Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) and WEF Managing Director Stephan Mergenthaler, Ho Chi Minh City, October 28, 2026 - Photo: VNA

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung seeks WEF support for innovation, sustainable growth

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung called on the World Economic Forum (WEF) to strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in knowledge sharing, technology transfer, capital mobilization and business connectivity, particularly to support the development of the private sector.

Le made the call while receiving WEF Managing Director Stephan Mergenthaler on the sidelines of the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City on October 28.

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for WEF's longstanding cooperation with Viet Nam and its contributions to making the Autumn Economic Forum an open and substantive platform for dialogue among the Government, businesses and the scientific community.

He noted that policy discussions, experience sharing and technology showcases over the past two days have demonstrated the international community's interest and confidence in Viet Nam, particularly its innovation agenda and Ho Chi Minh City's role as a key growth hub.

Le thanked WEF for its effective support, particularly its cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City in establishing the Viet Nam Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), describing the initiative as timely and well aligned with digital transformation and technological trends.

He stressed that Viet Nam is pursuing strategic breakthroughs to achieve rapid and sustainable economic growth, with the private sector playing a particularly important role. Key priorities include institutional reform, adoption of international standards, protection of investors' legitimate rights and interests, infrastructure development, and high-quality human resources training.

The Prime Minister called on WEF to continue facilitating knowledge sharing, technology transfer, capital mobilization and connections between international corporations and Vietnamese enterprises, particularly private businesses.

He also welcomed the results of the 2023–2026 cooperation framework between Viet Nam and WEF and urged both sides to work closely together to develop and sign a strategic cooperation framework for the next period, with a view to advancing effective public-private partnerships and contributing to regional and global development, cited VGP.

In reply, Mergenthaler congratulated Viet Nam and Ho Chi Minh City on the successful organization of the Autumn Economic Forum, expressing his impression of the country's long-term vision and efforts to promote growth through science, technology, innovation and a dynamic private sector.

He affirmed WEF's readiness to deepen cooperation with Viet Nam, including by establishing a high-level cooperation mechanism to mobilize support from the private sector and international partners for the country's priorities as it prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2027.

The WEF executive also welcomed cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City in establishing the Viet Nam Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).

Viet Nam, Belarus seek ways to strengthen strategic partnership

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung held talks with visiting Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov in Hanoi on October 28, with both sides pledging to deepen their strategic partnership and expand cooperation across multiple fields.

Welcoming Ryzhenkov and the Belarusian delegation, Trung affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to its traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Belarus. He expressed appreciation for the valuable support and assistance extended by the Belarusian people to Viet Nam during its past struggle for national independence and its current process of national construction and development.

He also highlighted positive development steps in the bilateral relations, particularly following General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam’s state visit to Belarus in May 2025 and the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

For his part, Ryzhenkov expressed pleasure at making his first official visit to Viet Nam and thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its warm and cordial reception. He congratulated Viet Nam on its major achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, and praised the country’s growing role and standing in the region and the world.

He affirmed that Viet Nam is considered one of Belarus’s important partners in Southeast Asia and called for greater use of the strategic partnership framework. He also proposed maintaining the exchange of delegations at all levels through Party and State channels, strengthening parliamentary and local-level cooperation, promoting business connections and expanding people-to-people exchanges, according to VNA.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung holds talks with Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov in Hanoi on October 28, 2026. (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

In a friendly and frank atmosphere, the two ministers reviewed bilateral cooperation and coordination between their ministries.

On political and diplomatic ties, they agreed to strengthen political trust, maintain the regular exchange of delegations and meetings at all levels, particularly high-level ones, and effectively implement agreements and common perceptions reached by their leaders.

Highly valuing the close coordination between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs over the recent period, the two ministers agreed that the ministries should continue to fulfill their coordinating role to advance the overall bilateral relationship, maintain effective political consultation mechanisms, and regularly review the progress in implementing agreements. They also pledged to coordinate preparations for upcoming high-level visits.

The two sides will work together to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Belarus in 2027.

Regarding economic and trade cooperation, the ministers noted that current results have yet to match the potential of the two countries and their strong political ties. They agreed to increase bilateral trade, diversify traded goods and make economic cooperation a key driver of the bilateral relations.

Trung called for more effective use of the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and other bilateral economic cooperation mechanisms, stronger business connections and increased trade and investment promotion.

Ryzhenkov proposed considering the establishment of trade and investment promotion centres in both countries to help businesses explore markets and develop partnerships.

The ministers also agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of defence and security, education and training, tourism, culture, science, technology and innovation. They encouraged educational institutions to strengthen partnerships, exchange students and lecturers, and conduct joint research. Ryzhenkov affirmed Belarus’s readiness to continue receiving Vietnamese students in fields where Belarus has strengths.

They welcomed the opening of air routes linking Minsk of Belarus with Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc of Viet Nam, noting their contribution to growing tourist arrivals from Belarus.

On regional and international issues, the ministers agreed to strengthen consultations and coordination at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, and consider supporting each other at international organizations and mechanisms.

Trung shared with Ryzhenkov Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, expressing readiness to work with Belarus to promote peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Earlier, before the talks, the two ministers signed a cooperation plan between their ministries for 2027-2029 to strengthen coordination and promote the implementation of high-level agreements.

On this occasion, Ryzhenkov invited Trung to pay an official visit to Belarus in 2027. Trung thanked Ryzhenkov and accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Viet Nam joins Artemis Accords to advance peaceful space exploration

Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan received the document from US Ambassador to Viet Nam Jennifer Wicks at a ceremony held in Quang Ninh city on October 28, on the sidelines of the Viet Nam International Digital Week 2026.

Established in 2020 by NASA, the US Department of State and partner countries, the Artemis Accords set out common principles for civil space exploration and use. They cover transparency, interoperability between systems, emergency assistance to astronauts, the sharing of scientific data, the preservation of space heritage, the responsible use of space resources and the coordination of space activities. The Accords are a non-binding framework grounded in existing international space law, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Minister Vu Hai Quan said Viet Nam regards space science and technology as an important field for strengthening national scientific and technological capabilities and supporting sustainable development.

Viet Nam wants to work with other signatories to promote space exploration and use in a peaceful, safe, equitable, transparent and sustainable manner, in accordance with international law, he said.

The minister also highlighted the country’s efforts to advance science and technology under the Politburo’s Resolution 57, which sets out strategic objectives for developing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, cited VOV.

Viet Nam joins Artemis Accords: US Ambassador to Viet Nam Jennifer Wicks (L) hands over the document to Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan at a ceremony held in Quang Ninh city on October 28, on the sidelines of the Viet Nam International Digital Week 2026.

“For now, we are focusing on 10 groups of strategic technologies,” he said, adding that Viet Nam aims to master key technologies and strengthen technological self-reliance while accelerating applied research.

The goal is to bring scientific and technological advances into production and business, improve productivity and quality, and contribute to Vietnam’s economic growth, he stressed.

Viet Nam also prioritises greater autonomy in space technology and data, alongside the application of space technologies in natural resource management, environmental protection, climate change response and disaster prevention and mitigation.

The country aims to gradually develop a space economy ecosystem and strengthen its capacity to govern space-related activities.

Vietnam’s participation in the Artemis Accords marks a further step towards international cooperation in space exploration and the responsible, sustainable use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

Viet Nam, Dominican Republic pledge wider people-to-people exchanges

Full-time Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Committee for Mass Mobilisation, Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) and Central Mass Organizations Nguyen Thai Hoc hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 28 for General Secretary of the Dominican Republic’s United Left Movement (MIU) Party Miguel Mejia, wishing that the visit will create new momentum for broader cooperation.

Hoc conveyed warm regards and best wishes from President of the VFF Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai to Mejía and his entourage.

The official recalled his meeting with Mejia in Mexico in October 2023 and noted that he is especially moved that the MIU leader has visited the grave of CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and inquired after the late leader's spouse, Ngo Thi Man, which is evidence of his lasting affection for the Vietnamese Party and people.

He said his committee’s core role is to rally the great national solidarity bloc, from workers, farmers, youth, to women and intellectuals, for national construction and defence. In such process, support from close friends like MIU and Mejia is invaluable encouragement, VNA reported.

Full-time Deputy Secretary of the CPV Committee for Mass Mobilisation, Viet Nam Fatherland Front and Central Mass Organisations Nguyen Thai Hoc (R) and General Secretary of the Dominican Republic’s United Left Movement (MIU) Party Miguel Mejia (Photo: VNA)

The host welcomed Mejia’s 12th visit to Viet Nam, saying the MIU chief’s bridge role should help expand people-to-people exchanges and connect Dominican social organizations with Viet Nam for closer solidarity and mutual development.

Mejia, for his part, affirmed that MIU always stays ready to act as a bridge connecting Viet Nam with political parties, mass organizations and people across Central America, the Caribbean and Latin America.

He proposed steps to boost all-around cooperation, including preparing for a visit by a high-ranking Vietnamese National Assembly delegation to the Dominican Republic, helping re-establish the Dominican Republic–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group and pushing local twinning.

As political, trade and cultural cooperation potential remains ample, he said strong political will on both sides is the foundation to realize those goals.

Viet Nam becomes Cambodia’s largest source of international tourists

Viet Nam was Cambodia’s largest source of international visitors in the first nine months of 2026, with nearly 700,000 arrivals, even as the country’s overall international tourism numbers fell by 43.7%.

Cambodia received 691,486 visitors from Viet Nam between January and September 2026, making it the country’s largest international tourism market, according to statistics released by Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism.

China ranked second, with 643,314 visitors, followed by the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Air travel accounted for 62.3% of international arrivals, while the remainder entered Cambodia through land border crossings and waterways, the statistics showed.

Vietnam’s leading position highlights the importance of cross-border tourism between the neighbouring countries. It also points to the role of regional markets in supporting Cambodia’s tourism industry amid a sharp downturn in international arrivals.

Cambodia welcomed approximately 2.46 million international visitors during the nine-month period, down 43.7% from 4.38 million in the same period of 2025.

The decline persisted throughout the year. The country recorded 1.04 million international arrivals in the first quarter, down 44.8% year on year. April alone saw about 292,000 visitors, a decrease of 48.3%.

In the third quarter, arrivals totalled 712,000, down 29.7% year on year. Cambodia received 246,000 international visitors in July, 255,000 in August and 211,000 in September, representing respective declines of 29.2%, 24.7% and 35.4%.

In response to the downturn, Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak called for stronger public-private cooperation to promote the country as a destination. He highlighted the need to expand tourism marketing, diversify products and services, and improve service quality to attract more international visitors, cited VOV.

Visitors take a tour of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

He also urged local authorities and tourism associations to work together to promote destinations beyond Siem Reap, including Koh Rong’s coastal areas, the Mekong River region and northeastern Cambodia.

Domestic tourism, meanwhile, has provided a significant source of support for the sector. Cambodia recorded 27.2 million domestic tourist visits in the first nine months of 2026, an increase of 46% from a year earlier.

The growth has helped sustain tourism-related businesses and services as Cambodia faces mounting pressure on its international visitor market.

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