Hanoi (VNA)ꦚ - The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Party General Secretary To Lam hosted a reception for visiting Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on February 13.

At the meeting, the Party leader expressed his delight at the robust development of Vietnam-Laos relations across all fields, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both nations. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 13 for visiting Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane, who has chosen Vietnam as the first country to visit in his recent new role.

President Cuong expressed his belief that under the sound leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, along with the drastic direction of the Government, the close supervision of the National Assembly, and the solidarity of the entire people, the fraternal Lao country will overcome challenges and achieve goals set in the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress and the ninth five-year socio-economic development plan. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 13 for Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane who is on an official visit to Vietnam.

PM Chinh congratulated Thongsavanh on being approved by the Lao National Assembly to hold the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressing his belief that with his extensive experience in foreign affairs, Thongsavanh will successfully complete the assigned tasks, further contribute to the cause of construction, development and deep international integration of Laos as well as contributing to increasingly close cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Laos. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for accelerating negotiations toward the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) while receiving Renato Costa, CEO of Friboi under Brazil’s JBS S.A – one of the world’s largest meat processing companies operating in 24 countries, including Vietnam.

At the reception in Hanoi on February 13 which also saw the attendance of Brazilian Ambassador to Vietnam, the Government leader underscored the need to step up trade and investment cooperation to match the potential of both countries and translate into reality their strategic partnership, which was established in November 2024. Read full story

- The ongoing state apparatus restructuring will not affect Vietnam’s business and investment environment, affirmed Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.

During the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on February 13, Hang said restructuring is a regular practice of countries to make the state apparatus aligned with its functions and duties in the new era. The policy of streamlining the state apparatus for increased efficiency and capacity was introduced in 2017, carefully prepared, and implemented with a suitable roadmap. Read full story

- The reception of Vietnamese nationals deported by the US has been carried out on the basis of agreements on the reception of such nationals signed by the two countries, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry’s regular press conference on February 13.

Hang made the statement while answering a reporter’s query about Vietnam’s handling and receiving of Vietnamese nationals deported from the US, as President Donald Trump has announced that he will enact a deportation campaign against illegal immigrants or those with prior criminal records, which include Vietnamese. Read full story

- Vietnam is ready to join international efforts in promoting dialogue and seeking peaceful solutions to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, said Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.

Hang made the statement at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on February 13 in response to a query about Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s proposal to select Vietnam as a venue for activities to seek solutions to conflicts while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos, Switzerland, last month. Read full story

- Vietnam's policy is to further facilitate the entry, exit, and residence of foreign nationals, thereby contributing to the development of the tourism industry in particular and the country's socio-economic growth in general, said Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.

At the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on February 13, Hang answered a reporter's question regarding Vietnam’s visa exemption policy for certain countries, saying that earlier this year, the Vietnamese Government had issued a resolution granting a 45-day visa exemption upon entry for citizens of Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic traveling to Vietnam for tourism purpose.Read full story

- Vietnam hopes to work with the US on practical and effective cooperation in such areas as health care, environment, climate change, disaster relief, and war aftermath alleviation to ensure long-term, stable bilateral ties in line with their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and stainable development.

The statement was made by Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang at the ministry’s regular press conference on February 13. Read full story

- More than 500 delegates have registered to attend the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2025 in person, including senior leaders from ASEAN countries and partner nations, regional and international experts, ambassadors, and high-ranking officials, representatives from international organisations, businesses, local authorities, and domestic and foreign journalists.

The information was revealed during a press conference held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on February 13. Read full story

- The Department of Public Security of central province of Ha Tinh, in coordination with relevant agencies, have arrested 30 individuals involved in a large-scale fraud operation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Additionally, with support from the Philippine police and the security forces at Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai International Airports, the police detained 26 more suspects as they attempted to enter Vietnam./. Read full story