Draft documents of 14th National Party Congress: Harnessing intellect, aspirations for national development

Dr. Hong Ha, an ethnologist in France and Vietnamese Language Ambassador abroad for 2025, commended the drafts' vision of “developing human resources and culture as a foundation and driving force for sustainable national growth”, calling it a strategic direction that highlights culture’s essential role in development.

An overseas Vietnamese youth delegation offers incense to the Hung Kings at the Hung Kings Temple Special National Historical Site in Phu Tho province. (Photo: VNA)
An overseas Vietnamese youth delegation offers incense to the Hung Kings at the Hung Kings Temple Special National Historical Site in Phu Tho province. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - As the 14th National Party Congress is approaching, overseas Vietnamese worldwide have been actively contributing opinions to its draft documents, reflecting their attachment to the homeland and their strong desire to contribute intellect and experience to the country’s development.

Dr. Hong Ha, an ethnologist in France and Vietnamese Language Ambassador abroad for 2025, commended the drafts' vision of “developing human resources and culture as a foundation and driving force for sustainable national growth”, calling it a strategic direction that highlights culture’s essential role in development.

She emphasised that with more than 6 million Vietnamese living overseas, a systematic and breakthrough approach is needed to preserve cultural identity. Teaching and learning the Vietnamese language abroad must be considered a strategic mission - the very roots of the nation’s culture, Ha said.

Ha proposed increasing investment in modern Vietnamese-language curricula suitable for young people raised overseas, along with the use of digital tools such as interactive games and online platforms. She also suggested training and certifying Vietnamese-language teachers abroad.

In parallel, she advocated building a “national digital cultural ecosystem”, including a digital library, 3D history museum and multimedia archives, enabling young overseas Vietnamese to explore their heritage easily and vividly.

Sharing a similar view, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, a Vietnamese expatriate in Laos, said that preserving and promoting Vietnamese culture abroad not only nurtures national pride but also strengthens the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos. She urged the Party and State to adopt more practical policies to promote the Vietnamese language and culture, encouraging youths' participation in Vietnamese classes, cultural exchanges and traditional festivals to deepen their understanding of their roots.

Nguyen Duy Anh, Principal of GAG Japanese Language Academy and President of the Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka, Japan, suggested expanding exchange and volunteer programmes, as well as start-up and research camps for young overseas Vietnamese. He noted that this generation, educated in modern international environments yet connected to their Vietnamese heritage, embodies the nation’s aspiration for progress and contributions.

Dr Tran Hai Linh, Chairman of the Vietnam–Korea Business and Investment Association, expressed his strong support for the drafts' orientation on comprehensive, creative diplomacy and international integration. With over 6 million Vietnamese living in 130 countries and territories, the overseas community represents a strategic resource for people-to-people diplomacy, connecting Vietnam to the world through trust, culture, and intellect, he said.

Linh emphasised that the overseas Vietnamese businesses can boost the competitiveness of domestic enterprises by connecting markets and partners, promoting technology transfer, facilitating digital transformation and green growth, and supporting innovative start-ups and high-quality service sectors.

Pham Khanh Nam, a Vietnamese expatriate in Germany, underlined that overseas Vietnamese, amounting to over 200,000 in Germany alone, are a vital source of soft power and a bridge for friendship and knowledge exchange between Vietnam and the world. He proposed establishing flexible coordination mechanisms between diplomatic missions and overseas Vietnamese associations, and developing a global network of “people’s ambassadors” to promote Vietnam’s image as a modern, innovative and humane nation./.

VNA

See more

Ministries and sectors are requested to pay special attention to promoting election publicity and legal education. - Illustrative image (baochinhphu.vn)

Government sets out coordinated plan for 2026 elections

The plan also aims to ensure that the elections are conducted in a democratic, equal and law-abiding manner, while being safe and cost-effective, truly becoming a nationwide civic event, thus contributing to strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the state apparatus and building a socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam of the people, by the people and for the people.

President Ho Chi Minh’s image featured on ballots at Communist Party of Uruguay congress (Photo: VNA)

Image of President Ho Chi Minh appears on ballots at Uruguay Communist Party congress

Among the ballots used at the congress were three featuring posters of President Ho Chi Minh and one bearing an image depicting the Vietnamese people engaged in production during the period of resistance against foreign aggression. The latter also carried the inscriptions “80th Anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day” and “33rd National Congress of the PCU".

Flowers are laid in memory of victims of the shooting on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on December 15, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Vietnam sends sympathy to Australia following Sydney shooting

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 15 sent a message of sympathy to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese over a shooting that occurred on December 14 at Bondi beach in Sydney, New South Wales, resulting in multiple civilian casualties.

Party General Secretary To Lam and NA deputies are welcomed by locals in Hung Yen on December 15, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Party leader meets with voters in Hung Yen province

Responding to Hung Yen voters’ recommendations, Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed the consistent principle of placing people at the centre, safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, and ensuring that all policies and decisions serve the people.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung holds phone talks with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro on December 15. (Photo : VNA)

Vietnamese, Philippine foreign ministers hold phone talks

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and his Philippine counterpart Maria Theresa Lazaro agreed to continue promoting efforts to elevate bilateral ties to a new height, including stepping up high-level and all-level delegation exchanges across Party, State, National Assembly and people-to-people channels.

The NA Standing Committee's meeting on electoral affairs on December 15. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

NA Standing Committee discusses electoral affairs

The NA Standing Committee adopted a resolution on the first adjustment to the structure, composition, and number of candidates nominated for the 16th NA, and approved a plan to supervise and inspect the election.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chairs the fourth meeting of the National Election Council on December 15, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Election preparations on track ahead of upcoming polls: NA Chairman

Highlighting key positive aspects of the preparation process so far, the top legislator pointed to the strong, coordinated engagement of agencies from the central to local levels, swift yet methodical progress, particularly in finalising documents, developing organisational plans and drafting resolutions on electoral units.

Frigate 015 – Tran Hung Dao and the delegation of the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) on December 14 leave Jinhae Naval Base. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Frigate 015 – Tran Hung Dao concludes visit to RoK

During the visit, officers and sailors of the two navies toured Frigate 015 and the RoK Navy’s Munmu the Great destroyer, shared experience in training and long-duration deployments at sea, and took part in sports exchanges. The VPN delegation also hosted a banquet aboard Frigate 015 for senior officers and sailors of the host navy.