☀️ Morning digest on April 17

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

☀️ Morning digest on April 17

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

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam on April 16 met with Chen Gang, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as part of his ongoing state visit to China.

Congratulating Guangxi on its development achievements, General Secretary and President Lam expressed his confidence that the region will become a modern, prosperous and beautiful socialist autonomous region. He appreciated Guangxi’s role as a “rear base” during Vietnam’s struggle for national independence, noting that 85 years ago President Ho Chi Minh returned to Cao Bang from there to directly lead the Vietnamese revolution. He showed his hope that Guangxi will continue to promote its friendly ties, leverage its geographical proximity, play a leading role, and create breakthroughs in strategic connectivity with Vietnamese localities. Read full story

- Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on April 16 hosted a delegation of 52 leading US enterprises, led by Brian McFeeters, Interim President and CEO of the US–ASEAN Business Council (USABC), currently on a working visit to explore investment and cooperation opportunities in Vietnam.

After more than three decades of diplomatic relations, and particularly following the elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, Vietnam–US economic relations have expanded significantly in both scale and quality. The US ranks 11th among foreign investors in Vietnam, with 1,501 projects totalling nearly 12.3 billion USD in registered capital. Meanwhile, as of October 31, 2025, Vietnam had run 266 investment projects in the US, with total registered capital of approximately 1.4 billion USD, placing it sixth among 85 countries and territories receiving Vietnamese investment. Bilateral trade reached an estimated 141.4 billion USD in the first ten months of 2025. Read full story

- Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man delivered an important address at the general debate of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-152) in Türkiye on April 16 afternoon (local time).

In his remarks, the NA Chairman underscored that the IPU-152 theme of “Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations” conveys a message that is both timely and urgent, as the world is witnessing growing instability and conflict driven by geopolitical competition, non-compliance with international law, the use of force, and the destruction of essential infrastructure, causing immense suffering and loss to millions of people. Read full story

- Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man attended a policy dialogue aimed at promoting Vietnam–Türkiye cooperation within the framework of his working visit to Türkiye on the afternoon of April 16 (local time).

Speaking at the dialogue, a representative of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye said that in the context of increasing global uncertainties, maintaining international cooperation is of great importance. Vietnam and Türkiye are both dynamic and fast-growing economies in their respective regions, with bilateral relations gaining strong momentum not only in economic terms but also across political and strategic dimensions. Read full story

- The UNESCO Executive Board on April 15 approved decisions to extend the status of two Vietnamese Category II centres under UNESCO’s auspices for a further eight years during its 224th session in Paris.

These include the International Centre of Research and Postgraduate Training in Mathematics (ICRTM) and the International Centre for Physics (ICP), both operating under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). Read full story

- The Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Anex Vietnam Travel and Trading Co., Ltd. (Anex Tour Vietnam) on April 16 welcomed the first flight from Russia's Vladivostok, marking the launch of a programme to tap into the international tourist market from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the central city during 2026 summer.

The flight landed at 14:05 at Da Nang International Airport, bringing nearly 220 passengers to the coastal city. Read full story./.

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Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), meets with Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) receives Athsaphangthong Siphandone, member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, in Hanoi on May 12, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung receives Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei in Hanoi on May 12. Photo: VNA

Prime Minister receives Chinese Ambassador

The Party and State of Vietnam always value the assistance China has provided to Vietnam during its past struggle for national independence as well as in national development today. Vietnam consistently regards the development of relations with China as a steadfast policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Tran Duc Thang and Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee Atsaphangthong Siphandone witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Women’s Unions of Hanoi and Vientiane for 2026–2030, as well as a memorandum on enhanced cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Hanoi and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union of Vientiane for the same period. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi, Vientiane promote comprehensive cooperation in new phase

The capitals of Vietnam and Laos signed memoranda of understanding on joint work in the fields of public communication and mass mobilisation, women and youth affairs, foreign relations, industry and trade, education and health care. These are expected to provide an important basis for implementing their cooperation priorities for 2026–2030.

An overview of the seminar held in Hanoi on May 12 (Photo: VNA)

Two-tier local administration improves public service delivery: Seminar

The two-tier local government model has operated relatively stable despite heavy workloads and high reform demands. Many localities have quickly adapted, while people have shown support for streamlined administration and expectations for a more modern, efficient and accountable public sector.

At the VFF's 11th National Congress for the 2026-2031 tenure. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Fatherland Front must better harness strength of great national unity: Top leader

In the new era, great national unity is not only a spiritual tradition, but also a national development capacity and a source of strength to unlock resources and creativity, create social consensus, and safeguard the country early and from afar. Unity now means respecting legitimate differences, harmonising interests, taking national interests as common ground, and rallying all patriotic Vietnamese around the aspiration to build a peaceful, independent, democratic, strong, prosperous, civilised, and happy Vietnam, the top leader said.

At the opening of the VFF's 11th National Congress. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Fatherland Front convenes 11th National Congress for 2026-2031 term

With the spirit of “Unity – Democracy – Innovation – Creativity – Development”, the Presidium called on delegates to uphold their sense of responsibility, solidarity, and wisdom, and contribute substantive and quality opinions on documents so that the congress would become a major milestone in the process of renewing and improving the VFF’s effectiveness in the new revolutionary period.

A flower-laying ceremony is held at the plaque in commemoration of President Ho Chi Minh on May 9 in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro city. (Photo: VNA)

Ceremony in Brazil honours President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam–Brazil friendship

Addressing a ceremony dedicated to the Vietnamese leader in Rio de Janeiro city on the occasion of the 136th anniversary of his birth (May 19, 1890–2026) and the 37th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Brazil (May 8, 1989–2026), Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi highlighted that Ho Chi Minh’s forward-thinking vision laid the foundation for friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Vietnam and Brazil more than a century ago.