Politics

☀️ Morning digest on July 21

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

☀️ Morning digest on July 21

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

- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang has reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to advancing human rights after its re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term, pledging to pursue priorities, including human rights amid climate change and digital transformation, gender equality, and the protection of vulnerable groups.

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At an interface meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and AICHR representatives. (Photo: MoFA)

Giang, who is also head of the Vietnamese delegation to the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), made the statement at an interface meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) representatives in Manila, the Philippines on July 20, as part of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and relevant meetings from July 20-24. Read full text

- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, is leading the Vietnamese delegation to the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, taking place in Busan from July 19 to 29.

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, speaks at plenary session of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan on July 20, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the plenary session on July 20, Van underscored the need to strengthen international cooperation to ensure the effective protection of humanity's shared heritage. He also welcomed the spirit of the Busan Declaration, which promotes enhanced cooperation within the world heritage system. Read full text

- Vietnam and the United States have discussed measures to deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, with a focus on building a stable, predictable and mutually beneficial trade framework, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

During a working visit to the US in mid-July, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung, accompanied by the Vietnamese Ambassador to the US and senior officials from several ministries, met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on major directions for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Read full text

- Millions of passengers carried, a fleet scaling to 32 aircraft by year-end, a route network stretching from Phu Quoc to Vietnam's major tourism and economic hubs, a presence across six international markets, and a billion-dollar deal for 40 Boeing aircraft, all within less than a year of commercial operations. The numbers alone tell the story of why Vietnam's youngest airline is quickly becoming one of aviation's most compelling new stories.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways, the airline of Sun Group, officially launched in October 2025 and began commercial flights the following month, entering a Vietnamese aviation market riding a wave of post-pandemic recovery, but also grappling with rising costs, fleet constraints, talent shortages, infrastructure pressure, and intensifying service competition. Less than a year in, this newcomer has already made its presence felt. Read full text

- Some rankings generate only a brief media buzz. Others become more convincing with time. Lonely Planet’s decision to place Da Nang second on its list of The Best Places to Visit in Asia This Summer 2026, announced in May, belongs firmly to the latter.

Months after the ranking was published, the city on the Han River has not only maintained its appeal but further strengthened its reputation through a vibrant summer filled with major events, fresh experiences and impressive tourism growth. What the world's leading travel guide recognised in Da Nang was not simply its potential, but a destination whose appeal has been proven in reality. Read full text

- Pathet Lao, the newspaper of the Lao News Agency, has published an editorial tracing the development of the of great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two Parties, States and peoples of Laos and Vietnam, on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

The editorial emphasises that the special bilateral relationship has deep historical roots, forged through centuries of shared hardship. The two neighbouring countries share a border of more than 2,000 km and are linked by the Truong Son mountain range and the Mekong River./. Read full text

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#United Nations Human Rights Council #ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting #ASEAN #UNESCO #Sun PhuQuoc Airways #Sun Group
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