Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính had separate meetings with former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo on Monday within the framework of his trip to Japan for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.

There should be a focus on promoting exchanges between friendship parliamentarians’ groups of the two countries, young lawmakers, as well as creating favourable conditions for over 520,000 Vietnamese living in Japan, including tax exemption for Vietnamese workers.

President Vo Van Thuong hosted a reception in Hanoi on December 18 for visiting Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other ASEAN leaders met Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko in Tokyo on December 18 within the framework of his trip to Japan for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and bilateral activities.

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee wrapped up its 28th meeting in Hanoi on December 18 after three days of sitting.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held separate meetings with President of the House of Councillors of Japan Otsuji Hidehisa and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nukaga Fukushiro, as part of his ongoing trip to Japan for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and bilateral activities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 18 held the 21st national conference on foreign affairs, with the aim of promoting the external work in service of local sustainable development.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen on December 18 visited and extended Christmas greetings to Nguyen Nang, Archbishop of the city’s Archdiocese and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the first summit of the Asia Zero Emission Community in Tokyo on December 18, proposing some cooperation areas to be focused on to help reach the targets of AZEC.

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 18 to present Lao orders and medals to individuals from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s Government Committees for Religious Affairs and Ethnic Minority Affairs who made outstanding contributions to promoting the Vietnam – Laos friendship.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had separate meetings with former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo on December 18 within the framework of his trip to Japan for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.

Việt Nam has made vigorous efforts, including new approaches and mindset and methodology, to fulfill the commitments of achieving net zero by 2050 the country has announced at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

The elevation of the Việt Nam-Japan relations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World” announced during a recent official visit to Japan by Vietnamese President Võ Văn Thưởng opened up a new chapter in the friendship and cooperation between Việt Nam and Japan, with a forward-looking vision for the next 50 years based on trust and sincerity

President VoVan Thuong examined the training and combat readiness at the Special-task Armin Hanoi on December 18, on the occasion of the 79th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 - 2023) and the All People’s National Defense Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2023).

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

Commenting on the need to amend the Law on Management of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools, NA Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee Lê Tấn Tới said among 40,000 crimes on weapons and explosives, more than 58 per cent were linked to the use of knives and primitive weapons to commit extremely serious crimes.

In his address at the 21st National Foreign Affairs Conference in Hà Nội on Monday with the theme "Promoting the Pioneering Role of Foreign Affairs to Serve the Sustainable Development of Localities," Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn said profound changes had happened in the global and regional landscape since the 20th National Foreign Affairs Conference.

Ho Chi Minh City and the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s North Chungcheong province on December 18 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral friendship and cooperation.

President Vo Van Thuong examined the training and combat readiness at the Special-task Arm in Hanoi on December 18, on the occasion of the 79th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 - 2023) and the All People’s National Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2023).

The fourth joint peacekeeping exercise between Vietnam and India - VINBAX 2023 which is taking place from December 11-21 in Hanoi, has contributed to fostering the friendship and sound defence cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.