President of the National Council of Switzerland, Martin Candinas (Photo: VNA) 
The first joint political consultation between Vietnam and Ethiopia was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Mesganu Arga.
Thang noted that as Vietnam is streamlining its political system, the Party and Government are keen on studying international models of public administration, including Sweden’s. Thus, the HCMA wants to boost collaboration with the Swedish side on administrative reform and public governance against the backdrop of digital transformation.
In a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on February 19 afternoon, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu suggested directions to further strengthen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries; enhance political trust; expand investment, trade, and tourism activities; and strengthen economic connectivity towards raising bilateral trade turnover to 20 billion USD.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son emphasised the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and China during his talks with Chen Gang, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Hanoi on February 19.
The State President stressed that amid ongoing conflicts and tensions in many regions around the world, the ASEAN member states must work together to maintain a peaceful environment for development. He called for stronger solidarity and enhanced political trust among the regional nations.
State President Luong Cuong affirmed Vietnam's solidarity with Cuba while receiving Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla in Hanoi on February 19.
The Party chief stressed that Vietnam considers its solidarity, support, and cooperation with Cuba as a responsibility and a moral obligation, serving the benefits of both nations and contributing to progressive movements worldwide.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son expressed his delight at the fruitful development of the Vietnam – Cuba relations in all Party, State, and people-to-people diplomacy channels, reaffirming that the Party and State of Vietnam attach importance to the special relationship with Cuba, the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam.
Expressing his pleasure at the growth of Vietnam-Cambodia relations, PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and prioritises the development of relations with Cambodia, supporting the neighbouring country’s peace, stability, and prosperity as well as Cambodia’s growing role and position both regionally and globally.
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, NA Chairman Man stated that the session, which lasted six and a half days, adopted multiple laws and resolutions aimed at reorganising the state apparatus and accelerating socio-economic development.
Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu called on countries to develop a shared vision toward a futire of stability, sustainability, and strong linkages across oceans and seas, including the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and the East Sea.
The National Assembly on February 19 approved a resolution that strongly empowers Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in implementing investments in urban railway projects.
Under the resolution, the legislative body decided to adjust some key targets. Accordingly, the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is set to reach 8% or higher, with the GDP scale this year expected to exceed 500 billion USD. The GDP per capita is projected to surpass 5,000 USD, and the average consumer price index (CPI) growth rate is targeted to be around 4.5 - 5%.
On February 19, the 15th National Assembly adopted the Law on Organisation of Local Governments (revised) and the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents (revised).
The 15th National Assembly (NA) adopted a resolution on several special mechanisms and policies for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project at its ninth extraordinary session on February 19.
According to the resolution, the construction of a modern and harmonious railway aims to meet the transport demand between Vietnam and China. The initiative is expected to serve as a catalyst for rapid and sustainable economic development along the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong economic corridor while strengthening national defence and security and promoting the industrialisation and modernisation, contributing to delivering on the targets and missions set at the documents of the 13th National Party Congress and the Party’s resolutions.
The deputies will pass a resolution addressing issues related to the streamlining of the political system’s organisational apparatus, a resolution on supplementation to the 2025 socio-economic development plan with a growth target of at least 8%, and another on pilot policies to remove barriers in science-technology research and innovation activities.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
PM Pham Minh Chinh encouraged Guangxi and Vietnamese localities to innovate and enhance the quality of their cooperation mechanisms to deliver tangible benefits to the people.
