☀️ Morning digest on March 13

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

☀️ Morning digest on February 24
☀️ Morning digest on February 24

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

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam met with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on March 12 as part of his official visit to the city state, during which the leaders emphasised complementary strengths of the two countries.

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Party General Secretary To Lam (left) and Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. (Photo: VNA)

Lam congratulated Singapore on maintaining its impressive growth momentum and effective policies in support of its people, especially low-income earners. Read full story

- Party General Secretary To Lam on March 12 met with Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Seah Kian Peng, who affirmed that Lam’s first official visit to Singapore holds great significance for the future development of bilateral relations.

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Party General Secretary To Lam writes in the guestbook. (Photo: VNA)

Seah highlighted that the official elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, making Vietnam Singapore’s first Comprehensive Strategic Partner within ASEAN, not only is a historic milestone, but also opens up numerous future cooperation and development opportunities, thereby contributing to regional growth. Read full story

- Party General Secretary To Lam on March 12 visited the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy under the National University of Singapore where he delivered a policy speech on Vietnam’s science, technology, innovation and digital transformation policy in a new era, and opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

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Party General Secretary To Lam (R) and Singapore's Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean at the event (Photo: VNA)

Lam, who is on an official visit to Singapore, emphasised that the two countries are experiencing unprecedented rapid changes in the digital era and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, marked by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things, that all are reshaping the way people live, work, and connect. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Nicola Beer in Hanoi on March 12, during which he proposed the bank and Vietnam sign a new-generation official development assistance (ODA) agreement with a larger financial scale, more preferential interest rates, simpler procedures, and less stringent conditions.

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An overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA)

This can not only provide financing for the public sector, but also support financial access for the private sector, Chinh suggested. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 12 called on the Électricité de France (EDF) to expand investment in green and clean energy in Vietnam, while also supporting Vietnamese partners in developing nuclear power projects.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and representatives from EDF, Hanoi, March 12, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Receiving French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet and EDF's Senior VP Government and International Affairs Erkki Maillard in Hanoi, Chinh appreciated the role of French partners in general and EDF in particular in the projects currently operating in Vietnam, which have contributed to developing the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in an increasingly intensive, substantive, and effective manner. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has welcomed the US-based Pacifico Energy (PE)’s plan and commitment to investing in Vietnam’s energy sector, particularly its survey for an offshore wind power project in the south central province of Binh Thuan province.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and PE Chairman Nate Franklin at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

During a reception in Hanoi on March 12 for PE Chairman Nate Franklin, the PM affirmed Vietnam’s focus on fast and sustainable development and highlighted new and renewable energy as a strategic priority. He stated the Government is committed to enhancing cooperation with foreign investors, particularly those from the US, as part of efforts to strengthen the Vietnam – US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Read full story

- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on March 11 emphasised his country's desire to enhance cooperation in various fields with Vietnam.

Receiving Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt and Lebanon Nguyen Huy Dung, who presented his credentials from President Luong Cuong to Joseph Aoun in Beirut, the Lebanese President said he admires Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and will direct Lebanese agencies to collaborate closely with Ambassador Dung to ensure his successful tenure. Read full story

- The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on March 12 agreed to cooperate in safeguarding the integrity and stability of the countries’ capital markets, while fostering their connectivity.

This collaboration will focus on strengthening the regulatory framework for digital assets in Vietnam. Read full story

- The seventh International Exhibition and Conference for Horticultural and Floricultural Production and Processing Technology (HortEx Vietnam 2025) kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on March 12, expecting more than 15,000 visitors.

The three-day event, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), has attracted 303 exhibitors and nearly 400 brands from 30 countries and territories, including Austria, India, Belgium, Germany, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Israel, the US, Japan, and France. Read full story

- Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in the northern province of Ninh Binh holds exceptional natural and cultural significance, carrying an economic value of 213 billion USD, experts told a recent international workshop.

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A boat wharf at Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (Photo: VNA)

The valuation emerged from a joint study by Italy’s Santagata Foundation for the Economics of Culture, Germany’s Leibniz Institute for Ecological Urban and Regional Development, and the School of Interdisciplinary Science and Arts at Vietnam National University – Hanoi. Read full story./.

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Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung presents the Government’s proposals on the amendments to the 2024 Land Law. (Photo: VNA)

Amendments to Land Law aim to achieve three key goals

The Government has identified three major objectives: promptly institutionalising Party policies on land, private-sector development and national digital transformation; addressing urgent practical obstacles to unlock resources and support the goal of double-digit economic growth; and building a modern, streamlined and effective land management system through stronger decentralisation and administrative reform.

Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan speaks at the session (Photo: VNA)

NA considers consolidated law to streamline public finance management

Consolidating the Law on State Budget 2025 and the Law on Public Investment 2024 (amended and supplemented in 2025) is necessary to establish a consistent public finance management mechanism; minimise procedures, time and compliance costs; and improve the mobilisation, management and use of State budget resources to support growth.

President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum attracts a large number of visitors (Photo: VNA)

📝OP-ED: A century of aspirations, a rising Vietnam

Today, Vietnam's mission is to open the doors wider to development, move the country forward and join the ranks of major powers through its own strength. This is also the most practical way to carry forward the spirit of the historic autumn of 1945.

The 16th National Assembly begins the second phase of its first extraordinary session on August 19. (Photo: VNA)

NA begins second phase of first extraordinary session, focusing on land, housing policies

The 16th National Assembly began the second phase of its first extraordinary session on August 19, hearing presentations on policy orientations for drafting the Law on State Budget (consolidated); amending the 2024 Land Law, the 2023 Housing Law, and the Law on Real Estate Business; and the integration of four national target programmes into a single one.

Member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong (R) meets with Roman Roun, Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) in Hanoi on August 18. (Source: Baoquocte.vn)

Vietnam, Czech Republic step up effective implementation of Strategic Partnership

The two sides expressed their delight at the positive and substantive development of traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, and welcomed the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership in January 2025, which has created a new framework and impetus for deeper, more effective and sustainable cooperation.

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) receives visiting Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) Roman Roun in Hanoi on August 18 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Czech Republic seek to deepen multifaceted cooperation

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam have always cherished the valuable support extended by the Communist Party and people of former Czechoslovakia, as well as by the KSCM and Czech people today.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-India cooperation grows more practical, future-oriented

Vietnam-India relations, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Indian leaders and nurtured by generations of the two countries, have developed into a special and enduring friendship. Bilateral cooperation has delivered significant and practical benefits, with two-way trade doubling over the past decade, while defence and security cooperation has become increasingly substantive and effective, reflecting high levels of strategic trust.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung speaks at the Government's August law-building session on August 18. (Photo: VNA)

Draft laws must support management reform, stronger decentralisation: PM

Participants looked into 11 draft laws and one draft resolution, including laws amending and supplementing several articles of laws on non-agricultural land use tax and corporate income tax; natural resources tax; securities; accounting and independent auditing; the Labour Code; and laws on archives, gender equality, Red Cross activities and employment.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam, who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission, visits Infantry Division 308 of Army Corps 12 under the Ministry of National Defence in Hanoi on August 18 (Photo: VNA)

Top leader visits Infantry Division 308

General Secretary and President To Lam urged the division to preserve its proud tradition and turn it into determination and action, underscoring the need for it to uphold the “vanguard” spirit, especially in building a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern army; training and maintaining combat readiness; advancing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; observing discipline and law; mastering modern weapons and equipment; and fulfilling its three functions as a combat, working and production force.