☕ Afternoon briefing on June 25

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 16:32

Hanoi (VNA)🍸 - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- The new Quang Tri province, created through the merger of the central provinces of Quang Binh and Quang Tri, is well-positioned to develop an open, modern economic model linked to key East-West and North-South economic corridors, maximising advantages from coastal space, deep-water ports, airports, and international border gates, Party General Secretary To Lam has stated.

Party General Secretary To Lam addresses the working session (Photo: VNA)

At a working session with the Standing Boards of the Party Committees of Quang Binh and Quang Tri on June 25, the Party chief described the merger as the continuance of the history and deep-rooted tradition of solidarity and close bonds between these two resilient localities. Read full story

- Vietnam attaches great importance to its multifaceted cooperation with Ecuador and proposes continued dialogue, negotiation, and signing of cooperation agreements in trade, investment, finance, and agriculture, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin city, China, June 25, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

During his meeting with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on June 25 on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin city, China, PM Chinh conveyed a letter from State President Luong Cuong inviting President Noboa to attend the signing ceremony of United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, to be held in Hanoi this October. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with his counterpart from Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasimalyev on June 25 on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin city, China.

Expressed his pleasure at meeting Kasimalyev again following his official visit to Vietnam in March 2025, Chinh reaffirmed that Vietnam highly values its traditional friendship with Kyrgyzstan. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) to accompany Vietnam in researching and identifying new growth drivers while receiving its President Professor Tetsuya Watanabe, on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin, China, on June 25.

The PM acknowledged ERIA’s contributions to cooperation with Vietnam over the past years and appreciated the quality of research products recently carried out by the institute and Vietnamese research agencies. Read full story

- The 15th National Assembly on June 25 adopted the Law on amendments and supplements to certain articles of the Penal Code, in which the death penalty for eight criminal offenses is abolished.

Specifically, 429 out of 439 deputies present at the sitting, or 89.75% of the total number of deputies, voted in favour. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has highlighted the need to focus on research and learning from experiences of other countries in order to improve the institutional and legal framework, address existing obstacles and barriers, and facilitate the implementation process of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant projects.

A Government Office notice on the Deputy PM’s conclusions at a recent meeting to review construction progress of the plants stressed that accelerating the development of power sources is essential and urgent to ensure energy security and meet the demands of two-digit socio-economic growth in the coming period. In addition, fulfilling international commitments to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires the urgent implementation of a transition to green, clean, and renewable energies. Read full story

- The Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland and the Switzerland – Vietnam Economic Forum (SVEF) jointly organised the Vietnam Day 2025 at the University of Zurich on June 23.

The event brought together senior officials, business leaders, and academic experts from both sides. It featured four discussions on key issues such as the Vietnam- Switzerland comprehensive partnership, Vietnam’s international financial centre, digital transformation and innovation, and global human resources and expansion of markets. Read full story

- Despite ongoing business environment uncertainties, 60% of Vietnamese enterprises remain optimistic about prospects for the coming year, with 46% indicating plans to accelerate their expansion into international markets, according to the Business Outlook Study 2025 conducted by Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) released on June 25.

According to UOB, following the US’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs of 46% on Vietnamese goods on April 2, around 80% of Vietnamese businesses have proactively taken measures to respond to potential impacts./. Read full story

VNA

#To Lam #Pham Minh Chinh #World Economic Forum #President Daniel Noboa #Adylbek Kasimalyev #ERIA

See more

The policy dialogue themed “Vietnam’s New Era: From Vision to Action” on June 25, a highlight of the WEF's 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China. (Photo: VNA)

ꦿ PM charts Vietnam’s path at WEF’s policy dialogue

25/06/2025 20:00

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President and CEO of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende discussed Vietnam’s new development vision and its experience in building an independent, self-reliant and globally-integrated economy, and navigating global instability through proactive diplomacy.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with WEF Interim Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe. (Photo: VNA)

🅠 PM Pham Minh Chinh meets World Economic Forum leaders

25/06/2025 18:27

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Interim Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and Borge Brende, WEF President and CEO, commended Vietnam’s flexible and effective economic governance and its strong economic performance.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in Tianjin on June 25 (Photo: VNA)

🙈 PM meets with Singaporean counterpart on WEF Tianjin sidelines

25/06/2025 17:29

The two PMs agreed on measures to strengthen bilateral relations in the future, especially the prompt signing of an action plan for implementing the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, and the launch of upgraded VSIPs to include hi-tech parks, urban areas, and commercial zones.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) Professor Tetsuya Watanabe on June 25. (Photo: VNA)

♒ PM calls for ERIA's support in seeking new growth drivers

25/06/2025 16:19

PM Chinh requested ERIA to maintain close coordination with Vietnamese agencies and research institutes to promote policy research and consultations, and help the country increase productivity, quality, and competitiveness of the economy, especially in digital transformation, green transition, and circular economy, to contribute to achieving the rapid, sustainable development and double-digit economic growth goals it has set out for the coming decades.

꧂ New Quang Tri province well-positioned for open, modern economic model: Party leader

25/06/2025 15:57

The new Quang Tri province will include 78 commune-level units and features key assets such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a long coastline, historical landmarks, three international border gates, deep-water ports, a modern transport network, and two airports.

Female officers from multiple forces at the rehearsal. (Photo: VNA)

🌃 First rehearsal held for parade marking 80th anniversary of National Day

25/06/2025 15:51

The rehearsal took place at the National Military Training Centre No. 4, the Vietnam National University - Hanoi, and the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, involving more than 7,400 officers and soldiers.

The NA adopts the Resolution on the establishment of the National Election Council. (Photo: VNA)

🧸 Legislature adopts several important laws, resolutions on June 25

25/06/2025 15:21

The 15th National Assembly on June 25 adopted several important laws and resolutions during its ongoing 9th session.

꧙ Vietnam, Ecuador boost ties across trade, technology, and education

25/06/2025 15:11

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on June 25 on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin city, China, during which he affirmed Vietnam attaches great importance to its multifaceted cooperation with Ecuador and proposes continued dialogue, negotiation, and signing of cooperation agreements in trade, investment, finance, and agriculture.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang (left) meets with Deputy Mayor of Toulouse Jean-Claude Dardelet. (Photo: VNA)

♛ Vietnam, France’s Toulouse city strengthen multi-faceted cooperation

25/06/2025 14:38

A working visit to Toulouse by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang from June 23–25 has laid important groundwork for expanding multi-sector cooperation between Vietnam and the Occitanie region.

Prof. Dr. Georgy Toloraia, Executive Director of the National Committee for BRICS Research and Director of the Centre for Russian Strategy in Asia at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. (Photo: VNA)

🧸 Vietnam expected to become influential partner of BRICS: Russian scholar

25/06/2025 14:34

Prof. Dr. Georgy Toloraia, Executive Director of the National Committee for BRICS Research and Director of the Centre for Russian Strategy in Asia at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, expressed his confidence that Vietnam will become a substantial and influential partner of BRICS.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with his counterpart from Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasimalyev on June 25 on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin city, China (Photo: VNA)

𒅌 PM meets with Kyrgyz counterpart on WEF Tianjin sidelines

25/06/2025 11:36

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed enhancing economic and trade cooperation, including the development of railway connectivity between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan, which will also strengthen links with Central Asian nations.

The National Assembly adopts the Law on amendments and supplements to certain articles of the Penal Code (Photo: VNA)

📖 Death penalty for eight criminal offenses lifted

25/06/2025 11:23

The new law abolishes the death penalty for eight criminal offenses: the crime aimed at overthrowing the people’s government; the crime of sabotaging state infrastructure and technical facilities; the crime of producing and trading counterfeit medicines for treatment and prevention; the crime of destroying peace and causing aggressive war; the crime of espionage; that of illegally transporting narcotics; embezzlement; and bribe taking.

A view of the 15th National Assembly’s 9th session. (Photo: VNA)

𓂃 Personnel affairs dominate NA's agenda on June 25

25/06/2025 09:36

Lawmakers are discussing legislative and personnel affairs at their sitting on June 25 as part of the 15th National Assembly’s 9th session.

Ambassador Do Hung Viet (L), Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh (C), and Iraqi Ambassador Abbas Kadhom Obaid Al-Fatlawi. (Photo: VNA)

🎃 Vietnam pledges more contributions to G77 cooperation at UN: Ambassador

25/06/2025 09:30

Vietnam will continue to coordinate closely with and make positive contributions to the initiatives and collective work of the Group of 77 (G77) developing nations, said Ambassador Do Hung Viet, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivers a speech at the NA Standing Committee's meeting on June 24. (Photo: VNA)

꧒ NA Standing Committee urges in-depth study of special policies for railway development

25/06/2025 09:27

Speaking at the session, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the urgency of the amended railway law, noting the country is currently implementing many railway development projects such as the North–South high-speed railway, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi urban rail systems, and the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong line.