Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

- The Political Bureau, led by Party General Secretary To Lam, on August 21 held working sessions with the Standing Boards of the Hanoi Party Committee and the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee to give opinions on the draft documents and personnel plans to be submitted to the Party Congresses of the two cities’ Party organisations for the 2025 – 2030 term.

General Secretary Lam stressed that the meetings stemmed from the crucial role and importance of these two localities to the whole country, with the purpose to ensure the documents and personnel meet the vision and development orientations in the new context, which presents many changes in development space, resources, and driving forces. As a result, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can develop in a manner commensurate with their roles, positions, potential, and strengths, as well as those of the nation as a whole.Read full story

- Vietnamese Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on August 21 paid courtesy calls on General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone as part of her two-day official visit to Laos.

At the meetings, Xuan expressed her delight to pay an official visit to Laos and extended her sincere thanks for the warm reception. She conveyed the best regards and wishes of good health from Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the Lao leaders. Read full story

- Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Quang Phuong held talks with Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, in Beijing on August 21, within the framework of his working visit to China.

At the talks, both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in relations between the two Parties and two countries in recent times, including exchanges and cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the NPC of China. They also had in-depth discussions and reached common understanding on measures to further strengthen and deepen relations between the two legislative bodies, as well as between the two nations in the time ahead. Read full story

- Chairman of the Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee Pham Duc An and leaders of local departments and agencies on August 21 paid a courtesy call on King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck of Bhutan, who are on a state visit to Vietnam.

The official warmly welcomed the King and the Bhutanese delegation to Quang Ninh province. While presenting an overview of Quang Ninh’s socio-economic development, he affirmed that the province is among the leading localities in reform and innovation in the Red River Delta, serving as a key growth engine of northern Vietnam. Read full story

- Vietnam–Republic of Korea (RoK) relations have entered a new era of cooperation across all fields, extending beyond economy, according to Kwon Sung Taek, Chairman of the Korea–Vietnam Economic and Cultural Association (KOVECA).

In an interview with ajunews.com on the recent state visit to the RoK of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam, Kwon said the visit could be regarded as the most successful to date, noting its special significance as General Secretary Lam was the first foreign leader to visit the RoK since President Lee Jae Myung took office. Read full story

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Sydney, on August 21 hosted the “Vietnam – Australia Forum on trade promotion, cooperation in training and human resources development in agriculture and environment.”

The event took place during a working visit to Australia by the ministry’s delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam, with representatives from Vietnamese training institutions and enterprises. Read full story

- Ministers of Law, Justice, and Attorneys-General from 10 ASEAN member states on August 21 adopted a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to promoting international commercial arbitration and mediation as tools for economic development, legal cooperation and expanding access to justice at the ASEAN Law Forum 2025 in Kuala Lumpur.

The joint statement emphasised the importance of harmonising arbitration and mediation frameworks across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in alignment with international standards./. Read full story