Strengthening Vietnam–Laos friendship

Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, extended congratulations to the Lao Party and State on the successful organisation of the significant anniversary events, which saw broad participation from the public and international friends.

Representatives of the Permanent Missions of Vietnam and Laos to the United Nations at their meeting. (Photo: VNA)
Representatives of the Permanent Missions of Vietnam and Laos to the United Nations at their meeting. (Photo: VNA)

New York (VNA) - A ceremony marking the 50th National Day of Laos was held at the Permanent Mission of Laos to the United Nations in New York on December 9.

Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, extended congratulations to the Lao Party and State on the successful organisation of the significant anniversary events, which saw broad participation from the public and international friends.

He commended the notable socio-economic development achievements of Laos and its progress in international integration, expressing confidence that Laos’s diplomatic successes supported by the Permanent Mission to the UN will further enhance the country’s standing on the global stage.

Ambassador Thongphane Savanphet, Permanent Representative of Laos to the UN, shared his appreciation for the sentiments from the Vietnamese diplomat and his colleagues. He thanked Vietnam for its wholehearted support to Laos in national construction, defence, and socio-economic development over the years.

He expressed his wish for continued close coordination between the Lao and Vietnamese missions in New York, and for joint efforts to promote ASEAN unity and its role within the UN.

The two diplomats expressed their satisfaction with the outcomes of the recent state visit to Laos by Party General Secretary To Lam, as well as the key results of the high-level meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the 48th session of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee. These developments were seen as valuable contributions to deepening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries./.

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.