☀️ Morning digest July 31

The following is a list of selected news summaries last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.
☀️ Morning digest July 31 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

- President Vo Van Thuong arrived in Hanoi onJuly 29 morning, concluding his State visit to Italy and his visit to theVatican at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella and PopeFrancis, respectively, from July 25-29.

☀️ Morning digest July 31 ảnh 2President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse at Fiumicino airport in Italy. (Photo: VNA)
The trip marks a new milestone in the 50-yeardiplomatic ties and the 10-year strategic partnership of Vietnam and Italy,while affirming Vietnam’s good will in strengthening cooperation with theVatican. Read full story

- Vietnam has made an important contribution to theoperation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), through someinitiatives aimed at addressing challenges and issues in the bloc, such asresponding to the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating the negotiation process for aCode of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) or advocating the five-point consensus onMyanmar. 
 
☀️ Morning digest July 31 ảnh 3Vietnamese soldiers raised the ASEAN flag in a ceremony in Hanoi to mark the bloc’s 55th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967). (Photo: VNA)
This is the assessment made by Jonathan Berkshire Miller,Director of Foreign Affairs, National Security and Defence at the Ottawa-basedMacdonald-Laurier Institute, an expert on international affairs related tosecurity, defence and geoeconomics in the Indo-Pacific region. Read full story

- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committedto quickly and effectively implement its Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) forVietnam and accompany the country in its development process, new CountryDirector for Vietnam Shantanu Chakraborty has affirmed.

Making the remarks at his July 28 meeting withMinister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung in Hanoi, he told his hostthat the bank’s CPS in  Vietnam for 2023-2026 aims to promotecomprehensive, green development and the growth of the private sector to helpthe Southeast Asian nation become an upper middle-income country by 2030 and adeveloped, high-income country by 2045. Read full story

- Vietnamese auto maker VinFast on July 28 held a groundbreakingceremony of its electric vehicle factory in North Carolina, marking animportant step in the company's strategy to expand its market, develop itsglobal electric vehicle brand and become self-sufficient in its supply in NorthAmerica.

☀️ Morning digest July 31 ảnh 4At the groundbreaking ceremony for VinFast factory in North Carolina, the US. (Photo: VinFast)
VinFast’s factory project is the first of its kind in North Carolina,and is said to be the biggest-ever economic development project in the state. Read full story

- Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of about 15.23 billion USD inthe first seven months of this year, an increase of 1.34% over the same periodlast year, according to data released by the General Statistics Office ofVietnam (GSO) on July 29.

In the period, the total import-export turnover of goods hit374.23 billion USD, posting a year-over-year decrease of 13.9%. Specifically,export value fell by 10.6% and import value 17.1%. Read full story

- The International Organisation for Mirgration (IOM) is readyto help the Vietnamese Government accelerate the goal of eliminating thetrafficking in persons in Vietnam, IOM Chief of Mission Park Mihyung has said.Following is the full text of her interview to the Vietnam News Agency onthe occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and the NationalDay Against Human Trafficking (July 30).

Q: Could you please provide some comments on the effort ofVietnam in combating human trafficking in the last few years, given the TIP lawwas enacted since 2011?

A: In the last few years, Vietnam has been making serious efforts to takeaction against human trafficking, create a transparent migration environment,and protect the legal rights and interests of migrants. One example is theimplementation of the National Human Trafficking Prevention and ControlProgramme for 2021-2025, with a vision for 2030, which includes new solutionsand tasks to prevent and fight human trafficking in all areas. Read full story

- The Law on amendments and supplements to a number ofarticles of the Law on the Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens, as well asthe Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence inVietnam, recently approved by the 15th National Assembly, is expected to serveas momentum for the tourism sector towards the target of welcoming 8 millioninternational holidaymakers this year.

Phung Quang Thang, Vice Chairman of the VietnamTravel Association, called the adoption of the law, which will take effect fromAugust 2023, a major event to the sector. Read full story

- The most anticipated moment for the BLACKPINK fans inVietnam officially took place at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on July 29evening, with the K-pop girl group stepping onto the stage to thunderous cheers.

☀️ Morning digest July 31 ảnh 5The BLACKPINK girls at their Born Pink Hanoi concert (Photo: baoquocte.vn)
The first night of Born Pink Hanoi, slated forJuly 29 and 30 and marking the end of the four girls’ Asian tour, kicked offwith their hit song "How You Like That", followed by a series ofsongs that make up their name, such as "Ddu-du Ddu-du," "ForeverYoung," "Shut Down," and "Kill This Love."/.Read full story

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From left: Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (3rd) and visiting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (2nd) enjoy the Vietnam–Slovakia friendship concert at the Ho Guom Opera in Hanoi on the evening of April 13. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Slovak leaders attend friendship concert in Hanoi

In the near future, further artistic exchanges between Vietnam and Slovakia are anticipated, with Slovak orchestras and ensembles expected to perform in Vietnam, while Vietnamese artists will have opportunities to showcase their talents in Slovakia, thereby deepening bilateral cultural cooperation and people-to-people ties.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (R) and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Photo: VNA)

Top leader hosts Slovak Prime Minister

Slovakia always considers Vietnam the most important partner in Southeast Asia and one of its top three partners in Asia. The elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and the signing of multiple cooperation agreements between ministries, agencies and businesses would provide fresh momentum for collaboration.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (R) and Viktor Zolotov, Director of the Federal National Guard Service of Russia in Hanoi on April 13. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader receives head of Russia’s Federal National Guard Service

Vietnam attaches great importance to its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, expressing satisfaction at the regular exchanges and contacts maintained between agencies of both countries at various levels, contributing to strengthened bilateral ties.

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc presents the appointment decision to Sen. Lieut. Gen. Le Duc Thai (Photo: VNA)

Le Duc Thai named Secretary of Thanh Hoa provincial Party Committee

New Secretary of the Thanh Hoa provincial Party Committee Le Duc Thai pledged to lead by example, uphold unity and creativity, seize opportunities and overcome challenges to successfully achieve the goals set out in the resolution of the provincial Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, contributing to the nationwide rollout of the 14th National Party Congress’s resolution.

At the phone talks between Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and LDP President and Prime Minister of Japan Takaichi Sanae (Photo: VNA)

Top leader holds phone talks with Japanese PM

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae spoke highly of Vietnam’s role and position in the regionc, calling it a key partner to advance Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision. Japan greatly values Vietnam’s policy of independence and self-reliance and supports its development goals in a new era.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam speaks at the conference (Photo; VNA)

Top leader chairs conference announcing personnel appointments

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam demanded the appointed officials' absolute loyalty to the Party’s goals and ideals, firm political mettle, and strict compliance with organisational discipline. He instructed them to lead by example, match words with action, and put the interests of the nation, Party and people above all else.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam takes part in ASEAN Finance Ministers' meeting

Vietnam reaffirmed its development strategy for 2021–2025 and 2026, based on three pillars - institutional reform, infrastructure development, and human resources, with infrastructure as a top priority to drive new growth.

Wei Tao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, talks to Vietnam News Agency correspondent. (Photo: VNA)

Guangxi eyes boundless cooperation with Vietnam

Vietnam has remained Guangxi’s largest trading partner for 27 consecutive years. In 2025, bilateral trade exceeded 300 billion CNY (43.4 billion USD) for the first time, ranking third among China’s provincial-level localities.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Internal Affairs Le Minh Tri speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA)

Party steps up anti-corruption drive in new phase

Anti-corruption efforts have achieved significant and breakthrough results, contributing to the Party and political system building, political stability, socio-economic development and stronger public trust in the Party, the State and the regime.