Politics

☀️ Morning digest on May 18

The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by Vietnam News Agency.
☀️ Morning digest on May 18 ảnh 1
Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a listof selected news summaries last night by Vietnam News Agency.

-PresidentNguyen Xuan Phuc received outgoing Bruneian Ambassador Pengiran Haji Sahari binPengiran Haji Salleh in Hanoi on May 17, congratulating the diplomat onfulfilling his duties during eight years in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese leader appreciated the diplomat’sconsiderable contributions to the two countries’ ties, which were lifted to acomprehensive partnership in 2019. Read full text

- NationalAssembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and the NA delegation arrived in Hanoilate May 17, concluding an official visit to Laos at the invitation of Lao NAChairman Saysomphone Phomvihane from May 15.  

Earlierbefore leaving Laos, NA Chairman Hue and the high-ranking NA delegation calledat the Vietnam Consulate General in Pakse, Champasak province, and met withrepresentatives from the Vietnamese community in four southern Lao provinces(Champasak, Attapeu, Sekong and Salavan). Read full text

-PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh on May 17 (local time) had meetings with overseasVietnamese (OV) and US businessmen and scientists on May 17 morning (US time)within the framework of his working trip to the US to attend the ASEAN-USSpecial Summit. Read full text

He attendeda Vietnam-US trade, investment and tourism promotion conference themed‘Rediscovering Vietnam’ in San Francisco. Read full text

The PMalso hosted a reception for Mayor of the City and County of San FranciscoLondon Breed the same day. He told the guest that Vietnam wants to promotethe relationship between San Francisco and Vietnamese localities in general andHo Chi Minh City in particular in areas that the US city has strengths such aseconomics, trade, science, technology, digital transformation, and climatechange response. Read full text

-Vietnamcommits to cooperating with the UN and countries in the fight againstterrorism, Minister of Public Security To Lam affirmed during a working sessionwith  Vladimir Voronkov, UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorismin New York on May 16 (US time). Read full text

-Vietnamwill host an annual meeting of the ASEAN Peacekeeping Centres Network (APCN)this September.

The announcement was made by Deputy DefenceMinister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien who is leading a Vietnamesedelegation to the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) and the ASEANDefence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM ) in Phnom Penh from May 17-18. Read full text

On thesidelines of the ADSOM, Chien met with his Japanese counterpart TsuchimichiAkihiro on May 17. Read full text

-Visiting Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulouand a high-ranking delegation from Greece visited Ha Long Bay in the northernprovince of Quang Ninh on May 17 as part of their official visit to Vietnam. Read full text

- Representativesof the European Union (EU) and partners in Vietnam made a fact-finding tour ofcentral Thanh Hoa province on May 17 to learn more about the work of theVietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and local women’s needs.

They visited two preeminent women-run livelihoodmodels in Hoang Hoa district and an exhibition of 30 outstanding products madeby women-owned cooperatives. Read full text

-TheVietnamese swimming team set a new record at the 31st Southeast AsianGames (SEA Games 31), with a time of 7 minutes and 16.31 seconds, winning agold medal in the men's freestyle 4x200m relay event on May 17, the 4th day ofcompetition. Read full text/.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha (R) and EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City, EU boast ample room for sustainable development cooperation

Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1990, Vietnam and the EU have deepened the bilateral ties into one of the bloc’s most dynamic and in-depth partnerships with an ASEAN member, Ha noted, adding that the relationship entered a new chapter in January when the President of European Council’s visit upgraded it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang speaks at a discussion session on reforming multilateral systems and global governance, held on May 15, 2026, as part of the expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in India. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam ready to strengthen BRICS connection with Asia-Pacific

Hang called on countries to act responsibly in accordance with international law and the UN Charter; respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states; refrain from using or threatening to use force; and settle disputes peacefully through dialogue. She also underscored the importance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation through straits in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (centre), DPRK Vice Minister Pak of Foreign Affairs Sang Gil (left), and Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Ba Vinh cut the ribbon to open the exhibition. (Photo: VNA)

Photo exhibition highlights Vietnam–DPRK relations

Visitors at the exhibition were moved by historical photographs dating back nearly 70 years, including images of the founding leader of the DPRK Kim Il Sung personally welcoming President Ho Chi Minh and a CPV delegation at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport during their visit to the DPRK from July 8–12, 1957. In return, the DPRK leader paid an official visit to Vietnam from November 27 to December 3, 1958.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM calls for substantive assessment of two-tier local administration operations

Chairing a meeting on the development of a scheme to review the first-year operations of the political system’s organisational apparatus and the two-tier local administration model, Tra emphasised that the review must comprehensively and objectively evaluate the nationwide implementation of administrative unit restructuring and the operation of the new local administration model.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi (right) and First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Andrey Yatskin at their meeting in Moscow on May 14. (Photo: VNA)

Key directions for Vietnam–Russia cooperation in 2026

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi had a working session with a delegation from the Russian Federation Council led by First Deputy Chairman Andrey Yatskin, in Moscow on May 14, discussing the expansion of multifaceted cooperation in 2026.

Officials from Cao Bang province of Vietnam and Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China hold talks on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Cao Bang, China’s Baise city eye to boost all-around cooperation

Cao Bang province of Vietnam and Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China are exploring a “red tourism” route linking Pac Bo and Meng Mo (China) to promote revolutionary tradition education and strengthen bilateral friendship. They are also stepping up cooperation in human resource development through training exchanges and efforts to improve workforce quality.

Atsaphangthong Siphandone (centre), Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, speaks at the working session. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane strengthen cooperation for 2026–2030

Under the MoU, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in politics – diplomacy, security – defence, legal and judicial affairs, economic affairs, education, culture and society, cooperation among mass organisations and socio-political organisations, and development support.

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (left) meets with Jo Yong Won, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) and Chairman of the SPA of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in Pyongyang on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam wishes to unceasingly develop ties with DPRK: Foreign Minister

Jo Yong Won, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) and Chairman of the SPA of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPV, headed by General Secretary and President Lam, Vietnam will successfully achieve the strategic goals set forth at the 14th National Party Congress.

New Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar (front) at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government in Budapest on May 12, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Congratulations to newly-elected Hungarian leaders

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on May 15 sent messages of congratulations to Magyar Péter and Forsthoffer Ágnes on their election as Prime Minister and Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary, respectively.

Ministers and deputy ministers from BRICS member and partner countries pose for a group photo while attending the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in India on May 14. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Dr Anatoly Sokolov from the Oriental Research Institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondent in Russia. (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s experience in Soviet Union crucial to Vietnam’s revolution: Russian scholar

The Russian scholar emphasised that Ho Chi Minh’s years in the Soviet Union provided him with essential experience in organising the masses and conducting political work for revolutionary purposes. This knowledge proved crucial when he later successfully led the August Revolution in 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first people’s democratic state in Southeast Asia - without relying on external assistance. The victory became a powerful inspiration for national liberation movements across colonised countries worldwide, he added