☀️ Morning digest on May 22

PM Pham Minh Chinh's message to the 78th session of the World Health Assembly, the passing-away of former State President Tran Duc Luong, and Vietnam's participation in the 2025 Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan exhibition are among news highlights on May 21 evening.

☀️ Morning digest on May 22

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

– Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 20 sent a message to the 78th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA 78) in Geneva, at the invitation of World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

In his message, the Vietnamese leader emphasised that throughout Vietnam’s construction and development process, people have always been placed at the centre – as both the goal and the driving force of progress. He reaffirmed the country's highest priority on caring for people's health and human development. Read full story

– Trump International Hung Yen is expected to help drive rapid and sustainable development for the northern province of Hung Yen and Vietnam as a whole in the green, clean and beautiful direction, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said while attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the luxury residential and tourism complex on May 21 afternoon.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (middle) and delegates launch the Trump International Hung Yen project on May 21 with the ceremonial button-pressing. (Photo: VNA)

This is the first project in Vietnam bearing the Trump brand from the US-based Trump Organisation, and one of more than 20 such projects in the world. Read full story

– Former Politburo member and former State President Tran Duc Luong, born on May 5, 1937, passed away at 22:51 on May 20 at his residence in Hanoi, aged 88, after a period of illness, according to the specialised council for protection of central-level officials' health.

Details regarding the memorial, funeral, and burial ceremonies for comrade Tran Duc Luong will be announced at a later time. Read full story

– Vietnam’s successful organisation of the fourth Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit left positive impression on international delegates, showcasing the country’s creativity, flexibility, and capability in hosting and coordinating major multilateral conferences, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has stated.

The Deputy PM made the remark while chairing a meeting in Hanoi on May 21 to assess the organisation of the summit, held in April. Read full story

– A delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence, led by Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, is attending the 2025 Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan exhibition, held from May 20-23 in Chiba prefecture, Japan.

Held biennially, DSEI Japan is co-organised by Japan’s Crisis Intelligence and the UK’s Clarion Events, with the support of relevant Japanese ministries and agencies. Read full story

– Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, has reiterated Vietnam’s consistent support for the initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency and cohesion of the UN system to better address the needs of its member states.

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Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations. (Photo: VNA)

He made the remark while attending a series of sessions held at the UN headquarters in New York on May 12 and 20 to introduce and deliberate the UN80 Initiative – a reform proposal marking the forthcoming 80th anniversary of the organisation. Read full story

– Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Korea Copyright Commission (KCC) to organise a copyright conference and an inter-governmental meeting as part of the Republic of Korea (RoK) - Southeast Asia Copyright Forum 2025 that took place in Seoul from May 20-21.

The intergovernmental meeting, held six years after the inaugural session in 2019, drew government officials from three Southeast Asian nations – Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines – and aimed to maintain close cooperative ties with the three Southeast Asian partners. Read full story

– The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on May 21 joined hands with iVIVU.com, a Vietnamese online travel platform, in a calculated bid to woo Vietnamese tourists, cementing Singapore’s place as a top beacon for Vietnamese travellers.

The collaboration features a multi-channel marketing campaign, curated travel packages, and regular updates on Singapore’s tourism offerings. Through iVIVU.com, Vietnamese travellers can now access a range of services, from flight and hotel bundles, accommodations, cruise tours, and tickets to top attractions, all designed to balance affordability with the promise of unforgettable experiences. Read full story./.

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The meeting between First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and the high-ranking delegation from the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), led by General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the VPA’s General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defence. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cuba strengthen defence ties

General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the VPA’s General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defence reaffirmed Vietnam’s unwavering gratitude for Cuba’s invaluable support during its struggle for independence and nation-building efforts, and pledged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cuba as it navigates current challenges.

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–New Zealand: 50 years of growing partnership

For 50 years, Vietnam and New Zealand have worked together to uphold peace and prosperity for their peoples and the region. The friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding Vietnam and New Zealand nurtured have grown from a seed into a deeply rooted, strong, and thriving tree, she stressed.

Vietnam and New Zealand boast untapped potential to strengthen cooperation and bring their ties to a new high. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, New Zealand poised to elevate ties to new high: Professor

Since the Strategic Partnership was established in 2020, Vietnam and New Zealand have witnessed steady growth in the relations. Beyond the remarkable 40% increase in bilateral trade over five years, political relations and multilateral interactions, particularly within the CPTPP framework, have remained highly positive.

Production activities at the factory of the Italian-Asian Door Industry Company Limited in Tan Uyen city (Binh Duong). (Photo published by VNA)

📝OP-ED: Four pillars driving Vietnam’s rise: All benefit people

Known as the “four pillars for Vietnam’s ascend”, the Pobiburo's Resolutions 57, 59, 66, and 68 focus on cultivating a robust national entrepreneurial spirit, unlocking resources for innovation across society, and accelerating the development of digital economy, knowledge-based economy, green economy, and circular economy, propelling Vietnam forward rapidly and firmly on the path of modernisation and international integration.

Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Minister Counselor and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam pledges to promote gender equality at UN meeting

Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.

Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Phan Minh Giang (left) and his spouse pose for a photo with New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grahame Morton at the celebration ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

50 years of Vietnam-New Zealand diplomatic ties marked in Wellington

Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Lawmakers urge stronger incentives to boost railway sector

Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.

Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs suspended from duty

According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the national conference on the organisation of the high school graduation examination on June 18. (Photo: VNA)

Administrative restructuring must not disrupt high school graduation exam: PM

Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.