☀️ 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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ASEAN Foreign Ministers attend the opening ceremony of AMM-59 in Manila on July 21. (Photo published by VNA)

AMM-59: Vietnam proposes three priorities to advance ASEAN–China relations

In his remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung described ASEAN–China as one of ASEAN’s most dynamic and comprehensive partnerships, stressing the importance of effectively implementing the 2026–2030 Plan of Action to enhance the quality and strategic value of bilateral cooperation.

An overview of the third meeting of the 14th Party Central Committee (Photo: VNA)

Party Central Committee discusses marine economy, climate resilience

The 14th Party Central Committee on July 22 considered proposals on building a disciplined, safe, civilised, harmonious and development-oriented society, and developing a national security strategy, as well as discussed the establishment of Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh as centrally-governed cities.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam promotes ties with Canada, New Zealand at AMM-59

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung met separately with his Canadian and New Zealand counterparts on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines, on July 22.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam proposes priorities to advance ASEAN–US relations

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung proposed that ASEAN and the US promote trade and investment in an open, transparent and mutually beneficial manner, while expanding joint work in the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, science and technology, innovation, energy transition and regional energy connectivity.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam addresses the third meeting of the 14th Party Central Committee. (Photo: VNA)

📝 OP-ED: Sustainable national prosperity begins with people, cultural values

A nation's greatest wealth lies not only in economic achievements but also in the character of its people, the strength of its compassion and the vitality of its cultural identity. These enduring human values have sustained Vietnam throughout its long history and will continue to underpin its future development.

The meeting between Politburo member and Permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu and Executive Acting Secretary General of the LDP Hagiuda Koichi in Hanoi on July 21 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam considers Japan long-term partner

Vietnam and Japan agreed to work closely to realise the agreements reached during Prime Minister Takaichi’s visit to Vietnam in May, including bolstering economic connectivity and economic security, sci-tech collaboration, and pushing concrete joint projects in digital transformation, green transition, innovation, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.

Chairman of the Can Tho People's Committee Chairman Truong Canh Tuyen (right) presents a souvenir to Pakistani Ambassador to Vietnam Kohdayar Marri at the meeting on July 21. (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho boosts trade ties with Pakistani partners

Can Tho also aims to strengthen cooperation with Pakistani partners in science, technology and human resource development, while exploring opportunities in information technology, innovation, digital transformation and high-tech agriculture.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (standing) addresses the meeting between the Standing Board of the NA Party Committee and the Standing Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on July 21. (Photo: VNA)

NA leader calls for shift towards modern urban governance

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man praised Ho Chi Minh City's preparations for the draft Law on Urban Development, describing it as a landmark piece of legislation that signals a shift in state thinking from urban administration to modern urban governance focused on enabling development.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (centre) hands over appoitment decisions to Acting Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Tien Hai (right) and Permanent Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Hoai Anh on July 21. (Photo: VNA)

PM chairs ceremony announcing personnel changes at two ministries

Nguyen Tien Hai, Secretary of the An Giang provincial Party Committee, was assigned as Acting Minister of Home Affairs; while Nguyen Hoai Anh, Chairman of the Thanh Hoa People’s Committee, was appointed Permanent Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.

Prof. Dr Nguyen Xuan Thang, Chairman of the Central Theory Council (right), and Koichi Hagiuda, Acting Secretary-General of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at their meeting on July 21 (Photo:VNA)

Vietnamese, Japanese parties seek stronger theoretical, policy exchanges

Vietnam and Japan should continue to develop their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World, with greater emphasis on substantive and effective cooperation in new areas, especially the strategic connectivity initiatives agreed upon by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.