leader asks for building stronger, more modern people's police force

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam highlighted the country's recent socio-economic achievements, recognising the significant contributions by the People's Public Security force, particularly the People's Police, senior police leaders over different periods and the Association of Former People's Public Security Officers through grassroots movements safeguarding national security.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung chairs a government meeting with the business community in Hanoi on July 18 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges stronger development foundations for sustainable growth

Opening the event, the PM underscored the significance of the meeting, saying that it is the first engagement between the new-term government’s members and the business community - the vanguard on the economic front, playing a key role in driving growth, generating employment, and enhancing national competitiveness.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) receives Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis in Hanoi on July 17. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Greece ties still hold considerable untapped potential: PM

PM Le Minh Hung recommended that the two sides step up all-level exchanges and meetings, especially those at high level, make full use of the existing cooperation mechanisms, expand collaboration in the economy, trade and investment, and effectively implement the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam offers incense at the memorial stele dedicated to heroic martyrs. (Photo: VNA)

Identifying fallen soldiers a sacred responsibility towards Fatherland: Top leader

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed that every set of remains recovered represents far more than a technical achievement. It marks the return of a son or daughter to the Fatherland and to his/her family, the restoration of a missing chapter of history, and a reaffirmation of the country's enduring tradition of remembering those who served the nation.

Representatives of the liaison committee of veterans of Battalion 261 - Giron in Ho Chi Minh City present a commemorative photo to Mauricio Alejandro Martínez Duque, Consul General of Cuba in the city. (Photo: VNA)

Get-together marks 73rd anniversary of Cuba’s Moncada Barracks attack

Building on the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City has worked closely with the Consulate General of Cuba in Ho Chi Minh City to organise a wide range of activities in recent years, including gatherings marking major national anniversaries, cultural and artistic exchanges, and programmes connecting organisations and localities from the two countries

National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac Dinh addresses the fourth session of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on July 17, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Modern criminal justice system proposed under revised Criminal Procedure Code

The revised code proposes more progressive procedural rules to enhance adversarial proceedings, tighten power oversight and better protect human and citizens' rights. It will retain effective existing provisions, amend or repeal outdated regulations, and introduce new procedures to expedite case handling, reduce procedural costs and improve efficiency while ensuring fairness, objectivity and greater protection of the lawful rights and interests of organisations and individuals. It also aims to modernise criminal proceedings through the wider application of digital technologies and closer alignment with international practices.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has a working session with Vietnamese associations in Udon Thani province, northeastern Thailand, on July 16. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese community in Thailand urged to strengthen friendship bridge

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang commended the unity and sense of responsibility shown by the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani and across Thailand, urging them to continue preserving the Vietnamese language and cultural identity while helping build a positive image of Vietnamese people and contributing to bilateral relations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang (R) and Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government Moctar Al Housseynou Lam. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

Vietnam seeks Mauritania’s role as bridge to African Union for deeper ties

Vietnam expects Mauritania to act as a bridge for substantive cooperation between Vietnam and the African Union (AU), said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang during a reception in Hanoi on July 16 for Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government Moctar Al Housseynou Lam.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) and Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government, Moctar Al Housseynou Lam. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam treasures traditional friendship with Mauritania: FM

The two officials agreed to continue their long-standing coordination at multilateral forums, including the Francophonie, while reinforcing practical collaboration with regional organisations such as ASEAN and the AU, for the benefit of their people and for peace, stability and development in their respective regions and globally.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (L) pays a courtesy call on Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos strengthen cooperation on overseas community affairs

The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in overseas Vietnamese and overseas Lao affairs for the 2026–2030 period, providing a framework for future collaboration. Laos will send a delegation to Vietnam to study preparations for the World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, scheduled for December 2026.