| Viet Nam News Today (Oct. 21) notable headlines Top Vietnamese leader concludes state visit to Denmark Viet Nam, US step up cooperation on search and identification of martyrs' remains Viet Nam outlines four priority themes for APEC Finance Ministers’ Process 2027 Viet Nam, Belgium expand cooperation, tap trade, investment potential Super Typhoon Champi reaches Category 5 strength, set to avoid East Sea Top Vietnamese leader begins official visits to EU and Belgium Viet Nam steps up stock market reforms following FTSE Russell upgrade Seminar calls for long-term support for Agent Orange/dioxin victims Autumn Economic Forum to connect resources for new growth drivers in Viet Nam |
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| Denmark's King Frederik X and Queen Mary host a farewell ceremony for Party General Secretary and President Lam and his spouse at Amalienborg Palace. (Photo: VNA) |
Top Vietnamese leader concludes state visit to Denmark
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation departed Copenhagen at noon on October 21 (local time), concluding a state visit to Denmark before leaving for official visits to the European Union and Belgium.
While in Denmark, from October 19-21, the leader met with King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark, Parliament Speaker Henrik Frandsen, and held talks with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. He also delivered a policy speech at the University of Copenhagen, received leaders of several major Danish corporations, attended and addressed the Viet Nam-Denmark Business Forum, met with the Denmark-Viet Nam Friendship Association, and visited the Lynetteholm artificial peninsula project, among other activities.
During the meetings, both sides affirmed the significance of the visit as the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1971-2026), describing it as a demonstration of strong political trust and a shared determination to elevating bilateral ties to a new stage of development.
General Secretary and President Lam and PM Frederiksen stressed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971, the Comprehensive Partnership in 2013, and the Green Strategic Partnership in 2023, Viet Nam and Denmark have steadily expanded their friendship and multifaceted cooperation on the basis of trust, equality and mutual respect.
On that basis, the two leaders agreed to adopt a Joint Statement on the establishment of the Viet Nam-Denmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations and creating a new political framework and fresh momentum for deeper, more substantive cooperation for the long-term benefit of the two peoples, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development in their respective regions and the wider world.
The two sides also agreed to continue making effective use of the Green Strategic Partnership by placing energy transition, climate change response and sustainable development among their long-term strategic cooperation priorities, cited VNA.
They consented to make science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation new drivers of bilateral cooperation, while expanding collaboration in research and technology application and transfer in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, biotechnology, biomedicine, digital technology and emerging industries.
They also agreed to strengthen links among universities, research institutes, innovation centres and businesses of the two countries, while promoting the development of a highly skilled workforce.
The two sides agreed to step up cooperation in healthcare, the circular economy, smart urban development and climate change adaptation, while expanding cooperation in culture, education, tourism, local-level exchanges and people-to-people ties.
They affirmed their commitment to enhancing coordination and mutual support at the United Nations and other multilateral forums, upholding multilateralism and respect for international law, and promoting cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU.
On the occasion, General Secretary and President Lam witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between ministries, agencies and businesses of the two countries.
As part of the state visit, King Frederik X on the morning of October 19 (local time) conferred upon General Secretary and President Lam the Order of the Elephant, Denmark's highest honor reserved for members of the Royal Family and foreign heads of state.
At noon the same day, the King and Queen Mary hosted a farewell ceremony for General Secretary and President Lam, his spouse, and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation at Amalienborg Palace.
Viet Nam, US step up cooperation on search and identification of martyrs' remains
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Gau, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and US Ambassador to Viet Nam Jennifer Wicks discussed measures to promote bilateral cooperation in searching, gathering, and identifying the remains of fallen soldiers during their meeting in Hanoi on October 21.
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Gau welcomed Ambassador Jennifer Wicks and the delegates on the occasion of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense organizing the international scientific conference on empirical practices and technology advances in the identification of martyrs' remains through DNA testing, and expressed his appreciation for the US side's attention and coordination in this endeavor.
Gau suggested that the US side help connect experienced experts and organizations, notably the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) and the University of Georgia (USA), to collaborate with Vietnamese experts and scientists on practical issues currently facing Viet Nam.
These include testing degraded bone samples with low DNA content, ensuring result reliability, and linking information across all stages from searching and gathering to DNA testing, comparison, and final identification.
In the coming time, both sides should coordinate to identify actionable areas, with a focus on pairing scientific exchange with training, technology transfer, and practical support at Viet Nam's specialized facilities.
Emphasizing that settling the consequences of war is a critical political task for Viet Nam, reflecting responsibility and deep sentiment toward those who sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland and their families, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Gau expressed his hope that US support will be materialized through practical activities tailored to Viet Nam's needs and priorities.
This will contribute to enhancing the long-term capacity of Viet Nam's specialized agencies, particularly within the context of Viet Nam carrying out the “500-day-and-night campaign to intensify the search, collection, and identification of martyrs' remains.”
He affirmed that Viet Nam will continue to coordinate closely and provide the most favorable conditions for the search for US personnel missing in action (MIA) from the war, while calling on the US to continue sharing information, documents, and memorabilia related to Vietnamese soldiers who fell or went missing during the war, according to VOV.
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| Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Gau talks with US Ambassador to Viet Nam Jennifer Wicks (Photo: qdnd.vn) |
Highlighting war legacy remediation as a key area of bilateral cooperation that both sides continue to boost, Ambassador Jennifer Wicks affirmed that in her capacity, she will continue to support and connect US agencies and partners with the Ministry of National Defense of Viet Nam in this field, as well as strengthen coordination within the framework of the initiative on searching for missing Vietnamese wartime personnel, in line with Viet Nam's priorities.
Viet Nam outlines four priority themes for APEC Finance Ministers’ Process 2027
Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan announced four priority themes for the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process 2027 under Viet Nam's chairmanship immediately after the 33rd APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting wrapped up in Hong Kong (China) on October 21.
The announcement highlights the country's strategic economic orientation and strong commitment to regional cooperation.
Evaluating the overall results, Minister Ngo Van Tuan affirmed that the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting 2026 achieved highly strategic and substantive outcomes.
Despite global economic risks from geoeconomics and climate change, the conference officially adopted a Joint Statement. The document reaffirms strong commitments from member economies toward an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, while reaching high consensus on maintaining flexible and credible fiscal and monetary policies to safeguard regional financial stability.
At the macroeconomic discussion session, the Vietnamese delegation delivered a keynote address, announcing impressive domestic economic achievements. During the nine-month period of 2026, Vietnam’s GDP growth reached 9.01%, with the third quarter alone recording 9.95%. Officially joining the upper-middle-income group, having the stock market upgraded to emerging market status, and attaining an “Investment Grade” rating for the first time from a reputable global credit rating agency have further solidified and reinforced the nation's international standing.
A central highlight drawing major attention at the event was Vietnam’s official announcement of four priority themes for the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process 2027 in its capacity as host. These priority areas include: consolidating capital markets to unlock private capital for innovative enterprises; promoting finance based on data to improve credit access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); diversifying financial resources for development; and enhancing the capacity of young human resources in the financial sector, VOV reported.
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| The Vietnamese delegation at the conference (Photo: VNA) |
Minister Ngo Van Tuan emphasized that these themes closely mat with the Incheon Plan 2026–2030 and closely follow Vietnam’s major development directions.
Discussions on these topics are expected to provide a foundation for refining domestic financial mechanisms and policies, serving the strategic directions of the Party and State for the 2026-2030 period.
These notably include key Politburo Resolutions such as Resolution No. 57 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 59 on international integration in the new context; Resolution No. 68 on private sector development; as well as the Financial Strategy through 2030, linked to national development targets for 2026-2030 and the vision toward 2045 set forth in the Documents of the 14th National Party Congress.
Alongside official sessions, the delegation from the Ministry of Finance held a series of bilateral meetings with key partners, including the Minister of Finance of China, the Deputy Secretary of the US Treasury, the Minister of Finance of Thailand, and the head of the World Bank Group delegation.
During these working sessions, the Vietnamese side updated partners on the macroeconomic situation, discussed solutions to promote international financial cooperation, and proposed coordination in preparing for APEC Year 2027. International partners highly praised Viet Nam's proactiveness, expressed strong support, and committed to working closely with the Ministry of Finance of Viet Nam, thus creating a firm foundation for the success of APEC Year 2027.
Viet Nam, Belgium expand cooperation, tap trade, investment potential
More than five decades after establishing diplomatic relations in 1973, Viet Nam and Belgium have continuously strengthened their friendship and expanded cooperation across various fields. As an active supporter of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Belgium remains an important partner in helping Vietnamese goods access the European market.
Against a backdrop of considerable untapped potential, the official visit to Belgium by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam is expected to provide fresh impetus for cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, high-quality human resources training, logistics and green growth.
Unlocking trade potential
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Belgium is Viet Nam's sixth-largest trading partner, fifth-largest export market and seventh-largest import market within the European Union (EU). Viet Nam, meanwhile, is Belgium's largest trading partner in ASEAN. Bilateral trade averaged 3.44 billion USD annually between 2015 and 2025.
In the first eight months of 2026, bilateral trade increased 4.7% year-on-year to 3.1 billion USD. Viet Nam's exports reached 2.7 billion USD, up 10.4%, while imports fell 22.3% to 398.8 million USD.
A memorandum of understanding signed in April 2025 between the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Belgian regional trade and investment promotion bodies established a framework for closer cooperation. The agreement promotes information exchange, trade promotion events, business matchmaking, training and experience-sharing, while supporting women-owned businesses in international trade.
Expanding collaboration
Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam Pieter Leenknegt said bilateral ties will continue to grow alongside Viet Nam's economic expansion and strong trade performance.
He identified green technology, logistics, smart agriculture and aquaculture as promising areas for collaboration, with digital transformation and green transition, robotics, renewable energy and energy storage offering particularly strong potential.
Offshore wind power is one example of complementary strengths. Viet Nam has substantial wind energy potential along its coastline, while Belgium possesses advanced technology and experience in offshore wind development, energy storage and power integration into industrial production. Combining these strengths could create opportunities across the entire value chain.
The circular economy, waste management and waste-to-energy technologies also offer significant prospects, as Viet Nam's industrialization and urbanization increase demand for efficient resource use and waste treatment, reported VNA.
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| In the first eight months of 2026, Viet Nam-Belgium trade increases 4.7% year-on-year to 3.1 billion USD. (Illustrative photo: VNA) |
In logistics and maritime connectivity, Belgium's major ports and multimodal transport networks provide a gateway to Europe, while Viet Nam occupies a strategic position in ASEAN. Cooperation linking ports such as Antwerp and Zeebrugge with Hai Phong and the Mekong Delta could strengthen trade connectivity and green supply chains.
The EVFTA, which took effect in 2020, has helped boost Viet Nam-EU trade by more than 40%. The EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) is also expected to strengthen investor confidence through a more predictable legal framework.
Other promising areas include transport infrastructure, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and food processing.
Pham Manh Hung, Chairman of the Viet Nam-Belgium Friendship Association, stressed the importance of promoting the role of people-to-people diplomacy alongside trade promotion and state management channels. He called for long-term scientific and technical cooperation plans, economic forums and targeted business matchmaking, with concrete projects and commercial outcomes as the ultimate goals.
From November 14–22, the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency will organize a trade and investment promotion delegation to Belgium and the Netherlands. The programme aims to help Vietnamese businesses find partners, expand their EU market presence and integrate more deeply into high-tech supply chains, particularly in semiconductors, electronics, precision engineering, automation and supporting industries.
The initiative is expected to expand trade and investment opportunities, facilitate access to advanced technologies and strengthen Vietnamese businesses' links with Europe's industrial ecosystem, making more effective use of the EVFTA.
Super Typhoon Champi reaches Category 5 strength, set to avoid East Sea
Viet Nam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that as of the morning of October 21, Super Typhoon Champi was located near 18.1 degrees north latitude and 130.2 degrees east longitude, approximately 800km east-southeast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
The storm had reached force 17 on Viet Nam's wind scale, with gusts exceeding force 17.
According to the latest satellite analysis, Champi's maximum sustained winds were estimated at around 210km/h, while its central atmospheric pressure had fallen to 900 hectopascals (hPa).
At this intensity, the storm is comparable to a Category 5 super typhoon under the classification used by US meteorological authorities.
Current analysis indicates that Champi is the strongest storm to develop in the northwest Pacific in 2026, surpassing the intensity of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
Satellite imagery shows a highly organized and powerful storm system, with a well-defined, relatively symmetrical eye measuring approximately 80km across.
Champi could bring strong winds and high waves to northern East Sea
Analysis of large-scale atmospheric steering patterns at pressure levels of 500-700hPa shows that Champi is currently positioned southwest of a subtropical high-pressure system.
The typhoon is moving over waters with sea surface temperatures of approximately 29-30°C, conditions that favour the maintenance of its extreme intensity, cited VNN.
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| Satellite analysis and forecast information on Super Typhoon Champi. Source: National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF). |
Over the next 24 hours, Champi is expected to remain at force 17, with gusts exceeding force 17, while moving mainly west-northwest at around 20-25km/h.
From October 22, the storm is forecast to gradually turn northwest.
As it moves farther north into areas with lower sea surface temperatures, its intensity is expected to weaken progressively.
According to Viet Nam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the latest projections from meteorological agencies in Japan, South Korea, China and the United States have become more consistent regarding Champi's expected track compared with forecasts issued over the previous two days.
The current outlook suggests that the typhoon is unlikely to make a direct landfall in Taiwan (China).
By around October 24, when Champi reaches waters east of Taiwan, it is forecast to weaken to force 10, with gusts reaching force 13.
The storm could then turn northeast, heading toward Japan and South Korea.
By October 25, as it approaches waters south of Japan and South Korea, Champi is expected to weaken further to force 8, with gusts reaching force 10.
Based on the latest forecast, Super Typhoon Champi is not expected to enter the East Sea.
Nevertheless, given its force 16-17 intensity and extensive circulation, the storm's western outer bands could generate winds of force 6-7, with gusts of force 8-9, over the northeastern waters of the northern East Sea.
Wave heights in the affected area could reach 2-4 metres, creating hazardous conditions for vessels operating offshore.
Viet Nam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting is continuing to closely monitor the development and movement of Super Typhoon Champi.
