A boat carrying passengers travelling from a wedding ceremony in Kwara state capsizes in the Niger River on June 12. ( Photo: The Guardian) 
In his closing remarks, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man announced that the committee reached broad consensus on seven draft laws, paving the way for the NA’s ninth session in early May.
According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, this working session marked the first official ministerial-level meeting between the two countries since the new US administration took office.
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
The strategic significance of the Vietnam - Singapore relationship upgrade could be seen in its broader impact and added value generated for the region and the world.
NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh expressed her delight at the positive progress in the Vietnam - US relations, highlighting 2025 as a significant milestone marking 30 years since the normalisation of their ties.
In their talks and meetings, the Vietnamese Party chief and leaders of Indonesia, Singapore, and the ASEAN Secretariat agreed to strengthen coordination at regional and global forums, and work closely with the bloc's member states to step up cooperation towards the successful building of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
On March 14, 1988, engineering soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Navy stood resolutely on Gac Ma with a unwavering commitment to protecting the national flag amid the vast sea. They faced death head-on, yet refused to retreat or surrender, creating an immortal circle of pride in the East Sea. The 64 soldiers, including nine from Da Nang and one from Quang Nam, laid down their lives.
Strengthening ties with Indonesia helps Vietnam gain better access to a vast market, increase trade opportunities, and enhance cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and digital transformation, according to Beni Sukadis, Senior Researcher at the Jakarta-based Indonesia Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (LESPERSSI).
Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam commended South Australia’s role in fostering cooperation between the two nations, particularly in science and technology, innovation, information technology, and education.
The robust relationship between Vietnam and Mexico has expanded across multiple areas, from politics and economy to cultural diplomacy and been reflected through mutual support at international forums like the UN and the Asia – Pacific Economic Cooperation, and multilateral parliamentary platforms.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi highlighted Brazil as Vietnam’s largest partner in Latin America. Vietnam currently imports soybeans, corn, and cotton from the country while exporting electronics, tires, clothing, and footwear.
Chile's Los Ríos region and Vietnamese localities can promote bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy, culture, and education.
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh provided further details on the Government’s proposal, which involves transferring about one-third of the responsibilities currently handled by district-lev administrations to provincial authorities, while decentralising the remaining two-thirds to the commune-level administrations.
Experts held that the state visit to Indonesia and official visits to the ASEAN Secretariat and Singapore by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam from March 9-13 achieved all the set objectives at a high level, with the most notable accomplishment being the upgrade of Vietnam’s relations with the two countries.
The formation of the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group is a key milestone in relations between the two countries as well as between their parliaments, especially as Sri Lanka prepares to welcome a high-level delegation from Vietnam’s National Assembly.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
PM Pham Minh Chinh affirmed the message of Party General Secretary To Lam and senior Vietnamese leaders that they attach great importance to and want to cooperate closely with President Trump’s administration to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and maintain a stable and increasingly substantive development momentum.
The top legislator urged Phu Yen to analyse causes of the failure to meet some targets, particularly its GRDP growth of 6.17%, falling short of the 7.5% target, and low public investment disbursement.
The lady highlighted the countries’ growing friendship and cooperation and expressed Vietnam’s wish to further step up cultural exchanges and learn from Singapore’s experience in preserving and developing a diverse and modern culture.
In his interview granted to the press, Son highlighted the significance of the Party chief's trips, saying that both Indonesia and Singapore, and the ASEAN Secretariat, placed great importance on the visits, offering the General Secretary, his spouse and the Vietnamese delegation the highly dignified reception, accompanied by practical working programmes.
