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Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (R) and outgoing Mongolian Ambassador to Vietnam Jigjee Sereejav their meeting in Hanoi on April 28, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Mongolia always values ties with Vietnam: diplomat

The State and people of Mongolia always attach great importance to relations with Vietnam, Mongolia’s first comprehensive partner in Southeast Asia, outgoing Mongolian Ambassador to Vietnam Jigjee Sereejav told Party General Secretary and State President To Lam during their meeting in Hanoi on April 28.

At the reception, both sides expressed their satisfaction with the substantive and effective development of bilateral ties over the past more than four years, since Sereejav began his mission in Vietnam in December 2021.

In particular, the two countries officially established a comprehensive partnership in 2024, while Party-to-Party relations, as well as cooperation in trade, investment, defense, security, justice, culture, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, have all recorded positive progress.

Recognising and highly appreciating the ambassador’s important contributions to bilateral relations, General Secretary Lam affirmed that Vietnam always values the development of ties with Mongolia.

The top leader recommended that both sides continue to increase delegation exchanges and high-level and all-level contacts to strengthen political trust; promote economic, trade and investment cooperation in line with the potential of the comprehensive partnership; enhance people-to-people exchanges and locality-to-locality cooperation. It is also necessary to make full use of the bilateral visa exemption agreement signed in 2023, and to strengthen public awareness of the friendship between the two countries, especially among younger generations.

For his part, Sereejav congratulated Vietnam on its recent achievements and thanked Vietnamese Party and State leaders, as well as ministries, sectors, agencies and localities, for their support and favourable conditions that enabled him to successfully complete his tenure, cited VNA.

He expressed confidence that under the leadership of General Secretary and President Lam, Vietnam will continue to develop strongly and prosperously, with its international standing continuing to rise.

Sharing his agreement with the top leader’s directions, Sereejav affirmed that with the current strong foundation of bilateral ties, especially the close attention and guidance of senior leaders of both countries, the Vietnam–Mongolia comprehensive partnership will continue to develop in an effective, substantive and comprehensive manner, meeting the aspirations and common interests of both peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

He also stressed that after completing his term, regardless of his future position, he would continue to follow and make positive contributions to the the ties.

Japanese PM’s Vietnam visit to elevate bilateral ties to new height: diplomat

The upcoming official visit to Vietnam by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae from May 1-3 will help bring bilateral relations to a new height, according to Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki.

Speaking at a press briefing with Vietnamese media on April 28, Ito Naoki described the trip as highly significant, taking place as Vietnam marks the 51st anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975-2026), and reflecting the strong importance the Japanese Government attaches to bilateral relations.

The visit, to be made at the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, also comes at a particularly meaningful time as Vietnam has recently completed the consolidation of its government apparatus. Ambassador Ito noted that it has become almost customary for Japanese prime ministers to visit Vietnam within a year of taking office, underscoring Japan’s consistent prioritization of ties with Vietnam.

The trip aims to build trust between the two countries’ leaders, review the achievements of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and confirm key directions for future cooperation.

Japan deeply admires Vietnam’s remarkable economic achievements during more than 50 years since national reunification, as well as the country’s path of peace and development, the ambassador stated.

He added that the visit will serve as an opportunity for both countries to reaffirm closer coordination within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, and address regional and global issues of shared concern, according to VNA.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki (Photo: VNA)

​Ito said a key highlight of the visit will be PM Takaichi’s policy speech at the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi) on the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy. This will mark the first time a Japanese PM delivers a policy speech in Vietnam since 2020.

The FOIP vision was first introduced by late Japanese PM Shinzo Abe a decade ago, based on the recognition that the Indo-Pacific region would become the centre of global growth. However, over the past decade, the world has changed significantly, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and technological revolutions, the growing prominence of the Global South, and increasingly complex geopolitical developments.

According to the ambassador, PM Takaichi strongly believes that FOIP must evolve to respond to these changes of the times. In particular, economic security has become a major concern for many countries, and building resilient supply chains is now one of the most important priorities.

​Choosing Hanoi and the VNU-Hanoi as the venue for the speech carries significant meaning, reflecting Japan’s recognition of ASEAN’s central role, as well as Vietnam’s important position in the region and strong ongoing reforms.

The Japanese ambassador also noted that the visit will focus on four main pillars of cooperation, reflecting the strategic priorities of both countries, including innovation, science and technology, and green transition; energy security and strategic infrastructure; diplomacy, defense and security, and contributions to regional peace; and people-to-people exchanges, and cultural and academic cooperation.

Vietnam calls for strict, balanced implementation of NPT’s three pillars

Vietnam has called for strict and balanced implementation of all three pillars of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the 11th NPT Review Conference at United Nations headquarters in New York.

Speaking on the first day of the conference on April 27, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said the global security and political environment faces the most serious and complex challenges in decades, particularly in conflict hotspots, and called for stronger recommitment to the treaty’s objectives to prevent nuclear catastrophe.

She described the NPT as an important foundation of the international security architecture and called for strict and balanced implementation of its three pillars: nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

She said nuclear-weapon states bear special responsibility to fulfil disarmament commitments and refrain from threatening the use of force, while promoting confidence-building measures and enhancing exchanges on strategic issues. She also called on countries to promote complementary international mechanisms, including early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and increased accession to and ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Vietnam also stressed the importance of and the rights of developing countries in the peaceful use of nuclear energy to promote progress, including through strengthened international cooperation, expanded access to technology and expertise, and sustainable financial resources, according to VOV.

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang speaks at the general debate (Photo: VNA)

Hang highlighted Vietnam’s efforts to improve its legal and policy framework, including the adoption of a strategy on the development and application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes to 2035, with a vision to 2050, and the promotion of scientific research and technological applications in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, environmental protection and energy security.

In the face of complex global challenges, she called on the international community to reaffirm support for the NPT by stepping up joint efforts and adopting a balanced and substantive outcome document to guide the next review cycle.

The 11th NPT Review Conference, chaired by Vietnam, runs from April 27 to May 22 and includes a series of thematic sessions among member states.

Vietnam’s delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and includes Major General Nguyen Dinh Hien, commander of the Chemical Corps under the Ministry of National Defence, who also serves as standing deputy head of the national focal agency for preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, along with representatives from the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnamese language and cultural identity honored in Laos

On April 27, in Vientiane, Laos, the Vietnamese language forum – Vietnam -Laos bridge was held under the theme “Honoring the Vietnamese language, preserving identity, connecting the future”, aiming to spread national cultural identity and strengthen connections within the Vietnamese community in Laos.

The event was organised by the Association of Vietnamese in Vientiane and the Global Network for Vietnamese Language and Culture Teaching, in coordination with the Embassy of Vietnam in Laos, in response to the Day of Honoring the Vietnamese Language among overseas Vietnamese communities. It aimed to promote the value of the Vietnamese language, preserve national cultural identity, and strengthen connections within the Vietnamese community in Laos.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam highly appreciated the organization of the forum, with its rich and in-depth content reflecting close coordination among agencies, organizations, and the community. The ambassador emphasised that this is not only a culturally meaningful activity but also a space for connection and experience-sharing, contributing to promoting the movement of teaching and learning Vietnamese in Laos in a more practical and effective manner, NDO reported.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam honoured and expressed gratitude to outstanding individuals and collectives for their positive contributions to teaching and promoting the Vietnamese language in Laos. (Photo: DUY TOAN)

Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam acknowledged the efforts of associations, schools, teachers, and families in maintaining Vietnamese language classes, building environments for using the Vietnamese language, and organising community cultural activities.

The ambassador affirmed that the Vietnamese language is not only a means of communication but also a repository of historical memory, conveying cultural values and moral traditions, and shaping national identity. Therefore, the preservation of the Vietnamese language carries long-term significance and is the responsibility of the Vietnamese community in Laos, as well as overseas Vietnamese communities in general.

Emphasising that preserving the Vietnamese language must begin within families, which are also the most important places for children to be exposed to, learn, and use Vietnamese naturally, the ambassador suggested the need to continue innovating teaching and learning methods, improving the quality of teachers, building dynamic learning environments suitable to practical conditions, applying technology, and enhancing connectivity and sharing of learning materials to improve the quality and effectiveness of Vietnamese language teaching and learning in Laos.

According to Nguyen Duy Anh, Secretary General of the Global Network for Vietnamese Language and Culture Teaching, it is necessary to promote the role of connecting resources both domestically and internationally so as to improve the effectiveness of Vietnamese language teaching for overseas Vietnamese communities.

Accordingly, the network was formed from practical needs, with the aim of linking classes, teachers, experts, and organizations involved in teaching the Vietnamese language worldwide, thereby creating a mutually supportive ecosystem that helps make the preservation of the Vietnamese language an organised, well-directed, and sustainable activity.

UNESCO continues to honor Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark

UNESCO has renewed recognition for Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark after it passed a second revalidation, awarding the site its highest rating and extending its status for another four years.

The certificate presentation ceremony took place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on April 27, where 12 new Global Geoparks were also designated and 44 sites were revalidated.

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, attended the ceremony and received the certificate.

The geopark was awarded UNESCO’s “Green Card”, the highest result in its periodic revalidation process, marking the second time the site has passed revalidation.

Cao Bang province in northern Vietnam hosted a UNESCO expert mission for the revalidation in June 2025, and in September, the Global Geoparks Network Council recommended granting the second Green Card to the geopark.

The renewal is a recognition of Cao Bang province’s sustained efforts to preserve and promote geological, cultural and natural heritage in connection with community livelihood development. It also confirms the province’s implementation of recommendations made by UNESCO experts during the previous revalidation, towards sustainable development and wider dissemination of heritage values to the international community, cited VOV.

On behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, receives the certificate of revalidation for Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark. (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh said UNESCO’s decision to, for the first time, award certificates to geoparks that have passed revalidation and continue to hold the designation shows increasing recognition of the determination and efforts of countries, local leaders and communities in maintaining this title. She described the event as particularly meaningful as 2026 marks 50 years since Vietnam joined UNESCO and the anniversary of cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO.

Nong Thi Tuyen, Deputy Director of Cao Bang’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the renewed recognition demonstrates the province’s efforts in recent years in preserving and promoting heritage, linked with sustainable development and improving livelihoods for local communities.

She said the province will continue to strengthen management; preserve and promote heritage values alongside environmental protection and sustainable development; expand education and communication activities; develop sustainable tourism with equitable benefit-sharing; invest in infrastructure; and further develop the geopark in line with the province’s sustainable tourism development programme for the 2025-2030 period.

The 2026 certificate presentation ceremony once again affirms the role of the Global Geoparks Network as an effective platform for international cooperation, where countries share experience, enhance heritage conservation and support sustainable socio-economic development.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark, first recognized by UNESCO on April 12, 2018, covers more than 3,683 sq km across 36 communes and wards and has a geological history spanning more than 500 million years, along with numerous natural landscapes and historical and cultural sites.

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