Politics

☀️ Morning digest on December 29

THe 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, PM Pham Minh Chinh's meeting with Can Tho voters, and Vietnam's reaction to the signing of the Joint Statement between Cambodia and Thailand are among news highlights last weekend.

☀️ Morning digest on December 29

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

– Party General Secretary To Lam has called on exemplary individuals honoured at the ongoing 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress to continue maintaining their passion and serving as catalysts for wider impact of patriotic emulation movements nationwide.

Addressing the congress, which officially opened in Hanoi on December 27 morning, General Secretary Lam affirmed that patriotic emulation is a cherished tradition of the Vietnamese nation. The congress is an occasion to honour the most outstanding individuals and collectives in the patriotic emulation, he said, noting that many delegates are heroes and national emulators, while others are exemplary individuals selected and nominated from the grassroots level. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with voters in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on December 28 to inform them of the outcomes of the 15th National Assembly (NA)’s 10th session and listen to their opinions, with discussions concentrating on major policy breakthroughs in healthcare and education.

pm-meets-can-tho-voters.jpg
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Can Tho voters on December 28. (Photo: VNA)

The meeting devoted significant time to voter feedback, particularly regarding the implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 71 on breakthrough development in education and training, and Resolution No. 72 on measures to better protect and improve public health. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 28 inspected socio-economic development, maritime defence and security, and the implementation of major infrastructure projects in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, calling for stronger determination and coordinated efforts to accelerate progress in its Dat Mui area.

During an aerial survey of Dat Mui commune, home to the five islands of Hon Khoai, Hon Sao, Hon Go, Hon Doi Moi and Hon Da Le, the Prime Minister underscored the area’s strategic importance for national defence, economic development and connectivity across the province, the Mekong Delta and the wider southern region. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has emphasised that the culture, sports, and tourism sector must embrace innovative mindset and decisive action to achieve tangible results, creating a vibrant space for development in the new era and positioning culture as both intrinsic strength of the nation and spiritual foundation of its people.

Chairing a conference in Hanoi on December 27 to review the sector’s performance in 2025 and over the past five years, and outline key tasks for 2026, PM Chinh stressed that sports should embody the nation’s spirit and strength, tourism should serve as a channel connecting friendship, peace, and development, while the media should build trust and hope, acting as a bridge between the people and the Party and State. Read full story

– Vietnam and Laos have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in border management and development during the 34th annual meeting between their respective border delegations held in Vientiane from December 25–27.

The Vietnamese border delegation was led by Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, while the Lao delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maythong Thammavongsa. Read full story

– Vietnam welcomes the signing of the Joint Statement between Cambodia and Thailand at the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on December 27, 2025, agreeing on a ceasefire and measures to de-escalate tensions at the border between the two countries, said Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.

Hang made the comment while answering a reporter's question asking for Vietnam's reaction to the Joint Statement at the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) between Cambodia and Thailand. Read full story

– Hanoi tops the 2025 Vietnam eBusiness Index (EBI) with 74.7 points, followed by Ho Chi Minh City with 73.5 points.

hanoi-leads-2025-vietnam-ebusiness-index.jpg
From 4 billion USD in 2015, the size of the e-commerce market increases eightfold to reach 32 billion USD last year. (Photo: VNA)

The central city of Da Nang ranks third with 28.1 points. Read full story

– Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy were voted Best Player of 2025 and received their Golden Ball statue at an awarding ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 26.

Midfielder Duc was one of key players helping Ninh Binh FC win the V.League 2 trophy of the 2024-25 season and promoted to the national premier league. Read full story./.

VNA
#morning digest #patriotic emulation #Can Tho #Ca Mau #Vietnam eBusiness Index
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh (left) and First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) Central Committee A Dong at their meeting in Beijing on April 12 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China strengthen youth exchanges to deepen bilateral ties

The Vietnamese diplomat stressed that during the upcoming state visit by General Secretary and State President To Lam, the meeting between senior leaders of the two countries and youth participating in the ninth edition of “Red study tour” programme in China reflects the special attention paid by the top leaders of both Parties and countries to nurturing and educating younger generations, enabling them to carry forward the revolutionary traditions of previous generations.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Photo: VNA)

Slovak Prime Minister begins official visit to Vietnam

According to Ambassador Giang, the official visit by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico marks the first by a foreign government leader after Vietnam completed the restructuring of its state apparatus following the 14th National Party Congress, and opens up opportunities for more substantive cooperation following previous high-level visits, based on the need to strengthen collaboration and high political trust between the two sides.

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man (L) receives Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Torino Sandra Scagliotti (Photo: VNA)

NA leader receives Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Torino

Expressing his special impressions upon visiting Italy, a country rich in cultural traditions and beauty that maintains a longstanding friendship with Vietnam, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that his visit takes place at a time when Vietnam–Italy relations are developing strongly after more than 50 years of diplomatic ties and over a decade of the Strategic Partnership framework.

General Secretary and State President Lam presents the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” to Military Region 1 (Photo: VNA)

Party, State leader asks Military Region 1 to position itself as comprehensively strong force

Party General Secretary and State President Lam, who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission, urged Military Region 1 to continue thoroughly grasping the Party’s guidelines on national defence and military strategy in the new context, maintain a firm control of the situation, and provide timely strategic advice to prevent any unexpected developments.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attends a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Police Force for Administrative Management of Social Order on April 12 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges development of service-oriented administration

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung underscored that in the period of renewal and international integration, the force has continued to play a key role in advising and implementing major initiatives in state management of security and order. Its responsibilities have included population management, issuance and management of citizen identification, regulation of weapons and explosives, management of conditional business sectors, and the maintenance of public order.

National Assembly adopts a resolution introducing key provisions on environmental protection tax, value-added tax, and excise tax for petrol, oil and jet fuel on April 12 (Photo: VNA

NA adopts tax resolution on petrol, oil, aviation fuel

The resolution introducing key provisions on environmental protection tax, value-added tax and excise tax applicable to petrol, oil and aviation fuel passed by the National Assembly on April 12 takes effect from April 16, 2026, to June 30, 2026.

Wei Tao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Photo: VNA)

China’s Guangxi advances “three connectivity” with Vietnam

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China is stepping up cooperation with Vietnamese localities through three key pillars “hard connectivity” in infrastructure, “soft connectivity” in trade and investment, and “people-to-people connectivity” through cultural exchanges.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (left) hands over a letter from Party General Secretary and State President To Lam to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

The Party and State of Vietnam consistently create favourable conditions for the Catholic community to practice their faith while contributing to the nation, following the orientation of “living the Gospel in the heart of the nation,” said National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

A roundtable in Moscow reviews key outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

New cooperation directions drive Vietnam–Russia ties

As Russia pivots towards the Asia–Pacific and Vietnam deepens its global integration, Vietnam is increasingly viewed as a key bridge connecting Russia with Southeast Asia, a role expected to elevate the strategic value of bilateral ties and unlock new cooperation opportunities.

Permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu departs Techo Airport for home. (Photo: VNA)

Cambodia highlights significance of Party official’s visit

The official visit to Cambodia by Politburo member and Permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu has been described by Cambodian officials as carrying profound political and diplomatic significance, helping reinforce the traditional ties between the two Parties and countries.

Ambassador and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Mai Phan Dung meets with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on April 10, 2026. Photo: VNA

Vietnam strongly supports multilateral trading system

Vietnam has always been an active and responsible WTO member, fully participating in activities, discussion sessions, and side events, while regularly making statements and contributing to major negotiation dossiers, said Ambassador and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Mai Phan Dung.