Elections offer opportunity for Vietnamese to raise voices over key matters: Australian expert
The elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and the People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure on May 23 is an opportunity for the Vietnamese people to express their voices over such important issues as the nation’s leadership and the strengthening of local governments’ apparatus, said Professor Carl Thayer, an expert from Australia’s New South Wales University.
Maritime police join an early election in Tho Chau island district (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The elections of deputies to the 15thNational Assembly and the People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure on May 23 is an opportunity for the Vietnamese people toexpress their voices over such important issues as the nation’s leadership andthe strengthening of local governments’ apparatus, said Professor Carl Thayer,an expert from Australia’s New South Wales University.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Thayer said theVietnamese legislature’s activities have undergone important changes during the country's process to build and strengthen its socialist rule-of-law state, especiallysince the adoption of the Constitution in 1992 (amended in 2001), the 2013 Constitutionand the 2015 Law on Election.
Banners on the elections in Hanoi's Ha Dong district (Photo: VNA)
According to the expert, this year's elections saw more than69 million constituents eligible to vote, and all of the candidates were thoroughlyevaluated to ensure qualification. The list of qualified candidates alsoexhibits diversity in composition with a high proportion of women and ethnicminorities, at 45 percent and 21 percent, respectively.
Evaluating the preparation for this important event, Thayer saidthat Vietnam has made extraordinary efforts in the context of COVID-19 outbreaks.
The National Election Council has adopted an official listof 866 qualified candidates, he noted, citing information from local press assaying that 84,767 election groups have been set up to run polling stations onthe election day./.
Germany’s Junge Welt (Young People) newspaper ran an article on May 21 spotlighting the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure and the important contributions by the legislature to the country’s economic development over recent years.
Early voting took place on Hon Chuoi island, off the coast of southernmost Ca Mau province, and certain remote constituencies in central Quang Binh province on May 21, two days ahead of the election day.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has decided to raise the level of aviation security during the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure.
Drs Muhammad Nurdin MM, Chairperson of the Indonesia - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group and member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has emphasised the significance of the upcoming general elections to the Vietnamese National Assembly, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
Maritime police join an early election in Tho Chau island district (Photo: VNA) 
Banners on the elections in Hanoi's Ha Dong district (Photo: VNA) 
