Vietnamese and Lao scholars discuss the role of culture and people to both countries’ renewal process and development at a seminar on December 27. (Illustrative photo: quocphongthudo.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese and Lao scholars discussed the role ofculture and people to both countries’ renewal process and development at a seminar on December 27.
The hybrid event was co-organised by the Ho Chi MinhNational Academy of Politics, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the LaoNational Academy of Politics and Public Administration, the Lao nationalinstitute of economic and social sciences.
Addressing the seminar, Prof., Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, aPolitburo member and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, underscored the significant role of culture and people in the comprehensivepartnership, solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos.
Culture must be placed on equal footing with economics,politics and social affairs, Thang said, adding that cultural and humandevelopment must go in harmony with economic and social growth.
He suggested both countries to foster comprehensive reformson education and training to keep up with the Fourth Industrial Revolution andinternational integration process. He also urged the two countries to cooperatewith each other in promoting human comprehensive development, with focus placedon inspiring young people on nationalism and raising them as responsiblecitizens.
Vietnam and Laos should also partner in preserving culturalheritages and accelerating technology innovation, and share experience andpractices in living with COVID-19, he said./.
Representatives of the Border Guard Command under the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam and the Border Guard Department of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army held a conference to review three years of implementing their cooperation agreement on December 11 in Huong Hoa district, the central province of Quang Tri.
The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is ready to support Laos in terms of manpower and resources as the COVID-19 pandemic has still been developing complicatedly in both countries, Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang has said.
A Lao official has highly valued Vietnam’s open foreign policy of diversification and multilateralisation of foreign relations and being a friend of all countries as seen in its support for other countries in the COVID-19 combat.
The first village police station built with support from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) in Laos was inaugurated in Nonghet village of Nonghet district, Xiengkhouang province, on December 25.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
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Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
The education sector has been one of the foundations playing a vital role in deepening Vietnam – New Zealand ties, said Prof. Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tien Giang province has addressed the housing needs of 608 poor, near-poor, and policy-beneficiary families facing housing difficulties. Of these, 370 houses were newly constructed while 238 underwent major renovations.
Dr Pham Minh Hung from the University of Economics and Business under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said the fixed-term contract mechanism is a correct step, liberating the entire system from traditional constraints which have long stood in the way of innovation.
The partnership will focus on studying and recommending LRT routes that connect the city’s transport network with urban development zones, industrial parks, and TOD areas. The research will cover Thu Dau Mot city and surrounding areas, with completion scheduled before August 15, 2025.
Media must not only serve as a channel for information but also act as a vanguard in shaping public opinion, combating misinformation, upholding the Party’s ideological principles, and reinforcing unity between Vietnam and Laos.
In Vietnam, the voluntary blood donation movement was first launched on January 24, 1994. In 2008, the Prime Minister established the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation.
Currently, 20 Vietnamese citizens remain in Iran, including embassy staff and personnel. All are safe, mentally stable, and in regular contact with the embassy.
A VietnamPlus survey of 764 young people shows that 83.9% of Gen Z use smartphones to read news, only 12% use computers, and the rest access content via tablets.
GVB Startup 2025 attracted the participation of nearly 150 individuals and organisations from across Vietnam. The event seeks to promote bold and ambitious startup ideas and projects, contributing to the future of global innovation, and supporting startups through the provision of resources, networking opportunities, and market insights.
AI could not replace human judgment in verifying information and sensitive political events, and that humans remain the final gatekeepers of content, said Leonid Kovachich, head of the Asian department at Sputnik's international broadcasting division.
A veteran journalist of Argentina has praised the modern evolution of Vietnam’s press, which now serves a dual purpose: introducing Vietnam to the world while bringing global perspectives to domestic audiences.
The court announced that Quyet had submitted a written request to be tried in absentia, citing serious health issues. According to an official statement from Hospital 19/8, the defendant is suffering from multiple illnesses, experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath, with doctors warning of a “very high risk of death.”
A senior Party official highlighted the VNA’s consistent role over the past eight decades, noting that it remains a mainstream, uninterrupted, timely, accurate, and authoritative source of news that helps shape public opinion, strengthen public trust, and safeguard the ideological foundation of the Party.
Vietnamese and Lao scholars discuss the role of culture and people to both countries’ renewal process and development at a seminar on December 27. (Illustrative photo: quocphongthudo.vn) 
