☀️ Morning digest on September 17

Vietnamese leaders' receptions for the Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man's meeting with the Vietnamese community in Malaysia, and Deputy PM Mai Van Chinh's meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng are among news highlights on September 16 evening.

☀️ Morning digest on September 17

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

– The current context and new requirements demand continued innovation in the activities of the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education (VAPE), contributing substantially to building a learning society and fostering a culture of learning among the people, Party General Secretary To Lam has stressed.

Speaking at a meeting with the Standing Board of the VAPE Central Committee on September 16, the Party leader said the association must affirm that building a learning society and lifelong learning forms the foundation for shaping an innovative and learning nation, in line with Vietnam’s aspirations for fast and sustainable development. Read full story

– Party General Secretary To Lam on September 16 received Nikolai Patrusev, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from September 15-18.

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Party General Secretary To Lam (right) receives Nikolai Patrusev, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia, in Hanoi on September 16. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary Lam expressed his pleasure in meeting again with Nikolai Patrusev, a long-time friend and comrade. He emphasised that the current visit by the Russian delegation is a concrete and effective demonstration of the bilateral relationship, especially in concretising high-level agreements reached between the two countries. Read full story

– Vietnam’s Party, State, and people always treasure the valuable support and assistance of the people of the Soviet Union in the past and of Russia today, State President Luong Cuong has affirmed, stressing Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy towards Russia, especially in the current new stage of development.

At a reception on September 16 for Nikolai Patrushev, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board, the President urged agencies, ministries, sectors, and localities of both countries to hold candid exchanges to implement cooperation in specific areas, effectively realising agreements and commitments made by their senior leaders for the benefit of the two nations and for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged strengthening political trust between Vietnam and Timor-Leste through all-level exchanges, and expanding all-around cooperation, during a reception for Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste Bendito dos Santos Freitas in Hanoi on September 16.

Welcoming Freitas’s first official visit to Vietnam, the PM stressed that the trip, ahead of Timor-Leste’s ASEAN admission, will help deepen bilateral cooperation across sectors and elevate the bilateral relations to a new level in a more effective and practical, and closer manner. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 16 called on Vietnam’s private sector to embrace patriotism, innovation, and global integration, positioning itself as a key driver in the nation’s future development.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the high-level dialogue of the Vietnam Private Sector Forum (VPSF) 2025 on September 16. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing a high-level dialogue of the Vietnam Private Sector Forum (VPSF) 2025, themed “Unlocking Potential – Shaping Vietnam’s Future,” Prime Minister Chinh praised the private sector’s contributions and encouraged it to remain a pillar of national development. Read full story

– National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Malaysia on September 16 as part of his official trip to the country.

The top legislator affirmed that the Party, State, Government, and NA always view overseas Vietnamese, including those in Malaysia, as an inseparable part of the country and an important resource for national development. Read full story

– Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on September 16, part of his working trip to attend the 22nd China – ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 22nd China – ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) in Nanning city.

The two sides highly valued the positive momentum in bilateral relations, highlighting frequent high-level exchanges, strong strategic economic links, dynamic local cooperation, and active people-to-people exchanges, which have helped elevate Vietnam – China relations to a new stage of more effective and substantive development. Read full story

– Vietnam will continue to actively support Timor-Leste in effectively participating in and actively contributing to the ASEAN Community, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung affirmed on September 16.

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Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (right) meets with Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas on September 16, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

During his talks with Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas in Hanoi, Trung noted that his country is ready to share experience and best practices, enhance capacity-building, and promote Timor-Leste’s participation in ASEAN programmes on narrowing the development gap. Read full story

– Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang held a working session with executives from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) on September 15 (local time), pressing Vietnam’s case for an upgrade to the emerging market status while touting robust economic growth and stock market gains.

Thang commended the ongoing collaboration between the LSE, its subsidiary FTSE Russell, and the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC). He briefed LSE leaders on Vietnam’s economic trajectory and capital market development, stressing reforms aimed at meeting FTSE Russell’s criteria for market classification. Read full story./.

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia–Oceania Department at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs meet in Hanooi on December 19. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy FM meets French official

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its relationship with France, the first European Union country with which Vietnam has established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting that the two sides enjoy a solid foundation and significant potential for further cooperation.

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu speaks at the event in Hanoi on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

Senior Party official reviews preparations for 14th National Party Congress

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu expressed his belief that relevant agencies will continue to make efforts to basically complete organisation- and service-related preparations by December 31, ensuring readiness for the final rehearsals ahead of the opening of the 14th National Party Congress.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addressing the conference of the the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges industry, trade sector to pioneer in six key areas

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that to make a substantive contribution to national development, the industry and trade sector must also achieve double-digit growth, generate new jobs, strengthen traditional growth drivers such as export and consumption, and accelerate emerging engines of growth, including the green, digital, circular, knowledge-based and sharing economies.

State President Luong Cuong (middle) presents congratulatory flowers to the two promoted officers (Photo: VNA)

Two military officers promoted to rank of Senior Lieutenant General

Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Vice Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Lieutenant General Do Van Banh, Political Commissar of the National Defence Academy were promoted to the rank of Senior Lieutenant General at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 19.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (R) hosts a reception for Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam Nguyen Huy Tien. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Laos step up cooperation in procuracy sector

They highly valued the effective and substantive cooperation results achieved by the Supreme People’s Procuracies of Vietnam and Laos in recent years, and called on both sides to continue enhancing coordination, stepping up exchanges of delegations at all levels, sharing professional and technical experience, and maintaining and expanding training and capacity-building programmes for officials.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and other leaders, former leaders at the 4th Dien Hong Awards honouring journalistic works on the NA and People’s Councils in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. (Photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

NA Chairman urges journalists to reflect legislature's strategic vision

The NA leader expressed his confidence that in 2026, journalists will continue to uphold their responsibility, report objectively and from multiple perspectives, accompany the NA in conveying its activities promptly and comprehensively, and identify shortcomings in law-making and legal enforcement to help people-elected agencies operate more effectively and efficiently.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister calls for stronger Vietnam–Laos economic connectivity

Receiving Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides further strengthen economic connectivity, coordinate closely and share development experience for the tangible benefit of the two peoples.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18 (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator receives Lao foreign minister in Hanoi

The top legislator requested that the two sides continue to work closely together to effectively implement the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement, the intergovernmental cooperation agreement, and bilateral cooperation programmes, thereby contributing to preserving and developing the bilateral special traditional friendship.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung (R) and his Lao counterpart Thongsavanh Phomvihane at the 12th Vietnam–Laos political consultation at the foreign ministerial level in Hanoi on December 18, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Lao FMs co-chair 12th political consultation

During the consultation, in a spirit of special trust, the two officials reviewed recent cooperation between the two Parties, countries and foreign ministries. They also discussed future cooperation orientations and held in-depth exchanges on regional and international issues of common concern.