☀️ 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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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman chairs meeting on preparations for 16th NA’s first session

The 16th National Assembly’s first session will elect finalise key state leadership positions, including the State President, Prime Minister, NA Chairman, NA vice chairpersons, Deputy PMs, Cabinet members, members of the NA Standing Committee, head of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs and heads of NA committees.

Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh (standing, left) and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin (standing, right) witness the signing of the agreement between the two governments on cooperation in building a nuclear power plant on the territory of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s Russia visit yields substantive outcomes: Deputy FM

During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Russia on March 22-25, Vietnam and Russia reached strong consensus on deepening political trust and mutual understanding, building on their long-standing traditional friendship.

Vietnamese mission staff and overseas Vietnamese in Australia visit Ship 016–Quang Trung (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese naval ship completes mission at Kakadu Exercise 2026

Ship 016–Quang Trung of Brigade 162 under Naval Region 4 departed Sydney Harbour on the morning of March 25 for home after successfully completing activities within the framework of the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review 2026 marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and the multilateral naval exercise Kakadu 2026.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has wrapped up the official visit to Russia from March 22 to 25. (Photo: VNA)

PM arrives in Hanoi, concluding official visit to Russia

With the outcomes achieved and strong implementation efforts by both sides, the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is expected to grow further, contributing to socio-economic development in each country as well as to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the world.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 25. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets Russian President in Moscow

President Putin said Vietnam remains a sincere friend and an important partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific, stressing that Russia attaches importance to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (Source: MoFA)

Vietnamese, Philippine foreign ministers hold phone talks

They agreed to further elevate cooperation across all areas, including politics, diplomacy, defence, security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, contributing to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (July 12, 1976 – 2026).

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh (R) receives Chay Borin, Minister of Cult and Religion of Cambodia, in Hanoi on March 25 (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM receives Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion in Hanoi

Deputy PM Mai Van Chinh welcomed Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion Chay Borin and his entourage on their working visit to Vietnam to implement the cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and Cambodia’s Ministry of Cult and Religion for the 2026–2030 period.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam (R) and Thongly Sisoulith, member of the Lao Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union at a photo exhibition held as part of the ceremony marking he 95th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Vientiane on March 25. (Photo: VNA)

95th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union marked in Laos

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam described Vietnamese and Lao youth as the “architects” of the future of bilateral ties and called on young Vietnamese in Laos to strengthen their political awareness, pioneer digital transformation and entrepreneurship, and act as ambassadors of friendship between the two countries' people.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu pays a New Year visit to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cambodia foster friendship, solidarity

At a meeting on March 25 at the headquarters of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces High Command, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu conveyed his best New Year wishes to General Vong Pisen and all officers and soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.