☀️ 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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Comrade Tran Duc Luong, former Politburo member, former President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

SPECIAL COMMUNIQUÉ on former State President Tran Duc Luong’s funeral

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, the National Assembly, the State President, the Government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee have issued a special communiqué, announcing that former State President Tran Duc Luong passed away at 22:51 on May 20, 2025, and his funeral will be held as a national mourning.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame (R) receives Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania and Rwanda Vu Thanh Huyen. (Photo: VNA)

Rwanda treasures traditional friendship with Vietnam: President

Expressing her great honour to assume this position, Huyen affirmed her commitment to making every effort to further promote the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Rwanda, particularly in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture, and education.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the Government’s law-building session in Hanoi on May 22. (Photo: VNA)

PM urges stronger decentralisation, delegation of power crucial during law building

They also considered two draft laws and four legislative proposals - the law on enforcement of temporary detention, custody, and travel restrictions; the amended law on enforcement of criminal judgements; the amended law on thrift practice and wastefulness combat; the amended law on judicial assessment; the amended law on food safety; and the law on population.

☕ Afternoon briefing on May 22

☕ Afternoon briefing on May 22

The Government’s law-building session for May, the conclusion of the second round of negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement between Vietnam and the US, and Vietnam's participation in SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025 are among news highlights on May 22.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Deputy FM’s visit seeks to deepen ties with Sweden

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang reaffirmed Vietnam’s dedication to consolidating and developing friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Sweden, expressing sincere gratitude to the Swedish Government and people for their invaluable support during Vietnam’s past struggle for independence and in its ongoing development and global integration.

☀️ Morning digest on May 22

☀️ Morning digest on May 22

PM Pham Minh Chinh's message to the 78th session of the World Health Assembly, the passing-away of former State President Tran Duc Luong, and Vietnam's participation in the 2025 Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan exhibition are among news highlights on May 21 evening.

Associate Professor Dr. Duong Trung Y (R), Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, has a meeting with Nomvula Mokonyane, First Deputy Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa. (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, South Africa enhance cooperation in training of leaders, managers

They agreed to further deepen collaboration between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the ANC’s OR Tambo School of Leadership in the areas of leader and manager training, political theory research, as well as academic and expert exchanges in public governance, public policy, and strategic-level capacity building.