☀️ Morning digest on February 19

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

☀️ Morning digest on February 19

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 February 18 received Chen Gang, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chairman of the Regional People's Congress Standing Committee.

Chen is visiting Vietnam to attend a New Year meeting for the secretaries of the Party committees of Vietnam’s Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Ha Giang provinces and China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as the 16th session of their Joint Working Committee, which will be held in Ha Long city of Quang Ninh from February 19–22. Read full story

- The 15th National Assembly (NA) voted to elect two new NA Vice Chairmen and two new Deputy Prime Ministers at its ongoing ninth extraordinary sessions in Hanoi on February 18.

Accordingly, Le Minh Hoan and Vu Hong Thanh were elected as NA Vice Chairmen, while Mai Van Chinh and Nguyen Chi Dung as Deputy Prime Ministers. Read full story

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From left: State President Luong Cuong (3nd) and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (2nd) congratulate the new Deputy PMs Mai Van Chinh (1st) and Nguyen Chi Dung. (Photo: VNA)

- State President Luong Cuong on February 18 presided over a ceremony to announce and hand over the presidential decisions appointing two deputy prime ministers and four ministers serving the 2021-2026 term.

Accordingly, Mai Van Chinh and Nguyen Chi Dung have been appointed as Deputy PMs; Tran Hong Minh as Minister of Construction; Nguyen Manh Hung as Minister of Science and Technology; Do Duc Duy as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; and Dao Ngoc Dung as Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference on February 18 to implement the 15th National Assembly (NA)’s resolutions on the structure of the Government and to assign tasks to freshly appointed cabinet members for the 2021-2026 term.

Earlier the same day, during its 9th extraordinary session, the NA passed Resolution No. 176/2025/QH15 on the Government's organisational structure and Resolution No. 177/2025/QH15 on the number of cabinet members, both for its current term. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 18 received Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from February 18-20.

PM Chinh affirmed that the visit will further strengthen the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Chen Gang, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Hanoi on February 18, reaffirming the strengthened ties between Vietnam and the Chinese locality.

Chen, who is also Chairman of the Regional People's Congress Standing Committee, is visiting Vietnam to attend a New Year meeting between the Party secretaries of Vietnam’s Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Ha Giang provinces, and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Read full story

- The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee approved a resolution on the specific tasks, powers, and organisational structure of the legislature’s Council for Ethnic Affairs and committees at a session on February 18.

The resolution, which comprises six chapters and 26 articles, stipulates that for the committee formed through the merger of two committees, it will essentially inherit and retain the tasks of the original committees prior to the restructuring. Adjustments will be made to certain areas and tasks between some agencies to ensure balance and harmony among them.

Additionally, a comprehensive review of the responsibilities and management areas of the agencies will be conducted to ensure there are no gaps or overlaps in their fields and tasks. Read full story

- There remains an ample room for Vietnam and Armenia to strengthen their relations in all areas, especially in economy and trade, in order to meet the development needs and goals, and aspirations of their people, according to Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Receiving Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam Suren Baghdasaryan on February 18, Hang spoke highly of the positive developments in the bilateral relations across all areas in recent times, reflected through frequent exchanges and meetings at various levels, with the most recent being the official visit to Vietnam by National Assembly President Alen Simonyan in November 2024, as well as close and effective coordination at multilateral forums and international organisations./. Read full story

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Nguyen Van Duoc was elected with 83 out of 84 votes at the 21st session of the 10th city People’s Council. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City has new chairman

Nguyen Van Duoc, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, was elected Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee for the 2021-2026 term on February 20, replacing Phan Van Mai, who had been assigned to take on the position of Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee.

Politburo member and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) Nguyen Xuan Thang (R) and Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Singapore to expand training courses for potential leaders

Reflecting on a working session between the HCMA’s leaders and the Singaporean Ambassador last year, Thang noted that a delegation of high-ranking officials from Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities attended the Potential Leaders Programme in Singapore.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man co-chair the conference.(Photo: VNA)

Delegations established to inspect Government, NA’s Party Committees

The inspection will scrutinise the implementation of the 12th Party Central Committee’s Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW on continued reform and re-organisation of the political system’s organisational apparatus for greater efficiency, and the Party Central Committee’s conclusion on the review of the Resolution tied to the establishment and operation of new Party organisations.

The 3rd defence policy dialogue between Vietnam and Canada takes place in Hanoi on February 20. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Canada hold 3rd defence policy dialogue in Hanoi

Regarding the East Sea issue, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien emphasised the need to respect international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and accelerate negotiations to finalise an effective and practical Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (L) and Canadian Deputy Minister of National Defence Stefanie Beck. (Photo: VNA)

Minister lauds Vietnam-Canada defence cooperation

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang on February 20 received Canadian Deputy Minister of National Defence Stefanie Beck who is in Hanoi to co-chair the third Vietnam-Canada Defence Policy Dialogue.

At the government's law-making session on February 20. (Photo: VNA)

Cabinet members deliberate on seven draft laws

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long underscored the importance of these draft laws, highlighting their roles in enhancing judicial cooperation in criminal matters, facilitating the extradition and the effective transfer of sentenced persons, while also improving swift and effective response to emergency situations.

Party General Secretary To Lam (R) receives Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. (Photo: VNA)

Cuba hails steadfast brotherhood with Vietnam

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said he deeply appreciates Vietnam’s strong solidarity and unwavering support for the Cuban people, noting the Vietnamese side shows its commitment to advancing bilateral projects.

At the meeting of the Party Central Committee's Politburo and Secretariat on February 14. (Photo: VNA)

Politburo, Secretariat’s conclusion on tasks for political system streamlining in 2025

The Politburo directed the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission to continue working closely with Party committees and affiliated Party bodies to tackle obstacles arising during the implementation phase, ensuring strict adherence to the 13th-term Politburo’s Directive on the organisation of Party congresses at all levels in the lead-up to the 14th National Party Congress and the Politburo’s conclusion on adjustments to the Directive.

From right: Nguyen Xuan Thang (5th), Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and Chairman of the Central Theory Council, Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisi (6th) and other participants at the working session in Hanoi on February 19. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Sweden step up cooperation in policy research, public administration

Thang noted that as Vietnam is streamlining its political system, the Party and Government are keen on studying international models of public administration, including Sweden’s. Thus, the HCMA wants to boost collaboration with the Swedish side on administrative reform and public governance against the backdrop of digital transformation.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet (R) receives Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cambodia seek to boost friendship, all-around cooperation

In a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on February 19 afternoon, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu suggested directions to further strengthen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries; enhance political trust; expand investment, trade, and tourism activities; and strengthen economic connectivity towards raising bilateral trade turnover to 20 billion USD.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and Chen Gang, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM, FM holds talks with Party Secretary of China's Guangxi

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son emphasised the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and China during his talks with Chen Gang, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Hanoi on February 19.