President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his spouse Tran Nguyet Thu, and a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Party and State arrived in Vientiane on August 9 morning, begining a two-day official friendship visit to Laos at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his spouse Tran Nguyet Thu, and a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Party and State left Hanoi on August 9 for Vientiane for a two-day official friendship visit to Laos.

President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc will begin an official visit to Laos on Monday at the invitation of Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos.

Through global ups and downs over the past more than five decades, the role and mettle of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been reinforced and sharpened, making the bloc more complete and become stronger, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn has stressed in an article on the occasion of the association’s 54th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967-2021).

The upcoming official friendly visit to Laos by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse will reaffirm Vietnam’s strong and comprehensive support to the process of national reform, defence and construction of Laos.

The 28th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF-28) took place virtually on August 6 as part of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM 54) and Related Meetings.

ASEAN and European Union (EU) member countries agreed to ensure a peaceful, secure and stable environment in the region, creating favourable conditions for countries to focus efforts on coping with the COVID-19 pandemic at the ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting held online on Friday.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on August 6 took part in the virtual ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting as part of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha, on August 6, exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 45th founding anniversary of the Vietnam – Thailand diplomatic relations (August 6, 1976 - 2021).

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of Chile exchanged information and experience in different spheres at an online workshop on August 6.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn suggested the Mekong region and Japan prioritise the implementation of two important goals that are full control of the COVID-19 pandemic and sustainable and inclusive economic recovery.

A webinar titled “The 45th Anniversary of Vietnam-Thailand Relations: Taking Stock and Moving Forward” was organised on August 6 on the occasion of the anniversary.

Border provinces of Vietnam and China on August 5 agreed to further step up cooperation in verifying and returning illegal migrants during their talks held at Quang Ninh’s Mong Cai International Border Gate.

Head of the National Assembly (NA) Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha had an online meeting with United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjabana on August 5 to discuss measures to bolster cooperation in implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Vietnam.

She stressed Việt Nam’s stance of “independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, diversification, and promoting ties with partners, especially key partners,” in response to questions from the media during Thursday press briefing about the frequent visits from high-ranking US officials to the country suggesting a gathering of forces against China amid US-China’s escalating strategic competition.

The Party Central Committee's Inspection Commission has proposed punishment on seven centrally-managed officials and many other leaders and officials of State enterprises in the first half of this year.

The Ministry of Public Security's ties with Thai agencies like the Royal Thai Police, National Security Council, and Ministry of Justice have been sustained and consolidated, bringing about practical outcomes, said Minister To Lam while receiving the new Thai Ambassador to Vietnam, Nikorndej Blankura in Hanoi on August 5.

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on August 5 evening to celebrate Switzerland's 730th National Day (1291-2021) and the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Switzerland diplomatic relations (1971-2021) with the attendance of Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis.

Vietnam’s ideas and proposals at the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings have been supported by ASEAN member states and partners thanks to their appropriateness, activeness and practicality, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang told the ministry’s online press briefing on August 5.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received visiting Swiss Vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5, during which he thanked the Swiss Government for the timely and valuable help when Vietnam is coping with a resurgence of COVID-19.