Leaders send condolences to Philippines over storm losses
Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc have cabled messages of condolences to Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte over human and property losses caused by storm Usman.
Baao town in Camarines Sur province of the Philippines has been inundated by storm Usman. (Source: Getty Images)
Hanoi (VNA) – PartyGeneral Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc have cabled messages of condolences to Philippine President Rodrigo RoaDuterte over human and property losses caused by storm Usman.
In their letters, the Vietnamese leaders expressed their belief that Philippinepeople will swiftly overcome the disaster consequences and soon stabilise theirlives.
The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh alsosent his sympathies to Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Lopez Locsin.
The death toll from landslides and devastating floods in the centralPhilippines triggered by storm Usman climbed to 85, and 20 people were missingas rescuers slowly reached cut-off communities, officials said on January 2.
The casualties, including youngchildren, were mostly killed when their homes collapsed in landslides afterdays of heavy rain in several provinces in the central Philippines, saidRicardo Jalad, executive director of the national disaster agency.
If the rescue forces do not recover themissing or find them dead, the number of deaths will be 105, Jalad said.
Usman swept through the centralPhilippine islands on December 29, bringing heavy rains that triggeredlandslides and flooding in the Bicol and eastern Visayas regions.
Bicol, with a population of 5.8million, was the hardest hit, with 68 killed in intense rains and landslides.Damage to agriculture in Bicol, which produces rice and corn, was estimated at342 million pesos (6.5 million USD).
Philippine officials put threeprovinces under a “state of calamity” to give them access to emergency funds.-VNA
A tropical depression is forming and heading to the East Sea on December 29 afternoon, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off southern Mindanao island, the Philippines, on December 29, raising fears of dangerous tsunami waves, but after about two hours, the tsunami alert was withdrawn.
Four people were killed in landslides and thousand others fled their homes after tropical low pressure Usman swept through the central Philippine islands on December 29.
As many as 68 people in the Philippines were killed in Storm Usman while floods and landslides triggered by the storm forced thousands of others to flee.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Over the past five decades, the Vietnam - Angola relationship has grown steadily, marked by political trust and close bonds between their Parties, States, Governments, and peoples, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.
President Luong Cuong called on the two countries to join hands to promote South – South cooperation, contribute to building a fair and equal global political and economic order, safeguard independence and sovereignty, and promote extensive and substantive international solidarity and cooperation.
President Luong Cuong called on the community to remain united, integrate well into local society, adhere to local laws, and continue contributing to both Angola’s development and Vietnam – Angola relations.
Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Angola Carolina Cerqueira agreed to continue strengthening political trust, boost high-level delegation exchanges via all channels, including the parliamentary one, and create favourable legal conditions for bilateral cooperation.
Baao town in Camarines Sur province of the Philippines has been inundated by storm Usman. (Source: Getty Images) 
