☀️ Morning digest on April 2

Belgian King Philippe's meetings with top leaders of Vietnam, the 16th session of the Vietnam-Belarus Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, and Singapore's approval of the import of selected poultry meat and egg products from Vietnam are among news highlights on April 1 evening.

☀️ Morning digest on April 2

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

– Party General Secretary To Lam on April 1 received Belgian King Philippe, who is on a five-day state visit to Vietnam.

Welcoming King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, and the Belgian high-level delegation to Vietnam, the Party chief highlighted the historic significance of the visit, the first at the head-of-state level between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973. Read full story

– State President Luong Cuong and his spouse hosted a grand state banquet in honour of visiting Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in Hanoi on the evening of April 1.

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President Luong Cuong, his spouse Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium at the state banquet. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese leader expressed his hope that the Belgian monarchs’ visit will enable the King and Queen to witness Vietnam’s dynamic transformation and strong development, while creating an important momentum for the growth of the Vietnam-Belgium friendship in the years ahead. Read full story

– Vietnam and Belgium should foster deeper cooperation in areas of one's strength and the other's need such as high technology, circular economy, and strategic infrastructure, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated at a meeting with visiting Belgian King Philippe in Hanoi on April 1.

The PM expressed gratitude for Belgium’s continued development support for Vietnam and urged further concrete initiatives, including the implementation of the Belgian parliamentary resolution adopted in October 2023, which provides assistance to Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Read full story

– National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man had a meeting with visiting King Philippe of Belgium in Hanoi on April 1.

The host highlighted the visit as a significant milestone that opens a new chapter in relations between the two countries, and appreciated the sound sentiments of the Belgian King and Queen towards Vietnam. Read full story

– Developing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation is an imperative choice and the only path to drive the country's development and improve people's living standards, said Party General Secretary To Lam on April 1.

At a meeting of the Party Central Committee’s Politburo and Secretariat providing input to a specialised report regarding breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in Hanoi, the Party chief noted this is a specific activity affirming a high determination of the Party and State to successfully implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, issued by the Politburo on December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. Read full story

– Queen Mathilde of Belgium on April 1 visited the Vietnam National Children's Hospital in Hanoi, which reflected the strong public healthcare cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of child mental health.

The Queen and her entourage are accompanying King Philippe in a state visit to Vietnam. Currently, the Vietnam National Children's Hospital is engaged in a partnership with Léonard de Vinci College under the 2022-2024 cooperation programme between the Vietnamese Government and the French Community of Belgium in Wallonia region. Read full story

– Vietnam and Belarus are set to deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields, particularly in economy-trade and science-technology, through their Intergovernmental Committee mechanism, affirmed Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

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Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Anatoly Sivak sign the meeting minutes. (Photo: VNA)

Co-chairing the 16th session of the Vietnam-Belarus Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation with Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak on April 1, Minister Dien highlighted the commitment to strengthening ties across all sectors. Read full story

– Vietnam is stepping up international collaboration to tackle human trafficking and illegal migration, as Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang engaged in high-level talks with UK and French officials on the sidelines of the Border Security Summit in London on March 31.

In a meeting with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, both sides reaffirmed their strong cooperation in migration management, human trafficking investigation, and immigration control. They praised the successful implementation of key agreements and the organisation of three Vietnam-UK migration dialogues at the deputy ministerial level. Read full story

– Singapore has officially approved the import of selected poultry meat and egg products from Vietnam, said Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in the city-state Cao Xuan Thang.

On March 11, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) issued an official document approving several livestock products from Vietnam to enter Singapore. Read full story./.

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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung chairs the working session with the Standing Board of the Hanoi Party Committee on June 11. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister urges Hanoi to target higher growth, become leading innovation hub

The PM emphasised that Hanoi must achieve its 11% growth target for 2026 through comprehensive solutions and regular reviews of growth scenarios. He called on the city to unlock growth potential in processing, manufacturing, trade, services, finance, banking, insurance, transport, logistics, construction and real estate, while controlling inflation and market stability.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam addresses the conference. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader calls for better quality of institutional development

Party General Secretary and State President Lam underscored the need for a new mindset that places judicial reforms within a unified rule-of-law framework: good law-making, strict law enforcement, an honest judiciary, safeguarded justice, controlled power, protected human and citizens’ rights, and national development supported by a transparent, effective and coherent institutional system.

A damaged road is seen following the earthquake near General Santos City, the Philippines, on June 9, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Messages of sympathy sent to Philippines over losses caused by earthquake

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam, and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on June 11 sent messages of sympathy to Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos over great losses of life and property caused by a recent earthquake in the southern Philippines.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau delivers a speech at the 31st Future of Asia Conference in Tokyo on June 11 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam proposes three Asian cooperation orientations

Drawing on Asia’s development journey, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau distilled three lessons: resilience as the bedrock of sustainable development, cooperation as the engine of a stable and open future, and reform and innovation as essential catalysts for economies adapting to a fast-changing era.

☕ Afternoon briefing on June 11

☕ Afternoon briefing on June 11

A national conference disseminating and implementing Politburo Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW, the launch of the 14th national red journey blood donation campaign, and the 2026 national high school graduation examination are among news highlights on June 11.

Dr. Gnel Rattha, President of the Cambodia – Russia Business Association and an expert in geopolitics and international economics, grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Cambodian expert hails AFF 2026 as milestone in multilateral party diplomacy

AFF 2026 is a testament to Vietnam’s ability to pursue a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and deeper international integration. The forum’s agenda also demonstrated the host country’s organisational capacity in broadening dialogue beyond the government level, bringing together representatives of major ASEAN cities, youth groups, and the private sector, said Dr. Gnel Rattha, President of the Cambodia–Russia Business Association.

Flag-raising ceremony marking the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on August 8, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

AFF 2026 potential to become an incubator of ideas for ASEAN’s future agenda: expert

Collins Chong Yew Keat, a strategic, security and foreign affairs analyst at the Universiti Malaya, said that Vietnam’s decision to organise the forum was highly timely, as the bloc is currently facing a range of interconnected challenges, from major-power competition, maritime tensions and supply chain disruptions to non-traditional issues such as climate change and technological transformation.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam speaks at the national conference held on June 11 to disseminate and implement Politburo Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader highlights strategic role of foreign affairs in new development era

With the determination of the entire political system, Resolution No. 06 will soon be translated into practical outcomes, enabling foreign affairs to fully perform its pioneering and strategic role in advancing Vietnam’s aspiration to become a developed, independent, self-reliant and self-strengthening nation in the new era, said top leader To lam.

The Vietnam–Cambodia friendship monument is inaugurated on June 10 in Pursat province of northern Cambodia (Photo: VNA)

New Vietnam–Cambodia friendship monument inaugurated in Pursat province

The Vietnam–Cambodia Friendship Monument stands as a symbol of the solidarity and friendship between the two countries, serving as a historical and cultural landmark that pays tribute to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who fought alongside Cambodian forces and people against common enemies for peace, independence, and freedom.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on June 10. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Japan seek to deepen all-round relations

Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on June 10, Deputy PM Le Tien Chau thanked Japan for its effective cooperation and significant contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development over the years, expressing support for Japan’s increasingly active role in regional and global affairs through initiatives in digital transformation and energy security.

☀️ Morning digest on June 11

☀️ Morning digest on June 11

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's reception for Timor-Leste PM Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Standing Deputy PM Pham Gia Tuc's meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, and the conclusion of third ASEAN Future Forum are among news highlights on June 10 evening.

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung meets with UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Seema Malhotra in Hanoi on June 10, 2026, as part of the British official’s visit to Vietnam. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam, UK seek to lift bilateral trade to 10 billion USD

At the meeting, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung thanked the UK for its high-level participation in the ASEAN Future Forum and reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for stronger ASEAN–UK ties. Marking five years of the ASEAN–UK Dialogue Partnership, he stressed Vietnam’s determination to effectively fulfil its role as ASEAN Coordinator for relations with the UK for the 2024–2027 period.

Delegates at the workshop on commemorating 5 years of ASEAN - UK Dialogue Relations in Hanoi on June 10 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam reaffirms commitment to advancing ASEAN ties with New Zealand, UK

The ASEAN-New Zealand Forum on Subregional Cooperation and a workshop marking the fifth anniversary of ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership relations (2021-2026) were hosted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its capacity as coordinator of ASEAN’s relations with New Zealand and the UK for 2024-2027.

The 181st Session of the FAO Council takes place in Rome, Italy, from June 8–12, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam a model for effective South-South cooperation: FAO

Vietnam’s participation in the 181st Session of the FAO Council in Italy demonstrates its active and responsible role in multilateral food and agriculture mechanisms, while reaffirming the country’s commitment to addressing food security challenges, promoting sustainable agricultural development, adapting to climate change and strengthening international cooperation in agrifood system transformation.