The 14th-tenure National Assembly opened the ninth session in Hanoi on May 20 morning.

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh presented a proposal from the State President to the National Assembly for ratifying the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, at the ninth session of the 14th NA in Hanoi on May 20.

Foreigners entering the country under visa waiver programs, e-visas or tourism visas after March 1 will be automatically given stay permit extension until June 30 free of charge.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the 73rd World Health Assembly which was held in the form of video conference on May 18-19 at the invitation of General Director of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Vietnamese businesses reeling under financial stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic have become vulnerable to foreign takeovers and need the Government’s support, according to experts.

Vietnam has boosted exports to new markets over the last couple of months as part of solutions to tackle production and business difficulties and promote overseas shipments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has said.

The 12th plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee (PCC) wrapped up in Hanoi on May 14 after four days of working. All agenda items were completed.

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 cases on May 14 morning, marking it four weeks in a row without any community transmissions, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Members of the National Assembly Committee of Legal Affairs on May 12 agreed to a new identification system to replace household residency books.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong has required members of the Party Central Committee (PCC) to uphold their sense of responsibility and objectivity in addressing issues tabled for discussion at the 12th PCC plenum, especially personnel work.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called for greater efforts to restart the national economy with the aim of achieving a GDP growth rate of over 5 percent and keeping inflation under 4 percent this year.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc appreciated the co-operation between Vietnam and the US in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic during phone talks with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement step up cooperation and share experience at all levels and in all spheres during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) released a document on Monday opposing China’s issuance of regulations banning fishing in the East Sea (South China Sea).

Vietnam’s export value saw a year-on-year increase of nearly 5 percent to an estimated USD 82.94 billion in the first four months of this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the General Statistics Office.

Even before Vietnam became affected by COVID-19 pandemic, poverty, economic growth and environmental issues were top concerns of citizens, according to the 2019 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) report released on April 28 in Hanoi.

Vietnam attracted USD 12.33 billion in foreign direct investment in the first four months of 2020, a year-on-year decrease of 15.5 percent due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong recently wrote an article that highlights some issues that need special attention in the personnel preparation for the approaching 13th National Party Congress.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on April 23 affirmed that Vietnam will enhance its cooperation with other countries, including the US, as well as the World Health Organisation and the international community in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam recorded no new cases of COVID-19 on April 24 morning, making it eight days in a row since April 16 without new infections, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.