☀️ Morning digest on June 20

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

☀️ Morning digest on June 20

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

- Party General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, on June 19 chaired its 14th conference in the 2020-2025 tenure, which aimed to review its military and defence tasks in the first half of 2025, and roll out orientations for these missions and Party‑building tasks in the People’s Army for the second half of the year.

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Party General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, speaks at the commission's 14th conference on June 19. (Photo: VNA)

In his remarks, the Party chief hailed the Central Military Commission’s Standing Board for directing and carefully preparing the contents submitted to the Commission. Read full story

- The Government remains attentive, supportive, and committed to creating an optimal environment for press agencies and journalists, in line with the Party’s guidelines, the State's policies and laws, and the Government’s authority, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has said.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Chairing a meeting between the Government’s standing members, and current and former leaders of major press agencies in Hanoi on June 19, just days before the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21), PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide. Read full story

- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man has urged accelerating public investment disbursement, simplifying administrative procedures to boost production and trade, and stepping up the decentralisation and delegation of authority for better efficiency.

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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the session. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the closing of a Q&A session on financial issues in Hanoi on June 19 as part of the 15th NA’s ongoing 9th session, Chairman Man praised the pointed and concise questions raised. Read full story

- The Vietnamese Government always facilitates Vietnamese localities’ efforts to further strengthen their friendship and cooperation with China’s Yunnan province, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha told Governor of Yunnan province Wang Yubo.

At his recent meeting in Yunnan with Wang, as part of his working trip to attend the opening of the 9th China - South Asia Expo and the 29th Kunming Import and Export Fair, Ha reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of valuing and giving top priority to fostering the friendly neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation with China. Read full story

- At the third round of negotiations on a bilateral reciprocal trade agreement between Vietnam and the US, held in Washington D.C. from June 9 – 12, the Vietnamese delegation made substantial progress and narrowed differences across all areas under discussion, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry’s regular press briefing on June 19.

Responding to a reporter's question about the third round of talks, Hang stated that during the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement. Read full story

- Vietnam, as a partner country, is ready to join BRICS members and the international community to contribute to the realisation of sustainable development goals, and addressing common global challenges, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Phu Hang told the ministry’s regular press briefing on June 19.

The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said. Read full story

- Vietnam consistently supports the two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions, said Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen.

Nguyen, who is also Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, made the statement at the Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the UN General Assembly, which was held in New York on June 13 and 18 to discuss the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Read full story

- Ten Vietnamese universities have been listed in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (QS WUR 2026), released on June 19 by UK-based education organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Duy Tan University leads among Vietnamese institutions at 482nd, followed by Ton Duc Thang University (684th), Vietnam National University - Hanoi (761–770), and Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City (801–850). Other entrants include Van Lang University (1001–1200); Can Tho University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (all 1201–1400); and Hue University and University of Da Nang (both 1401+)./. Read full story

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An overview of the ASEAN foreign ministers' interface with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam promotes comprehensive approach to human rights in ASEAN

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son commended the AICHR’s contributions over the past 15 years and expressed confidence in its continued role in advancing the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and other regional cooperation strategies.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper (Photo: VNA)

US Ambassador highlights pillars of US - Vietnam cooperation

Knapper described the Joint Statement on the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023, signed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden, as a "historic achievement", with both sides valuing collaboration in high technology, particularly semiconductors.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva welcomes Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s Brazil visit deepens Vietnam’s ties with traditional partners

PM Pham Minh Chinh ’s July 4–8 trip to Brazil aimed to further implement Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. It conveyed Vietnam’s image as a trusted partner in the international community, adding new dimensions to strategic partnerships and opening a new chapter of cooperation that meets the needs and interests of both countries, especially in a time of complex global developments.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 7 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China agree to beef up cooperation in various fields

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that the Party and State of Vietnam highly valued the diverse and substantive outcomes of recent high-level exchanges, which have helped advance the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ali Bin Al Sayegh in Rio de Janeiro on July 7 (Photo: VNA)

PM holds vibrant activities on BRICS Summit sidelines

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held separate meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ali Bin Al Sayegh in Rio de Janeiro on July 7 (local time) as part of his Brazil visit for the expanded BRICS Summit.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with President of Uruguay on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 7 (local time). (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister meets President of Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed the two sides soon negotiate and sign an agreement on investment promotion and protection, an agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, and an agreement on cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) has a meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 7 (local time) on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS Summit 2025. (Photo: VNA)

PM meets with Indonesian President on BRICS Summit sidelines

PM Chinh proposed that the two countries jointly develop an action plan to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership for the 2025–2030 period, while promoting cooperation in economy, trade, investment, agriculture, and emerging sectors such as digital economy, green transition and energy.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font in Rio de Janeiro on July 7 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam promotes multifaceted cooperation with Chile

Vietnam treasures and promotes multifaceted cooperation with Chile, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during his meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS summit on July 7 (local time).

Devastating flash floods strike Kerr county, Texas on July 5. (Photo: US Coast Guard/VNA)

Vietnamese leaders extend sympathies over Texas flash floods

Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 7 sent messages of sympathy to US President Donald Trump upon receiving news of the devastating flash floods that struck Kerr county, Texas, on July 4.

At the press conference to announce the State President’s decision on amnesty for the second round in 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam announces amnesty decision for 2nd round in 2025

Over the years, the State has conducted multiple rounds, benefiting hundreds of thousands of prisoners who qualified for amnesty due to good conduct, learning, and working, allowing them to reintegrate into the community and society.

At the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform's second session in Hanoi on July 7 (Photo: VNA)

Central steering committee for judicial reform holds second session

Committee members voiced support for a project on studying the establishment of a public lawyer mechanism in the socialist rule-of-law State of Vietnam. They said such research will help meet the practical need of protecting State interests, as government agencies and state-owned enterprises are facing growing legal risks related to foreign investment and trade, as well as civil, administrative, financial, asset, and land-related relationships.