Party General Secretary and President Nguyen PhuTrong chaired a meeting of the sub-committee in charge of the personnel affairs for the 13th National Party Congress in Hanoi on August 13. ​

Vietnam and Australia on August 23 agreed to raise bilateral trade from nearly 7.8 billion USD in 2018 to 10 billion USD next year.

Vietnam and Australia on August 23 issued a joint statement on the occasion of the official visit to Vietnam by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Ho Chi Minh City is willing to share experience with Cuba in economic management and market economy mechanisms, Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vo Thi Dung has said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc had a meeting with US Congressman Ted Yoho in Washington on August 22 where the two officials exchanged views on various cooperation areas of Vietnam-US relations as well as regional and global issues of mutual concern.

The eighth meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group took place at the Vatican on August 21-22.

The United States Department of State said on August 22 that it is deeply concerned about China’s interference in Vietnam’s longstanding oil and gas activities in Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claim.

Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung is leading an inter-sectoral delegation on a working trip to the Vatican from August 20 - 23.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing relations with South Africa during a reception in Hanoi on August 22 for South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula.

Vietnam and South Africa agreed to maintain the defence policy dialogue which they consider as a strategic mechanism to promote the bilateral defence partnership and the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed the draft socio-economic strategy for 2021-2030 compiled by the sub-committee on socio-economic affairs for the 13th National Party Congress at the sub-committee’s fifth meeting on August 22.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has suggested, together with Indonesia, establishing a network of Southeast Asian climate change-adapting cities to share experience and resources in dealing with challenges caused by urbanisation and climate change.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received new Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie in Hanoi on August 22, voicing his belief that with her knowledge and experience, the diplomat will help bilateral ties grow even more strongly in the years to come.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on August 22 visited Quang Ninh province’s mountainous commune of Dong Son where over 98 percent of local population are Dao ethnic minority people.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his spouse began their three-day official to Vietnam on August 22 at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Laos Bounpone Bouttanavong paid a working trip to the central coastal city of Da Nang on August 21, as part of his Vietnam visit from August 19 – 24.

The visit to Vietnam by Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his spouse from August 22-24 is expected to contribute to promoting the relationship between the two countries effectively and practically.

Vietnam and Cambodia signed a cooperation agreement covering specific collaboration programmes in 28 areas following the 17th meeting of their Joint Committee on Cooperation in Economy, Culture, Science and Technology.

A delegation from Ho Chi Minh City led by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on August 21 started their visits to Singapore and Indonesia, aiming to deepen ties between Vietnam, HCM City and the two Southeast Asian countries.

Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Truong Thi Mai has been on a visit to Qatar from August 17-21 during which she met with Qataris officials to discuss measures to boost bilateral relations.