☀️ Morning digest on January 24

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

☀️ Morning digest on January 24

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

- The 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) convened a meeting in Hanoi on January 23 under the chair of General Secretary To Lam.

In his opening remarks, the Party leader said the meeting will focus on five key topics, including review of Resolution No. 18, issued by the committee in 2017, which seeks to streamline the political system for greater efficiency and effectiveness; the plan to adjust the GDP growth target, aiming for at least 8% in 2025 and double-digit growth for the 2026–2030 period; personnel matters under the committee’s authority; reports on the Politburo and Secretariat’s performance in 2024; as well as reports on inspection and supervision activities in 2024 and the 2025 programme. Read full story

- The 13th-tenure Party Central Committee (PCC) opened a meeting in Hanoi on January 23 afternoon to scrutinise personnel affairs and some other important issues.

At the plenary sitting, Party General Secretary To Lam delivered an opening speech. The PCC later worked on personnel affairs. Read full story

- Party General Secretary To Lam presented the Ho Chi Minh Order to Dinh The Huynh, former Politburo member and former permanent member of the Secretariat of the 12th Party Central Committee, in Hanoi on January 23.

At the event, the Party chief affirmed that the decoration symbolises the Party and State’s recognition of Huynh’s dedication and extraordinary contributions to the Party and nation’s revolutionary cause, and wished him and his family a new year with good health and prosperity. Read full story

- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang has underscored the fruitful outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visits to Poland and the Czech Republic and bilateral activities in Switzerland from January 15-22.

Talking with the press, Hang hailed the visits as a step to follow the foreign policy outlined by the 13th National Party Congress, further deepen friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with traditional partners in Western and Central Eastern Europe. Read full story

- The seaport system in the northern city of Hai Phong aims to handle 112 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, according to Director of the Hai Phong Maritime Port Authority Bui Nguyen Khoi.

The authority also targets that the system will serve about 17,000 ship arrivals and collect 180 billion VND (7.1 million USD) in fees. Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City received nearly 493 million USD in remittances in the first 20 days of this year, according to Nguyen Duc Lenh, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam's HCM City branch.

Cumulatively, remittances to the city from early 2024 until now have reached approximately 10.04 billion USD. Read full story

- In January, Can Tho’s export processing and industrial zones attracted nearly 314 million USD in investment, according to the zones’ management board.

This includes a new project with a registered capital of 308.22 million USD (Vinh Thanh Industrial Park infrastructure construction and business investment project Phase 2 by Thanh Binh Phu My Corporation) and one adjusted investment certificate, with an additional 5.56 million USD in capital (Wilmar Agro Vietnam’s project by Wilmar Agro Vietnam Co., Ltd.). Read full story

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Vice Chairman of the Can Tho municipal People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc He (right) meets with French Ambassador Olivier Brochet on January 23. (Photo: VNA)

- Vice Chairman of the Can Tho municipal People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc He expressed the Mekong Delta city's wish to strengthen collaboration with French localities in areas such as education, ODA projects, and business matching at a meeting with visiting French Ambassador Olivier Brochet on January 23.

He informed his guest on two bright spots of Can Tho’s relationship with France, namely the development of French-language education and economic investment projects. A prominent example of this cooperation is the Can Tho River embankment, which was supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) and has become a symbol of the bilateral partnership./. Read full story

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​Despite differences in history, culture, languages, religions, levels of development, and social conditions, ASEAN member states have chosen to respect one another, build consensus, and pursue shared regional interests. It’s the unity in diversity that has shaped ASEAN’s identity, strength, resilience, and central role in the regional architecture.

Vina Nadjibulla, former Vice President for Research and Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (Photo; VNA)

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Vina Nadjibulla, former Vice President for Research and Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, credited pragmatic diplomacy with allowing Vietnam to build relationships with a range of partners without becoming overly dependent on any single country. That approach, she noted, has become more relevant as major-power rivalry heats up, the global economy fragments, and pressure mounts on countries to pick sides.

Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung speaks at the session (Photo: VNA)

Legislators review bills to streamline administrative procedures in agriculture, environment

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee (right) hosts a reception for Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn in Hanoi during her state visit to Vietnam in September last year (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Australia to further strenthern cooperation

The messages posted on Australian Government media platforms highlighted Australia and Vietnam as close regional partners with a long-standing friendship. This will be General Secretary and President Lam’s first visit to Australia since being appointed as President in April and it is also the first in-person meeting between the two leaders.

Lawmakers discuss bills in groups (Photo: VNA)

Lawmakers mull over various bills in group debates

The legislative package includes a draft Law on Urban Development, a bill amending and supplementing several articles of 10 laws that govern administrative procedures and business conditions in agriculture and environment, and the draft Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Radio Frequencies, the Law on Telecommunications, the Law on E-Transactions, and the Law on Technology Transfer.

A flag-raising ceremony is held to mark the 58th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on August 8, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam remains active contributor to ASEAN Community Vision 2045

Vietnam's 31-year journey with ASEAN stands as compelling testimony to its strong commitment to regional integration, as well as its pioneering spirit, sense of responsibility, and proactive contributions to building a united and resilient ASEAN Community.

Bui Quang Hung, Deputy Director General of the Trade Promotion Agency, addresses the seminar. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Vietnam, Netherlands seek deeper manufacturing cooperation

Manufacturing remains one of Vietnam's core industries, making a major contribution to economic growth, exports and foreign direct investment. The country has become an important production base for multinational corporations in electronics, precision engineering, electrical equipment and high-tech industries.

Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith (right) receives General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Chairman of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army on August 6 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos strengthen political, defence ties

The Lao leaders expressed satisfaction with the steady development of bilateral ties, noting that political relations have become increasingly close, deep and trustworthy, serving as the guiding force for overall cooperation.

Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, security and strategy analyst at the University of Malaya (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia-Vietnam defence ties set for more practical cooperation: expert

According to the expert, another key outcome was the reaffirmation of the 2023 defence cooperation MoU and the Action Programme for implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the principal roadmap for future collaboration. The framework builds on existing cooperation in delegation exchanges, consultation mechanisms, military education, defence industry, and coordination within ASEAN and other multilateral forums.

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung speaks at the networking session with business community on August 6. (Photo: VNA)

Diplomacy to accompany businesses in expanding Vietnam's development space

Opening the event, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said Vietnam is entering a new era of development in which foreign affairs and international integration is a crucial and regular task, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilising external resources and enhancing the country's international standing.

A view of a National Assembly meeting (Photo: VNA)

NA reviews special mechanisms to keep APEC 2027 projects on schedule

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The meeting between NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and US Ambassador Jennifer Wicks in Hanoi on August 6 (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator asks new US ambassador to forward parliamentary ties

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on US Ambassador Jennifer Wicks to leverage her role by working closely with Vietnamese authorities to promote all-level mutual visits and meetings, especially between high-ranking leaders, while establishing a regular and substantive dialogue mechanism between the two legislative bodies.

PM Le Minh Hung (R) meets with outgoing Malaysian Ambassador Tan Yang Thai on August 6. (Photo: VNA)

PM hosts outgoing Malaysian Ambassador

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