NA approves 30.7-billion-USD national target programme for culture, rural development

The programme consolidates four existing national target programmes covering cultural development; education and training modernisation; new-style rural development, sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; and healthcare, population and development.

A plenary sitting of the NA's first extraordinary session (Photo: VNA)
A plenary sitting of the NA's first extraordinary session (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Lawmakers, during the 16th National Assembly’s first extraordinary session on August 24, approved a resolution on investment policy for a national target programme on culture, society, rural development, and ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2026-2035, with 808.5 trillion VND (30.7 billion USD) earmarked for the 2026-2030 period.

The programme consolidates four existing national target programmes covering cultural development; education and training modernisation; new-style rural development, sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; and healthcare, population and development.

The programme aims to build modern, prosperous and sustainable rural areas while promoting climate change adaptation, narrowing development gaps and improving living standards, particularly in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

It also seeks to promote sustainable poverty reduction, ensuring gender equality and social welfare; sustainable rural economic development; preserving ethnic cultural identities; strengthening social security and ensuring national defence and social order, particularly in strategic, border, and island areas.

In the cultural sector, the programme targets comprehensive development of Vietnamese culture and human values, improved access to and enjoyment of cultural activities, and greater investment in cultural development and heritage preservation. It also aims to develop a professional, high-quality cultural and artistic workforce, promote international integration, and enhance the soft power of Vietnamese culture.

For education, the programme focuses on comprehensively standardising and modernising the education and training system, improving quality and expanding equal access to learning and lifelong education. It is also intended to better meet the demand for human resources, particularly highly qualified workers, amid globalisation, technological development, innovation, and digital transformation.

Regarding healthcare and population development, the programme aims to strengthen primary healthcare and disease prevention at the grassroots level, improve population quality, address population ageing, and provide greater care for vulnerable groups.

The programme will be implemented nationwide, with priority given to particularly disadvantaged communes and hamlets, ethnic minority and mountainous areas, former revolutionary bases, border and island areas, and localities facing difficult or extremely difficult socio-economic conditions.

The Government will review the structure of public investment and central budget recurrent expenditure to concentrate investment, avoid fragmentation and maximise savings in recurrent spending, while reserving resources for investment and social security policies.

It will also continue to balance the central budget to provide additional support, including policy credit, in line with budget capacity, implementation progress and the achievement of programme targets and tasks.

At the NA’s early-2030 session, the Government will report on implementation results for 2026-2030 and propose resources needed for the programme’s 2031-2035 period.

The same day, the NA passed a resolution on separating the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project into independent projects and supplementing several articles of the Law on the State Bank of Vietnam, the Law on Anti-Money Laundering, and the Law on Credit Institutions, introducing provisions on anti-money laundering regarding crypto-assets./.

VNA

See more

At the meeting between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow on September 8. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Russian leaders call for stronger trade cooperation

The top Vietnamese leader appreciated the role of the two Governments in concretising and implementing agreements and orientations reached by the countries’ high-ranking leaders, and called on the Governments to continue close coordination and make effective use of existing mechanisms.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (L) meets with Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin in Moscow on September 8. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with Chairman of Russia’s State Duma

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam reaffirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia, considering Russia one of Vietnam’s leading important partners in its foreign policy.

Vietnam, US seek to boost cultural and educational exchanges

Vietnam, US seek to boost cultural and educational exchanges

Vietnam consistently regards education and training as a top national priority and a key driver of the country’s breakthrough development. The country is prioritising the development of high-quality human resources in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Professor Reena Marwah of the University of Delhi. (Photo: VNA)

Indian expert highlights Vietnam’s important role in BRICS

Vietnam has the potential to play a deeper role in BRICS if the grouping continues to expand and strengthen its role in global economic governance. It should engage substantively in BRICS cooperation mechanisms while maintaining a balance among BRICS, ASEAN and other partners to consolidate its strategic position.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (left) meets with Russian Presidential Aide and Chairman of the Maritime Board Nikolai Patrushev on September 8, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader highlights promising Vietnam–Russia maritime cooperation

Welcoming the two sides’ identification of orientations for maritime cooperation in 2026–2030, General Secretary and President To Lam called on relevant agencies of both countries to urgently translate them into highly feasible programmes and projects, avoiding a situation in which agreements remain merely at the level of orientations and policies.

President of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (R) meets with Chairman of the Korea-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group Moon Jin Seok in Seoul on September 8. (Photo: VNA)

NA President meets RoK-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group chief

President of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man said the Vietnamese delegation was the first foreign one to make an official visit at the invitation of NA Speaker of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Cho Jeong Sik, with representation from the Party, NA, Government and localities.

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man (R) receives Mongolian Ambassador to Vietnam Ganbaatar Hulan in Hanoi on August 26, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Mongolia work to deepen bilateral ties in substantive, effective, sustainable manner

This is the second visit by a top Vietnamese legislator to Mongolia since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1954, and the first official visit by NA President Man to Mongolia in his capacity. The visit demonstrates Vietnam’s high regard for bilateral relations and the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in the countries’ overall relations.

Hugues Tertrais, Honorary Professor at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and former Director of the Centre for Contemporary Asian History (Photo published by VNA)

Historical foundation, future momentum for Vietnam–France ties

The historical dialogue between Vietnam and France had at times been very tense, but this process helped the two sides understand and respect each other better. Greater mutual understanding built over time has created conditions for cooperation at many levels today, a French scholar has said.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and his spouse meet with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Russia in Moscow on September 7, (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary and President To Lam meets Vietnamese community in Russia

In particular, the Politburo recently issued Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs, General Secretary and President To Lam, emphasising that in the time ahead, the Party and State will continue to improve institutions, and adopt comprehensive, open and breakthrough mechanisms and policies to connect with, attract and effectively mobilise the resources of overseas Vietnamese, particularly intellectuals, experts, entrepreneurs, scientists and young people.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Trinh Duc Hai (R) grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA)

Fresh impetus for Vietnam - France cooperation on new journey

Vietnam-France relations have been nurtured over generations through historical, cultural, educational and scientific ties, as well as extensive people-to-people exchanges. Despite the ups and downs of history, the two countries have successfully built a relationship of friendship, equality and mutual respect, looking towards the future together.