The Politburo appointed a new acting Health Minister and Deputy Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee on Friday, replacing the two former officials who have been arrested for their involvement in the COVID-19 test kit scandal.

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang on July 15 received Giuseppe Cerasoli, Deputy General Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held phone talks with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky on July 15, during which he underlined that Vietnam always seeks to promote its relations with traditional friends, including the Czech Republic – one of the country’s priority partners in the Central Eastern Europe.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 15 offered incense to President Ho Chi Minh at a temple in Luong Tam commune, Long My district in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang, and inspected the Lung Ngoc Hoang Natural Reserve in Phuc Hiep district.

The steering committee for the strategy on building and perfecting a rule-of-law socialist State till 2030 with a vision towards 2045 held a working session with the Party Delegations of the Vietnam Lawyers Association (VLA) and the Vietnam Bar Federation (VBF) in Hanoi on July 15 to collect feedback on the project.

Tran Sy Thanh has been relieved of the post of Secretary of the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the State Audit Office of Vietnam to work as Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee for the 2020-2025 tenure, according to the Politburo’s decision announced on July 15.

The Japanese government wants to promote comprehensive cooperation with Da Nang and central localities in Vietnam, Japanese Consul General Yakabe Yoshinori in Da Nang has affirmed.

The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission considered disciplinary measures against Party organisations and members for wrongdoings during its 17th session in Hanoi on July 13 and 14.

The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission convened its 17th meeting from July 13-14, discussing disciplinary measures against a number of leaders and officials of Phú Yên and Gia Lai provinces.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 15 chaired the second meeting of the steering committee for building a project reviewing the resolution of the 11th-tenure Party Central Committee’s 8th session on the Fatherland safeguarding strategy.

Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan received Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the Western Pacific Takeshi Kasai in Hanoi on July 15.

Đào Hồng Lan, former Secretary of Bắc Ninh Party Committee, will serve as the Acting Minister of Health, as the former minister is under arrest for his role in COVID-19 test price gouging.

Dao Hong Lan, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Bac Ninh provincial Party Committee and head of the province’s National Assembly deputies' delegation, has been appointed Secretary of the Party delegation to the Ministry of Health and Acting Minister of Health.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoàng Xuân Chiến hosted a reception in Hà Nội on Thursday for newly-accredited Egyptian Ambassador to Việt Nam Amal Abdel Kader Elmorsi.

Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Thảo, Head of the Vietnamese delegation to the EU, presented his credentials to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 15

Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thể and Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport Viengsavath Siphandone reviewed the partnership between the two ministries in the last two years.

A delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) paid a working visit to France and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva from July 7 to 14 to promote cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

The European Union (EU) always attaches importance to its relationship with Vietnam, considering the country an important partner of the EU in the region, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 14 for newly-accredited Egyptian Ambassador to Vietnam Amal Abdel Kader Elmorsi.

Newly-appointed Ambassador of Vietnam to Italy and Cyprus Duong Hai Hung presented his credentials to President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades in Nicosia on July 13.