Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is also Chairman of the Central Council for Emulation and Commendation, on December 22 chaired the council’s 16th meeting for the 2021–2025 term to further review preparations for the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, scheduled to take place on December 26-27.
The meeting assessed that preparations for the congress have, in general, been carried out on schedule and in line with set requirements. These include reports reviewing the outcomes of emulation movements and commendation work over the 2021-2025 period, outlining orientations and tasks for 2026-2030; the development of programme scripts for exchanges with exemplary role models; and activities to honour and commend Heroes of Labour, Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, and National Emulation Soldiers. Communications efforts have been rolled out in various forms, alongside preparations for logistics and security. Read full story
- Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang has affirmed Vietnam's readiness to work closely with other ASEAN members to help Cambodia and Thailand soon restore peace and stabilise their relations.
Giang, on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, made the remarks while attending the ASEAN foreign ministers’ special meeting on the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on December 22. Read full story
- MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation and CMC Technology Group on December 22 signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding to jointly provide digital infrastructure, digital transformation and AI transformation solutions for state agencies and businesses.
The agreement upgrades their strategic partnership launched in 2020, expanding cooperation towards end-to-end models that offer integrated, packaged services, enabling faster deployment, stable operation and flexible scalability for clients. Read full story
- The People’s Committee of Vinh Long province held a working session on December 22 with Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries to discuss cooperation and investment opportunities in energy, renewable energy, and the development of economic zones and industrial parks in the Mekong Delta locality.
At the meeting, Lawrence Chan, Head of Vietnam–Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in Vietnam, said Sembcorp is a global group that focuses on energy and urban development, with a mission to promote a sustainable and responsible energy transition. Read full story
- The appellate court on December 22 accepted appeals by defendants in the case involving Phuc Son Group and several localities seeking reduced sentences, with some prison terms converted into suspended sentences.
Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Vinh Phuc province (before its merger with Phu Tho and Hoa Binh), had her prison sentence reduced from 14 years to 11 years and six months. Former Chairman of the Vinh Phuc provincial People’s Committee Le Duy Thanh will serve eight years and six months in prison, down from 12 years previously. The appellate court also reduced the jail term of Pham Hoang Anh, former Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Phuc provincial Party Committee, from eight years to six years. They were all convicted of taking bribes. Read full story
- The World Bank (WB) has forecast that Laos is on track to graduate from the group of least developed countries (LDCs) in 2026, citing encouraging signs of macroeconomic recovery while urging the government to sustain reforms and reduce reliance on international aid.
According to the WB’s latest report on the Lao economy, GDP growth in 2025 is projected at 4.2%, driven by a rebound in tourism, transport services, and continued expansion of the resource sector./. Read full story
