Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
- Party General Secretary To Lam hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 26 for visiting New Zealand Prime Minister and Leader of the New Zealand National Party Christopher Luxon.
Welcoming the guest and his entourage on their official visit, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Party chief Lam thanked Luxon’s positive remarks about Vietnam and bilateral ties and commended New Zealand’s foreign policy of valuing its engagement with Southeast Asia. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon held a joint press conference on the results of their talks in Hanoi on February 26 afternoon.
PM Chinh once again welcomed PM Luxon on his official visit to Vietnam and his participation in the ASEAN Future Forum 2025, particularly as the two nations are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations, marking the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral ties. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon held talks in Hanoi on February 26, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
The talks took place right after a welcome ceremony chaired by PM Chinh for the visiting New Zealand Prime Minister. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 26 received Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who is in Vietnam to attend the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2025) in Hanoi.
Welcoming the Chinese delegation, the Prime Minister expressed his belief that their engagement will contribute positively to the forum’s success. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Lynn Maxwell, Global Chief Commercial Officer at S&P Global Ratings, in Hanoi on February 26, seeking to attracting international investment for Vietnam’s ambitious infrastructure plans.
Expressing appreciation for S&P’s recent BB+ credit rating and stable outlook for Vietnam, PM Chinh reaffirmed the country’s commitment to improving its credit standing, and its hope for stronger and more effective cooperation with the agency. Read full story
- State President Luong Cuong affirmed New Zealand as a reliable partner of Vietnam and highlighted New Zealand's active cooperation and support for his country over the past half-century, while receiving New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Hanoi on February 26.
The President stated that the upgrade of the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership opens up a new chapter for collaboration, fostering deeper and more comprehensive relations between the two countries both bilaterally and multilaterally. Read full story
- President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta spotlighted the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2025, Vietnam - Timor-Leste cooperation, and Timor-Leste’s efforts to join ASEAN during an interview recently granted to the press.
He expressed hope that the AFF will become a necessary, indispensable forum that would involve many countries beyond the region. Read full story
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has shed light on the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2025 and the prospects of Vietnam – Malaysia relations within ASEAN in his recent interview granted to the press.
Ibrahim said the AFF is more than just a platform for advice and recommendations, it reinforces ASEAN’s common priorities through many practical proposals. Read full story
- The ASEAN Future Forum 2025 officially concluded in Hanoi on February 26 after two days of discussions.
The forum brought together over 600 in-person delegates, including more than 230 international representatives—an increase of over 2.5 times compared to 2024. Read full story
- Vietjet has announced its first direct route linking Ho Chi Minh City and Auckland, marking a major milestone in Vietnam–New Zealand relations.
The launch comes as both nations are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic ties and the recent upgrade of their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Read full story
- Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy transition cooperation in Hanoi on February 26.
Under the agreement, ADB will provide technical support for Petrolimex to carry out its work, including a preliminary assessment of the group's investment and business portfolio and potential energy transition roadmaps. The collaboration also targets the development of a detailed energy transition strategy by explore and assessing the diversification of Petrolimex's product portfolio towards cleaner and greener solutions. Read full story
- The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City on February 26.
The annual three-day event is hosting over 400 exhibitors with more than 500 booths, showcasing a wide range of products and solutions covering the entire textile and garment sector. There are pavilions from such countries and territories as India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan (China), and Thailand. Read full story
- The 9th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival, set for March 9-13, promises an exciting lineup of 17 key events celebrating Vietnam’s coffee culture and industry, organisers announced at a press conference in Buon Ma Thuot city, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, on February 26.
Under the theme “Buon Ma Thuot – Destination of World Coffee,” this year’s festival will feature a digital content creation contest to promote the event online. It will also include an exhibition of coffee and OCOP products, a specialty coffee roasting competition, and an international trade and business conference aimed at positioning Vietnamese coffee on the global stage./. Read full story
