☀️ 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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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman chairs meeting on preparations for 16th NA’s first session

The 16th National Assembly’s first session will elect finalise key state leadership positions, including the State President, Prime Minister, NA Chairman, NA vice chairpersons, Deputy PMs, Cabinet members, members of the NA Standing Committee, head of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs and heads of NA committees.

Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh (standing, left) and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin (standing, right) witness the signing of the agreement between the two governments on cooperation in building a nuclear power plant on the territory of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s Russia visit yields substantive outcomes: Deputy FM

During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Russia on March 22-25, Vietnam and Russia reached strong consensus on deepening political trust and mutual understanding, building on their long-standing traditional friendship.

Vietnamese mission staff and overseas Vietnamese in Australia visit Ship 016–Quang Trung (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese naval ship completes mission at Kakadu Exercise 2026

Ship 016–Quang Trung of Brigade 162 under Naval Region 4 departed Sydney Harbour on the morning of March 25 for home after successfully completing activities within the framework of the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review 2026 marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and the multilateral naval exercise Kakadu 2026.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has wrapped up the official visit to Russia from March 22 to 25. (Photo: VNA)

PM arrives in Hanoi, concluding official visit to Russia

With the outcomes achieved and strong implementation efforts by both sides, the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is expected to grow further, contributing to socio-economic development in each country as well as to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the world.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 25. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets Russian President in Moscow

President Putin said Vietnam remains a sincere friend and an important partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific, stressing that Russia attaches importance to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (Source: MoFA)

Vietnamese, Philippine foreign ministers hold phone talks

They agreed to further elevate cooperation across all areas, including politics, diplomacy, defence, security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, contributing to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (July 12, 1976 – 2026).

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh (R) receives Chay Borin, Minister of Cult and Religion of Cambodia, in Hanoi on March 25 (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM receives Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion in Hanoi

Deputy PM Mai Van Chinh welcomed Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion Chay Borin and his entourage on their working visit to Vietnam to implement the cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and Cambodia’s Ministry of Cult and Religion for the 2026–2030 period.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam (R) and Thongly Sisoulith, member of the Lao Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union at a photo exhibition held as part of the ceremony marking he 95th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Vientiane on March 25. (Photo: VNA)

95th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union marked in Laos

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam described Vietnamese and Lao youth as the “architects” of the future of bilateral ties and called on young Vietnamese in Laos to strengthen their political awareness, pioneer digital transformation and entrepreneurship, and act as ambassadors of friendship between the two countries' people.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu pays a New Year visit to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cambodia foster friendship, solidarity

At a meeting on March 25 at the headquarters of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces High Command, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu conveyed his best New Year wishes to General Vong Pisen and all officers and soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozyorov (Photo: VNA)

PM works with leading Russian infrastructure enterprises

At the meeting with AFK Sistema Chairman Vladimir Petrovich Evtushenkov and the group’s executives, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hailed the corporation’s proactive engagement with major Vietnamese enterprises to promote cooperation programmes in recent times.