☀️ Morning digest on August 4

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

☀️ Morning digest on August 4

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

- State President Luong Cuong offered congratulations on the 80th founding anniversary of the United Nations in a message sent on August 1 in response to an initiative of Ambassador Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

The online event featured speeches by President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly Philemon Yang, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and most of the heads of States and Governments of the UN members. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong, his spouse Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Cairo on August 3 afternoon, starting their state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and his spouse.

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State President Luong Cuong (R) and his spouse Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet are welcomed by Egyptian Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif. (Photo: VNA)

President Cuong, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation were welcomed at Cairo International Airport by Egyptian Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif; Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Huy Dung and his wife; the Vietnamese Ambassadors to Algeria, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria and Tanzania; and officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 2 instructed Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang city to mobilise resources and lay the groundwork for the development of Vietnam’s International Financial Centre (IFC).

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference in HCM City on August 2 on the implementation of the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 on the IFC. (Photo: VNA)

The leader made the request while chairing a conference in HCM City on the implementation of the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 on the IFC. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested Ho Chi Minh City to spearhead Vietnam’s development through pioneering efforts in five critical areas as the newly-formed megacity emerges as Southeast Asia’s largest one following administrative reorganisation.

The Government leader made the request while chairing the sixth meeting of the Coordinating Council for the Southeastern Region, and the 4th meeting of the Steering Board for implementing the National Assembly’s Resolution 98/2023/QH15 on piloting several special mechanisms and policies for HCM City’s development on August 2. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 2 reiterated that Long Thanh International Airport must be completed to receive its first flight on December 19, 2025 and begin commercial operations in early 2026.

Inspecting the airport construction in the southern province of Dong Nai, the leader praised efforts to accelerate progress but warned that the remaining tasks are complex and time is running out. Read full story

- The state visit to Egypt from August 3 - 6 by State President Luong Cuong, his spouse and high-ranking delegation of Vietnam marks an important diplomatic milestone for both nations, as it demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing bilateral relations, deepening political trust, and revitalising traditional friendship. The trip is expected to create momentum for a new phase of cooperation, especially in economy and trade between Vietnam and Egypt, as well as with African countries.

Made at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and his spouse, this is the first state visit to Egypt by a Vietnamese head of state to Egypt in seven years, following the 2018 visit by then State President Tran Dai Quang. Read full story

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 2 refuted the assessment of a recent report from the US-based National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia concerning humanitarian cooperation in the search for and identification of American service members missing in action (MIA) during the war in Vietnam.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang, in response to the press’s request for reaction to criticisms contained in the report on the cooperation with the US side in the matter, stated: “These are distorted, false information, and we firmly reject them.” Read full story

- All four students of Vietnam’s national team competing at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) 2025 in Sucre, Bolivia, have won medals, the Ministry of Education and Training announced on August 2.

The team brought home one gold, two silvers, and one bronze, reinforcing Vietnam’s strong record in the increasingly competitive academic competition. Read full story

- The ASEAN Defence Observer Group has begun a two-week mission to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand along tense border areas, reported the Khmer Times.

According to Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, the observer group includes military representatives from seven ASEAN nations – Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam./. Read full story

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Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil and Guyana Bui Van Nghi speaks at the event. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil)

Vietnam highlights diplomatic gains, growing ties with Brazil, Guyana

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam – Guyana diplomatic ties, Ambassador Bui Van Nghi described the milestone as an opportunity for both sides to deepen political trust, broaden cooperation in potential areas, and make positive contributions to peace, cooperation and sustainable development in the regions and beyond.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the third National Forum on Digital Economy and Digital Society in Hanoi on December 20. (Photo: VNA)

Digital economy as driver, digital society as foundation of growth: PM

The forum, themed “Developing an inclusive and comprehensive digital economy and digital society to achieve double-digit GDP growth in the 2026–2030 period,” brought together leaders of ministries and localities, technology enterprises, research institutions, experts and representatives of international organisations in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia–Oceania Department at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs meet in Hanooi on December 19. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy FM meets French official

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its relationship with France, the first European Union country with which Vietnam has established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting that the two sides enjoy a solid foundation and significant potential for further cooperation.

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu speaks at the event in Hanoi on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

Senior Party official reviews preparations for 14th National Party Congress

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu expressed his belief that relevant agencies will continue to make efforts to basically complete organisation- and service-related preparations by December 31, ensuring readiness for the final rehearsals ahead of the opening of the 14th National Party Congress.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addressing the conference of the the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges industry, trade sector to pioneer in six key areas

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that to make a substantive contribution to national development, the industry and trade sector must also achieve double-digit growth, generate new jobs, strengthen traditional growth drivers such as export and consumption, and accelerate emerging engines of growth, including the green, digital, circular, knowledge-based and sharing economies.

State President Luong Cuong (middle) presents congratulatory flowers to the two promoted officers (Photo: VNA)

Two military officers promoted to rank of Senior Lieutenant General

Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Vice Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Lieutenant General Do Van Banh, Political Commissar of the National Defence Academy were promoted to the rank of Senior Lieutenant General at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 19.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (R) hosts a reception for Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam Nguyen Huy Tien. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Laos step up cooperation in procuracy sector

They highly valued the effective and substantive cooperation results achieved by the Supreme People’s Procuracies of Vietnam and Laos in recent years, and called on both sides to continue enhancing coordination, stepping up exchanges of delegations at all levels, sharing professional and technical experience, and maintaining and expanding training and capacity-building programmes for officials.