☀️ Morning digest on April 23

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

☀️ Morning digest on April 23

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 To Lam on April 22 held phone talks with President of the African National Congress (ANC) and President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa affirmed that South Africa highly evaluates the brotherly solidarity and good cooperative relationship as well as the mutual support between the ANC and the CPV, a relationship that has been cultivated by leaders and the people of the two countries since the period of fighting against colonialism and continues to be consolidated and developed in the current cause of national development. Read full story

- Party General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, requested the Tank-Armored Corps of the Ministry of National Defence to continue enhancing its quality and combat strength toward the goal of building an elite, streamlined and strong unit, truly becoming a strong attack force of the Vietnam People’s Army.

At a working session with officers of the corps on April 22 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975 - 2025), the Party leader highlighted the important role played by the unit in implementing the tasks, while praising its efforts to obtain significant achievements in recent years. Read full story

- Secretary of the Government's Party Committee and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Secretary of the National Assembly (NA)'s Party Committee and NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man co-chaired a conference between the standing boards of the two Party committees on April 22 to discuss the coming 9th session of the 15th NA.

In his remarks, NA Chairman Man said the 15th NA’s 9th session is scheduled to open on May 5, 2025, and will be divided into two phases to review and make decisions on a large number of issues, including many urgent and important matters that were recently agreed upon in principle by the Party Central Committee at its 11th meeting. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung affirmed the Government’s unwavering support for innovation, pledging to collaborate with stakeholders to foster a dynamic ecosystem at the Vietnam Innovation and Private Capital Investment Forum 2025 (VIPC Summit 2025) in Hanoi on April 22.

In his keynote speech, Dung highlighted an unprecedented wave of investment in hi-tech sectors and innovation, with artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, emerging as a strategic focus for global investors. He noted that sustainable development, green growth, and circular economy have become inevitable global trends, driving nations to prioritise innovation. Read full story

- Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane has underscored the extreme significance of the state visit to Laos by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong to the two countries' robust relations.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the visit from April 24 to 25, the Lao official stressed that the trip, to be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and the first by Cuong as the State leader of Vietnam, will create new momentum for and substantially contribute to the great friendship between the two countries, making it develop in a deeper and more substantive and effective fashion to bring prosperity to the people of each country in the coming time. Read full story

- Veteran German journalist and historian Gerhard Feldbauer, in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondents in Berlin on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s reunification (April 30, 1975 – 2025), shared his views on the historic significance of Vietnam’s victory and its far-reaching global impact.

Feldbauer, who served as the Hanoi-based correspondent for the German Democratic Republic’s ADN news agency from 1967 to 1970, highlighted that the ultimate success of the Ho Chi Minh campaign in April 1975 was rooted in the unyielding revolutionary will of the Vietnamese people. This resolve, he said, stemmed from a long tradition of anti-colonial resistance under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President Ho Chi Minh. Read full story

- Vietnam always values the traditional friendship with Azerbaijan, which has been cultivated by generations of leaders from both countries, Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan stressed while hosting a reception for Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in Hanoi on April 22.

At the event, Xuan recalled the pivotal visit to Vietnam by late President Heydar Aliyev in 1983, when he served as First Deputy Chairman of the Soviet Union Council of Ministers, as well as the official visit by President Ilham Aliyev in 2014. Read full story

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Madame Ngo Phuong Ly (R) hosts a reception for Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in Hanoi on April 22. (Photo: VNA)

- Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of Party General Secretary To Lam, welcomed Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Foundation, at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi on April 22.

Ly introduced her guest to Vietnam's artistic works that reflect Vietnam’s cultural traits and history, including nine national heritage items. Among these were the 16th -century Statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokisteshvara and renowned paintings such as “Two young women and a child” (1944) by master artist To Ngoc Van and "Little Sister Thuy" (1943) by Tran Van Can, alongside traditional lacquer works and modern Vietnamese paintings rich in national identity. Read full story./.

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Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung holds talks with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to discuss major orientations for advancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation.(Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, US seek to advance economic, trade cooperation

During a working visit to the US in mid-July, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung, accompanied by the Vietnamese Ambassador to the US and senior officials from several ministries, met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on major directions for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The article posted on the official Facebook page of Pathet Lao. (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam–Laos special relationship to deepen over time

The editorial says the historical milestones demonstrate and reaffirm that the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two Parties, States and peoples will continue to develop and deepen in the years ahead.

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 20

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 20

The third meeting of the 14th Party Central Committee, Standard Chartered sharply raising its forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth in 2026, and all six Vietnamese students winning medals at the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad are among news highlights on July 20.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet. (Photo: VNA)

Proactive strategy needed to counter cognitive warfare: Experts

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet said hostile forces are increasingly using AI and digital platforms to wage cognitive warfare targeting the ideological foundation, public confidence and internal unity. He stressed that the challenge requires continuous innovation in both methods and capabilities.

The presidium of the preparatory session of the 14th National Party Congress. (Photo: VNA)

📝 OP-ED: Where public trust is secured, everything else falls into place

Instead of merely handling information after an incident already occurred, it is necessary to proactively gauge public sentiment, anticipate trends in public opinion and address at an early stage issues that could undermine public trust. In other words, the focus must shift from “managing information” to proactively “governing public trust”.

Vietnam News Agency reporters covering the 14th National Party Congress (Photo: VNA)

Telling Vietnam’s story to build national soft power

Former Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam Associate Professor Dr. Duong Van Quang said digital-era communications must help build knowledge, trust and credibility through authentic and culturally distinctive stories.

☀️ Morning digest on July 20

☀️ Morning digest on July 20

The government meeting with the business community, heavy losses caused by floods and landslides in the northern mountainous region, and Vietnamese students' impressive performance at the 2026 International Chemistry Olympiad and International Biology Olympiad are among news highlights last weekend.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietn Nam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam (left) meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. during his visit to the Philippines in June 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Congratulatory messages mark 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Philippines diplomatic ties

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung sent congratulatory messages to Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Philippines (1976-2026).

Speakers at a panel discussion on Vietnamese language teaching and learning in Thailand. (Photo: VNA)

People-to-people, cultural ties strengthen Vietnam-Thailand friendship

Delivering a keynote speech on the future of Thailand-Vietnam relations after five decades of diplomatic ties, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung underscored the important role of universities not only in preserving shared history but also in shaping the future of the bilateral partnership through education, research and people-to-people connections.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung welcomes Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis in Hanoi on July 17 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam values traditional friendship with Greece: FM

To deepen practical cooperation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung proposed increasing exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits, while strengthening coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly as Greece serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025–2026 term.

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.