Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA) 
The draft documents for the 14th National Party Congress identify foreign affairs as a key and regular task, with diplomacy in agriculture and the environment recognised as a core component of economic, environmental and development diplomacy directly linked to national strategic priorities.
In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on Vietnam’s socio-economic development as the 14th National Party Congress approaches, Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Juan Carlos Fernández Juárez described these accomplishments as clear evidence of the sound leadership and policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese Government, which place people at the centre of development, are grounded in industrialisation, and creatively apply Ho Chi Minh Thought.
In a volatile global context, under the sound leadership of the Party, the effective management of the State, the effective governance of the Government and the National Assembly, and the concerted efforts of ministries and localities, Vietnam has consistently implemented a foreign policy of peace, cooperation, and development, independence and self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification. As a result, it has continued to stand out as a bright spot of peace, stability, and development in the region, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu has written an article ahead of the 14th National Party Congress.
PM Chinh instructed localities to complete house handovers no later than January 18, 2026, while continuing to address environmental issues, restore essential infrastructure, create jobs and livelihoods, and ensure transparent, timely support for affected households, especially during the Lunar New Year.
Given Vietnam’s recent institutional reforms, the 14th National Party Congress is also expected to create more favourable political and institutional conditions for Vietnam and RoK to fully realise the potential of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Nguyen Van Trung underlined Vietnam’s consistent policy of valuing its traditional friendship with Belarus. He called on the Communist Party of Belarus and other political parties in the country to actively contribute to advancing bilateral relations in the new period.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
The two ministers agreed to enhance cooperation in training and capacity-building for specialised forces in digital transformation, cybersecurity and personal data protection, while sharing experience in developing legal frameworks on personal data protection and data storage.
The two sides expressed satisfaction that bilateral relations continue to develop strongly across all areas. Political and diplomatic ties have been further strengthened through frequent exchanges of delegations and contacts at all levels, while defence and security cooperation remains a key pillar.
Vietnam always attaches great importance to its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia, considering it one of Vietnam’s most important partners, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on January 15 sent messages of congratulations to Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua and Lord Vaea on their respective elections as Prime Minister and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Kingdom of Tonga.
The Vietnamese Government remains committed to accompanying and creating the most favourable conditions for foreign enterprises, including ASML, to invest and operate successfully and sustainably in the country, affirmed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Beyond region-wide efforts, each member state, including Vietnam, is proactively rolling out strategies to enable broader public participation in the digital transformation process.
Japan continues to be Vietnam’s number one partner in official development assistance (ODA) and labour cooperation, third-largest investor, and fourth-largest partner in trade and tourism.
Vietnam remains firmly committed to being a proactive, active and responsible member of ASEAN’s digital cooperation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed while addressing the opening ceremony of the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting (ADGMIN 6) and related meetings in Hanoi on January 15.
Vietnam has recorded outstanding achievements across all fields, from socio-economic development to culture, over the past five years since the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, demonstrating the soundness and relevance of the Doi moi (Renewal) policy.
Daniel Paul Leaf, Honorary Consul for Vietnam in Hawaii, expressed his hope that the decisions reached during the congress will continue to propel Vietnam towards its goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by its centennial anniversary.
The former diplomat once said when leaving Hanoi in 2019 that: “Vietnam is not only a place where I worked, it became a part of my diplomatic life”. Today, in his message to the 14th National Party Congress, his enduring affection for Vietnam remains steadfast, a quiet thread connecting friends across half the globe in shared aspirations for peace, independence, and social justice.
Under the agreement, the sides committed to focusing on key areas, including regular and ad hoc exchanges of information on hostile forces’ activities and transnational crimes, particularly drug trafficking and weapons smuggling; and coordinated efforts to prevent illegal encroachment, unlawful settlement, spontaneous cross-border migration, and illegal exploitation of forest and mineral resources.
Ambassador Do Hung Viet said the 14th National Party Congress will, for the first time, designate diplomacy and international integration as a regular and critical task, on par with national defence and security.
