Austria was one of the first western countries to set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam. Fifty years have passed since the establishment of the relationship, the two countries have enjoyed great strides in bilateral cooperation.

Hanoi is ready to support and create favorable conditions for cultural and economic exchanges to better mutual understanding between Vietnamese and French people to be held in the capital next year, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh.

Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man highly appreciated the positive developments in people-to-people exchanges between the two countries during a reception held on September 27 for delegates who are attending the fifth Vietnam-Laos People Friendship Festival in Vietnam's central province of Quang Tri.

A delegation from the National Assembly (NA) Committee for External Relations led by its deputy head Le Anh Tuan made a working trip to South Africa from September 22-28.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Germany from September 26-27 at the invitation of his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock.

The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc held bilateral meetings with a number of foreign leaders attending the State funeral held for the former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended a “thank-you” gathering held in Tokyo on September 27 afternoon for heads of delegations from countries who came to attend the state funeral of late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc held bilateral meetings with some foreign leaders attending the state funeral of late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in Tokyo on September 27.

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz's official visit to Vietnam from September 28 to October 2 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh will be the first visit outside Latin America since the Cuban PM took office in December 2019 and the first visit by a high-ranking Cuban leader to Vietnam since 2018.

Two Vietnamese firms – Viglacera and Thái Bình – have invested in five projects in Cuba, two of which have been put into operation with good results.

President Phúc thanked Shinzo Abe for his attention and important contributions to the Việt Nam-Japan relationship during his eight years as Prime Minister of Japan

Deputy Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) Doan Anh Tho held a working session with President of the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK) Isma Yatun in Jakarta on September 27 to discuss the audit of COVID-19 response and the role of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the fight against corruption.

Politburo member and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the state funeral of late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in Tokyo on September 27.

A teleconference to launch the National Assembly’s supervision plan 2023, under the co-chair of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong, wrapped up in Hanoi on September 27.

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the Vietnam-China Friendship Association of HCM City co-hosted a ceremony on September 27 to mark the 73rd National Day of China (October 1, 1949 – 2022).

Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for Judicial Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong worked with Chairwoman of the Legal Committee Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker and representatives of the Committee on Internal Affairs of the German Bundestag in Berlin on September 26 to discuss bilateral cooperation in lawmaking and legal enforcement.

The very limited number of flights bringing back Vietnamese citizens allowed into the country during COVID-19 border closures were criticized for being overly expensive and the lack of transparency in selection, application procedures.

The Party Central Committee’s Secretariat decided to expel two senior officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung, from the Party, during a meeting chaired by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on September 27.

Under strict instructions from Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, eight central and Central Highlands localities were ordered to put safety first and make sure people living in storm-hit areas were moved.