Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on May 20 hosted a reception for Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to Vietnam Ri Sung Guk.
PM Hung congratulated the DPRK on the successful organisation of the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly. He expressed his confidence that under the leadership of the WPK headed by General Secretary and President of State Affairs Kim Jong Un, the DPRK Government and people will successfully fulfil the strategic goals set forth at the 9th Congress.
The PM conveyed his regards to Premier of the Cabinet Pak Thae Song and other DPRK leaders, while appreciating the efforts made by Ambassador Ri and the DPRK Embassy staff in promoting the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the DPRK, particularly their coordination in arranging the state visit to the DPRK by Party General Secretary To Lam in October 2025, as well as the recent visit to the DPRK by Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, special envoy of Party General Secretary and State President Lam.
For his part, Ri briefed the PM on notable socio-economic achievements the DPRK has recorded and positive progress in bilateral relations. He reaffirmed the consistent stance of the Party, State and people of the DPRK in expanding bilateral ties across all fields in line with the shared orientations and aspirations of the two peoples, in accordance with the spirit of the agreements reached during the October 2025 visit to the DPRK by General Secretary Lam.
The diplomat expressed his confidence that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by General Secretary and President Lam, the Vietnamese people will successfully realise the goals set at the 14th National Party Congress and turn Vietnam into a developed country.
PM Hung affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always attach importance to and wish to continuously nurture and promote the Vietnam–DPRK relationship in a more substantive and effective manner in the new development era, in line with the common aspirations of the two peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
He proposed that the two sides closely coordinate to effectively implement shared perceptions and agreements reached during visits by leaders of the two countries, with priority given to consolidating political trust through promoting exchanges and visits at all levels; maintaining the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation; and stepping up cooperation in agriculture, culture, sports, tourism, education, healthcare and people-to-people exchanges. He also called for stronger coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums of mutual concern.
Agreeing with the important orientations and directives of PM Hung, Ri affirmed that he will make utmost effort to contribute to the development of the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the DPRK, and expressed his hope that the PM will continue to support and facilitate the operation of the DPRK Embassy in Vietnam./.
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☀️ Morning digest on May 21
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's meeting with the Party Committee of the Ministry of Health to look into traditional medicine, PM Le Minh Hung's phone talks with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon, and the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City – RoK investment cooperation and business networking forum are among news highlights on May 20 evening.
Vietnam attaches great importance to ties with UK: PM
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung suggested that the two countries work together towards raising bilateral trade turnover to 10 billion USD in 2026 and eventually 15 billion USD through expanded market access for each other’s goods.
Disciplinary action taken against Party members in Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh
The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission considered and decided disciplinary measures for several Party members with wrongdoings in the Party organisations of Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh during its six session in Hanoi on May 8 and 20.
PM vows to deepen Vietnam-Cuba special ties
At a reception for Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes in Hanoi on May 20, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stressed that the Party, Government and people of Vietnam always remember and treasure the solidarity and wholehearted support that the Party, Government and people of Cuba have extended to Vietnam during its past struggle for national liberation as well as the current cause of national construction and development.
PM holds phone talks with New Zealand counterpart
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung proposed six major orientations for future collaboration, including further strengthening political trust through increased delegation exchanges, high-level contacts and bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and promoting more substantive defence and security cooperation through enhanced exchanges and stronger naval and maritime security capabilities.
NA leader urged more substantive, professional deputy affairs work
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man asked the NA Committee for Deputy Affairs to shift strongly from procedural consultation to strategic consultation, moving beyond the mindset of merely “following procedures correctly” towards policy design, process standardisation, quality control and forecasting.
☕ Afternoon briefing on May 20
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
Top leader orders decisive action to unlock idle resources for growth
Public resources must lead and activate private resources, while public investment should stimulate broader social investment. FDI, meanwhile, should move from quantity-based attraction toward quality-based absorption linked with technology transfer and stronger domestic linkages, said top leader To Lam.
Editorial team meets to begin review of 100-year Party leadership
Politburo member Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang described the review as a major strategic political task, adding that the process must deliver historical depth, theoretical vision, and strategic foresight to guide Vietnam toward fast and sustainable development in the decades ahead.
Fijian President values Vietnam’s rising international standing
Affirming that Fiji treasures its relationship with Vietnam, the President said the two countries should work more closely together to fully tap the considerable potential for bilateral cooperation.
NA Chairman asks for enhanced policy advisory to support double-digit growth target
National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man has demanded the NA's Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs to enhance its policy advisory capacity, stressing that robust and evidence-based policymaking is essential to achieving the country’s ambition of double-digit economic growth while safeguarding macroeconomic stability.
New cooperation avenues emerge from legacy of Ho Chi Minh, Fidel Castro
A leader of Cuba’s Fidel Castro Ruz Centre expressed a desire to open up new areas of cooperation in publishing, organising online exhibitions and supporting one another in displaying documents and photographs reflecting the special relationship between the two countries.
Vietnamese Embassy in Israel implements citizen protection measures related to Gaza-bound flotilla
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has advised Vietnamese citizens to strictly comply with regulations of countries in the Middle East region, regularly follow security warnings issued by local authorities and Vietnamese representative agencies, and avoid areas affected by conflict or at risk of unsafety.
Prime Minister receives Deputy US Trade Representative
The Vietnamese Government will continue to work closely with the US side to soon finalise the agreement, thereby further deepening economic, trade, and investment cooperation as the main driving force for bilateral relations, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.
Vietnam sees Sweden one of leading European partners in innovation, green development
Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, both sides affirmed their support for multilateralism and free trade, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts in line with international law and the UN Charter. They also stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics and lifestyle promoted in Laos
President Ho Chi Minh’s thought remains the ideological foundation and guiding principle for all victories of the Vietnamese revolution, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam.
US Senate approves new Ambassador to Vietnam
Jennifer Wicks McNamara was nominated by President Donald Trump to replace Marc E. Knapper, whose term ended earlier this year.
☀️ Morning digest on May 20
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
Vietnam, Australia expected to expand practical cooperation across sectors
Cuong described Australia as a trusted and key partner of Vietnam, as the two countries see strong momentum in relations across sectors, with two-way trade exceeding 15 billion USD and moving towards a 20-billion-USD goal.
Vietnam, Thailand celebrate diplomatic ties with cultural, naval exchange activities
Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Urawadee Sriphiromya said the two countries have built a close and enduring friendship over the past five decades through strong political, economic and people-to-people connections.