Politics

☀️ Morning digest on May 7

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

☀️ Morning digest on May 7

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

- The May 7-8 state visit to Sri Lanka by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam is poised to foster market connectivity, tap potential, and shift bilateral ties toward more substantive cooperation in the years ahead.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Sri Lanka is Vietnam’s fourth-largest trade partner in South Asia after India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. In recent years, Vietnam has been running a steady surplus, with exports exceeding imports. Read full story

- Vietnam always values and wishes to further develop its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India, considering it one of the top priorities in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, resilience, diversification and multilateralisation in the new period, said General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam.

He made the statement during talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on May 6 right after the state welcome ceremony co-chaired by Indian President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi. Read full story

- Vietnam and India have issued a Joint Statement on Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries on the occasion of the state visit to India from May 5-7 by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the exchange of various cooperation agreements between both countries’ ministries and agencies in New Delhi on May 6.

The signed documents include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in digital technology between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, a MoU on pharmaceutical management between the Vietnamese Ministry of Health’s Drug Administration and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, and the Vietnam–India Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026 - 2030. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam on May 6 delivered a policy speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) under the theme “Vietnam–India Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a New Era: Shared Vision, Strategic Convergence, and Substantive Cooperation”, as part of his ongoing state visit to India.

The ICWA, with a track record spanning more than eight decades, ranks among India’s most prestigious strategic research bodies. It has played a pioneering role in shaping Indian foreign policy and has hosted landmark events in the external relations of India, Vietnam and nations across Asia and the globe, gathering leaders, policymakers and diplomats worldwide. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam attended and delivered a keynote address at the Vietnam–India Innovation Forum, jointly organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in New Delhi on May 6.

Addressing the forum, the Vietnamese leader described its theme on cooperation in human resources development, science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as both timely and well-targeted, reflecting global development trends and the increasingly deepening cooperation needs between the two countries. Read full story

- The 34th Vietnam International Medical and Pharmaceutical Exhibition (VIETNAM MEDIPHARM 2026) opened in Hanoi on May 6, bringing together 300 industry participants from more than 15 countries and territories.

The exhibition, which runs until May 9 at the Hanoi International Centre for Exhibition, showcases advanced products and technologies across a range of fields, including pharmaceuticals, drug manufacturing machinery and equipment, medical devices, hospital and clinic services and dental equipment. Read full story

- Delegates at the 10th meeting of the ASEAN Peacekeeping Centres Network (APCN) have commended Vietnam’s contributions, highlighting its practical and wide-ranging experience in improving peacekeeping training capacity.

At the plenary session on May 6, held as part of the conference conducted online from May 4–8, Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and head of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence delegation, said the event provided an important forum for ASEAN member states to sustain momentum and strengthen cooperation in capacity-building through training. This, he noted, would enable more effective contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions, particularly amid emerging challenges./. Read full story

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EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to accompanying Vietnam in achieving its goals of becoming a developed economy by 2045 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, while ensuring energy security amid global uncertainties.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung described the visits as particularly important and historic, taking place at a meaningful moment as Vietnam and India mark the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and just one month after the top leader of Vietnam assumed his new position. For Sri Lanka, this was the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

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Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said that the Vietnamese delegation made important contributions to the summit’s success, reflecting the foreign policy orientation set out by the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which continues to place ASEAN at the centre of Vietnam’s regional engagement, as well as its commitment to proactive, positive and responsible contributions to ASEAN Community-building process.

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Vietnam’s top leader concludes successful state visit to Sri Lanka

Vietnam and Sri Lanka agreed to elevate political trust and comprehensively develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation as well as expand high-level and all-level exchanges and contacts, regularly implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various fields.

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The two leaders agreed that their countries will work together to turn the good intentions and aspirations for bilateral relations into tangible outcomes so that in the future, they could look back with pride on the achievements born from today’s determination.

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PM Le Minh Hung concludes trip to 48th ASEAN Summit

The trip was considered a success both multilaterally and bilaterally, leaving a positive impression of Vietnam’s proactive, active and responsible spirit, as well as its substantive and effective contributions to ASEAN’s common work and efforts to promote ties with member states.

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Vietnam always gives the highest priority to the Vietnam–Laos relationship and will continue joining Laos in nurturing and deepening bilateral cooperation in a sustainable and practical manner for the benefit of the two countries' people, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

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Vietnam wishes to continue working closely with ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat in the community building process, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung while meeting ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on May 8 on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

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Vietnamese PM meets leaders of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held separate meetings with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on May 8 as part of his trip to attend the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

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ASEAN should take the lead in upholding rules and strengthening trust in international relations by consistently promoting multilateralism and respect for international law. It should actively contribute to maintaining security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight globally and in the region, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

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Highlighting the important role of parliamentary cooperation, the Party and State leader of Vietnam expressed his wish for the two legislatures to strengthen coordination, soon sign a cooperation agreement, and work together to effectively supervise the implementation of the high-level agreements and signed cooperation documents, especially economic cooperation initiatives aimed at achieving 1 billion USD in bilateral trade turnover.

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Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation, while underscoring the need to peacefully settle disputes on the basis of respect for and compliance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).