☀️ 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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NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

NA Vice Chairman inspects election preparations in Ca Mau

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai, who is also a member of the National Election Council, called on Ca Mau authorities to ensure local communes and wards regularly update and clearly post voter lists as required, ensure timely allocation of funds for the grassroots level, maintain public safety and order, and provide social welfare support for those eligible, especially as the Lunar New Year holiday draws near.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister and former Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Thach Du (Photo: VNA)

Public expectations grow ahead of 14th National Party Congress

The attainments gained over 40 years of Doi moi come as the essence of the perseverance in independence, self-reliance, as well as the solidarity and creativity of the entire nation, said former Deputy Foreign Minister and former Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Thach Du.

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong speaks at the working session with representatives of Quang Tri province. (Photo: VNA)

NA Vice Chairman inspects election preparations in Quang Tri

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong, member of the National Election Council, asked Quang Tri to continue implementing all steps in line with legal regulations, including establishing election teams within the timeframe prescribed in the election law, and organising the 2nd and 3rd consultative conferences to finalise the lists of candidates no later than February 20, 2026.

Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu speaks at the meeting of the Party Organisation of the VFF and central mass organisations (Photo: VNA)

Fatherland front asked to better serve as political nucleus in strengthening great national unity

The Party Organisation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and central mass organisations was urged to further enhance effectiveness and innovation, broaden public participation in the great national unity bloc, strengthen the close bond between the Party, local authorities and the people, and make a meaningful contribution to the successful implementation of the 14th National Party Congress’s Resolution and the country’s renewal and development cause.

National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai speaks at the January 12 working session to inspect preparations for the elections of deputies to the 16th legislature and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term in the southern province of Ca Mau. (Photo: VNA)

NA Standing Committee inspects election preparations in Ca Mau

In Ca Mau, 13 candidates have been introduced for the National Assembly, 73 for the provincial People’s Council, and 1,469 for commune-level People’s Councils. The provincial election committee has designated five NA constituencies and 18 constituencies for People’s Councils at provincial and commune levels.

Vietnamese association in Thailand elects leadership for 2026–2028 term (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese community in Thailand elects new executive board for 2026–2028 term

Established in July 2012 under the Thai Government approval, the Association of Vietnamese in Thailand currently has 26 local chapters and a women’s committee, and has played an active role in preserving cultural identity, supporting community development, and fostering people-to-people ties between Vietnam and Thailand.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Standing Committee convenes 53rd session

NA Chairman Man said the 53rd session will review and approve two resolutions on specific matters relating to the organisational structure and the contingent of prosecutors of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, as well as consider the NA’s people's aspiration report in December 2025.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS Summit on July 7, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Uruguay relations poised for further elevation: Uruguayan Ambassador

Uruguayan Ambassador to Vietnam Raúl Juan Pollak Giampietro noted that although the two countries have yet to formally establish a comprehensive partnership, the foundations of bilateral cooperation have been steadily strengthened and expanded, particularly in the fields of economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Assaf Talgam, a historian and a journalist of Zo HaDerekh, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Israel. (Photo: VNA)

CPV's leadership - central factor shaping Vietnam’s enduring stability, impressive achievements: Israeli historian

Talgam said that from a comparative and historical perspective, the CPV’s leadership has been the central factor underpinning the country’s enduring political stability and impressive development trajectory. In a world marked by rapid and unpredictable changes, few political organisations have been able to maintain continuity of leadership while simultaneously adapting their governance approach as effectively as the CPV.