Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for swift and humane action to resolve the 2,981 stalled projects that are tying up critical resources while speaking at a national conference in Hanoi on July 17.
The projects, mired in legal and administrative snags, drag on the economy, with issues ranging from land use, management and planning disputes to potential misconduct and bureaucratic gridlock. While some projects are under the oversight of central authorities, the majority fall to local authorities to untangle. Read full story
– PM Pham Minh Chinh on July 17 called on FTSE Russell, a member of the London Stock Exchange Group, to continue partnering with the Vietnamese Government and regulators, offering practical recommendations to upgrade Vietnam’s stock market status from "frontier" to "emerging".

During a reception in Hanoi for FTSE Russell’s Global Head of Equity and Multi Asset Gerald Toledano, PM Chinh urged FTSE Russell to support Vietnam’s efforts by delivering objective and comprehensive assessments of its economy and capital markets, sharing international best practices, and aiding the building of a modern legal and regulatory framework. He also sought assistance in upgrading market infrastructure, training quality financial professionals, and creating an international financial hub to draw global capital. Read full story
– National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man has voiced strong support for deeper collaboration between the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) and the State Audit Organisation of Laos (SAO), calling for increased sharing of experience in corruption, wastefulness, and misconduct combat.
He urged the SAV and SAO to advance their 2025-2028 medium-term cooperation plan and the 2021-2030 strategy, asking for more exchanges of delegations and expertise, particularly in digital transformation and staff training. Read full story
– NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man on July 17 stressed the need for integrity, objectivity, and transparency in selecting candidates for the NA’s Party Committee for the 2025-2030 term.

Speaking at a conference in Hanoi to discuss preparations for the first Congress of the NA’s Party Organisation for the 2025-2030 tenure scheduled for September or October, Man said nominees must demonstrate political mettle, intellect, moral integrity, prestige and proven competence to fulfill the mission entrusted by the Party, the NA, and the people. Read full story
– NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam are scheduled to attend the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Switzerland, engage in bilateral activities there, and pay official visits to Morocco and Senegal from July 22 to 30. Read full story
– Regular delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels have positively contributed to strengthening the close-knit Vietnam – Cambodia relationship, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told a visiting delegation from the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on July 17.
The delegation, led by Secretary of State Ung Rachana, is in Hanoi for the 9th political consultation between the two foreign ministries. Read full story
– Vietnam and Azerbaijan have agreed on 17 potential cooperation areas with 58 specific activities for the 2025–2027 period, aiming to advance bilateral relations in a substantive, effective, and long-term manner.
The agreement was reached at the third meeting of the Vietnam – Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Committee on Economic – Trade and Scientific – Technical Cooperation, which took place in Hanoi on July 17. The session was co-chaired by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov. Read full story
– This year's National Day celebration on September 2 is an opportunity to express gratitude to international friends and progressive people around the world for their support and assistance – an important factor in the success of the August 1945 Revolution and Vietnam today, 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 July 17 in response to the media's query about Vietnam’s invitations to the defence ministers of Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, Cuba, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan to attend the celebration of the 80th National Day anniversary on September 2; and to five countries – Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, and Belarus – to send forces to participate in the parade at the celebration. Read full story
– Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on July 17 reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent position that all maritime disputes must be resolved by peaceful means, with full respect for diplomatic and legal processes, without the use or threat of force, and in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The diplomat was responding to a reporter's question regarding July 12, 2025, which marked the 9th anniversary of the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the East Sea arbitration case between the Philippines and China under Annex VII of UNCLOS. Read full story./.