An ASEAN flag hoisting ceremony was held in Hanoi on August 7 to mark the 53rd founding anniversary of the association and 25 years of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang highlighted Vietnam’s viewpoint that all activities in its Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos without permission of the country are void and not conducive to peace, security and stability in the East Sea, and that Vietnam resolutely protests those.

The National Assembly of Vietnam has proposed organizing the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) in the form of a teleconference at Hanoi’s International Convention Centre on September 8-10, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said on August 6.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held phone talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on August 4 to discuss promoting bilateral ties as well as cooperation at regional and global forums.

The National Election Council (NEC) convened the first session in Hanoi on August 3 to make preparations for the elections of deputies to 15th legislature and all-level people’s councils for 2021-26.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a one-day regular Cabinet meeting for July on August 3, which focused on seeking measures to fulfill socio-economic goals amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam will continue to fulfill its international commitments so that it can take full advantage of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and recover its economy amid a resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic.

Since its inception in 1967, ASEAN has successfully provided and maintained peace, prosperity and security in the region, allowing each member state to undertake national economic development, and to thrive and integrate within the region and into the global economy.

Vietnam attracted USD 3.15 billion in foreign direct investment and capital for share purchases in July, representing a rise of 79.8 percent against the same period last year and 76.2 percent against June, reported the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The fight against corruption in the recent time hasn’t been stagnant or slack but increasingly drastic and effective, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong said at the 18th session of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption in Hanoi on July 25.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 25 ordered tightened management of border gates from the north to the south to prevent illegal entry, following the confirmation of the first locally infected case of COVID-19 in Vietnam after 99 days without community transmission of the coronavirus.

Vietnam has been playing an active role in building a common community in ASEAN since it became a member of the bloc and has increased its stature in recent years, according to Dr Balazs Szanto from the Webster University Thailand.

Vietnam and China defined major tasks in the time ahead to beef up their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a sustainable way, during the 12th meeting of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation held in the form of teleconferencing on July 21.

In Vietnam’s capacity as the ASEAN Chair, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung on July 20 chaired an online inter-sectoral meeting of ASEAN senior officials to discuss orientations to building post-2025 ASEAN Community Vision.

Vietnam’s insurance market is expected to achieve a growth rate of more than 20 percent this year, according to Vietnam Report (VNR).

The Law Revising a Number of Articles of the Law on Foreigners’ Entry in, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam was passed on November 25 last year. It adds three new articles to and revises 17 articles of the 2014 version.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired an online meeting on July 16 between permanent Government members and localities on speeding up public investment disbursement.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 15 issued a statement, saying that Vietnam welcomes other countries’ stance on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue in line with international law.