Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (right) receives outgoing Ambassador of Malaysia to Vietnam Tan Yang Thai on August 5. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader highlights dynamic growth in Vietnam–Malaysia relations

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam described Vietnam–Malaysia relations as increasingly dynamic, with strong political trust and economic cooperation, while receiving outgoing Ambassador of Malaysia to Vietnam Tan Yang Thai on August 5.

The Vietnamese leader conveyed his regards to the King and Prime Minister of Malaysia and invited them to visit Vietnam.

General Secretary and President Lam congratulated the ambassador on the successful completion of his mission in Vietnam and wished him further success in his new position, expressing confidence that he will continue contributing to Malaysia's diplomacy and the development of bilateral ties.

Stressing Malaysia's important place in Vietnam's foreign policy, he reaffirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam always attach importance to cooperation with Malaysia and wish to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Reviewing achievements during Tan's tenure, the host said political relations between the two countries have become increasingly close, with regular exchanges of all-level visits and meetings through Party, State, Government and parliament channels, effective bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and growing people-to-people exchanges, cited VNA.

Strong development was recorded in economic cooperation, with two-way trade hitting 10.8 billion USD in the first six months of 2026, up 40% year-on-year. Malaysia remains the third-largest ASEAN investor and the 10th largest among 154 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. The two countries also share common priorities in digital and green economic development, energy and electricity connectivity, and maritime cooperation.

The Vietnamese Party and State leader suggested strengthening political trust by increasing exchanges, high-level agreements, and boosting cooperation in defense, security and maritime affairs. He also called for greater facilitation of balanced trade and investment, and strong collaboration in digital and green economies, science and technology, innovation, and innovation.

For his part, Ambassador Tan shared his impression of Vietnam's remarkable development in recent years, expressing his belief that Vietnam and Malaysia will continue making important contributions to fostering a united and resilient ASEAN, while promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), amid increasingly complex regional and global developments.

Agreeing with the host’s assessment of bilateral relations, Tan reaffirmed that Malaysia treasures its cooperation with Vietnam and hopes to strengthen the bilateral ties, particularly in the digital economy, green economy and renewable energy.

The diplomat pledged to continue promoting the Vietnam–Malaysia relations, drawing on his professional experience and special affection for Vietnam.

He took the occasion to convey the Malaysian King's invitation to General Secretary and President Lam to pay a visit to Malaysia at an early date.

Vietnam, Thailand parliaments back Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Vietnam and Thailand will deepen parliamentary cooperation and strengthen the role of their legislatures in implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The agreement was reached during talks in Hanoi on August 5 between Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his visiting Thai counterpart Sophon Zaram.

Chairman Man welcomed the visit, noting that it coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Thailand and comes as both countries are implementing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2025.

He commended Thailand's socio-economic achievements and expressed confidence that it would continue strengthening its regional and global role through the implementation of its 2018-2037 National Strategy.

He reaffirmed that Vietnam places high priority on its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Thailand, considering the country as an important partner and close companion within ASEAN and the Mekong subregion.

For his part, Thai National Assembly President Sophon Zaram described the visit as an important milestone reflecting the friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, adding that Thailand-Vietnam relations serve as a model of cooperation within ASEAN.

During the talks, the two parliamentary leaders reviewed the positive progress in Vietnam – Thailand relations and agreed to effectively implement high-level agreements and maintain exchanges at all levels.

They vowed to expand cooperation in defense, security, trade, investment, logistics, tourism, education, science and technology, innovation and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides also reaffirmed their goal of raising bilateral trade to US$25 billion and highlighted the important role of the Vietnamese community in Thailand in strengthening bilateral ties.

They agreed to implement the cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese and Thai legislatures as well as the memorandum of understanding between the Office of Vietnam's National Assembly and the Secretariat of Thailand's House of Representatives.

They also pledged to strengthen exchanges among parliamentary committees, friendship parliamentarians, young lawmakers, women legislators and legislative support agencies, while sharing experience in lawmaking, supreme oversight, digital transformation, green growth and climate change response, according to VOV.

Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and his visiting Thai counterpart Sophon Zaram shake hands ahead of their talks in Hanoi on August 5

Both sides held that their legislatures should play a greater role in improving the legal framework, overseeing the implementation of high-level agreements and supporting the 2026-2031 Action Programme for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

They also committed to advancing the ‘Three Connections’ Strategy, aimed at strengthening supply chain, business and local-level connectivity between the two countries.

The two parliamentary leaders agreed to enhance Vietnam – Thailand coordination at ASEAN, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other multilateral parliamentary forums. They voiced strong support for ASEAN centrality and vowed to strengthen cooperation within Mekong subregional mechanisms.

At the meeting, Thai National Assembly President Sophon Zaram invited Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to pay an official visit to Thailand. The Vietnamese parliamentary leader accepted the invitation in principle and said he would arrange the visit at an appropriate time.

Vietnam and Laos share experience in building self-reliant economy

Vietnamese and Lao scholars exchanged policy experience and discussed ways to strengthen economic self-reliance and strategic research cooperation at an international conference held in Vientiane on August 5.

The conference brought together experts and researchers from both countries to share theoretical perspectives and practical experience in building resilient and self-reliant economies amid growing global uncertainties.

Held over four discussion sessions, the conference examined Laos' implementation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Politburo's Resolution 04 on developing a self-reliant economy, and reviewed lessons drawn from more than four decades of Vietnam’s Doi Moi (Renewal) process.

Vietnamese scholars stressed that economic self-reliance does not mean economic isolation or self-sufficiency. Instead, they described it as the ability to independently determine development strategies while proactively integrating into the global economy and participating in international value chains, reported VOV.

Vietnamese and Lao scholars exchange policy experience in building a self-reliant economy and strengthening strategic research cooperation at a conference in Vientiane on August 5.

Lao participants discussed the objectives and implementation of Resolution 04, describing it as a strategic initiative to strengthen the country's economic resilience in response to increasingly complex regional and global developments.

The two sides also compared their development experiences, noting that Vietnam's experience in building a socialist-oriented market economy, promoting science and technology, innovation, the digital economy and the green economy could provide useful references for Laos.

The conference concluded with proposals to expand strategic cooperation through joint policy research, greater exchange of development experience and closer institutional coordination to improve policy planning and risk management.

Under the rotational mechanism, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences will host the next conference in 2027. The event is expected to further strengthen research cooperation, policy consultation and the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.

Vietnam prioritizes post-war recovery cooperation with US: general staff chief

Vietnam attaches great importance to and prioritizes cooperation with the US in addressing the consequences of war, guided by the spirit of putting the past aside and looking towards the future, General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defense, told Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Pacific Command, during their meeting in Hanoi on August 5.

Affirming that Vietnam regards the US as one of its important partners, Cuong said defense cooperation between the two countries has developed positively and been implemented effectively across a range of areas, including post-war recovery, dialogue and consultations, training, United Nations peacekeeping, cooperation between military services and branches, military medicine, defense industry, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The Chief of the General Staff thanked the US Pacific Command for supporting post-war recovery projects in Vietnam, including the construction and inauguration of the explosive ordnance disposal training ground for the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) in March 2025.

He expressed hope that the US Pacific Command would continue to advocate for the US Congress, Government and Department of War to approve an additional 130 million USD in funding for the Bien Hoa Airport dioxin remediation project in Vietnam, with the goal of completing it before 2031 and ensuring a safer living environment for local communities, cited VNA.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong (right), Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defense, welcomes Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Pacific Command, in Hanoi on August 5, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Cuong called on both sides to continue effectively implementing agreed areas of cooperation, focusing on post-war recovery, the defense industry, cooperation between military services and branches, military medicine, and joint activities within ASEAN-led mechanisms, particularly the Expert Working Groups under the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).

The General affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to closely coordinating with and creating the most favourable conditions for efforts to search for US personnel missing in action (MIA).

He urged the US to further share information, documents and memorabilia related to Vietnamese soldiers who lost their lives during the war, while supporting Vietnam in enhancing its capacity for wartime remains DNA identification. These efforts, Cuong noted, would contribute to the effective implementation of the Vietnamese Government’s 500-day-and-night campaign to accelerate the search, recovery and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains.

Looking forward to welcoming Paparo again at the third Vietnam International Defense Expo this December, the deputy minister said Vietnam welcomed the US’s participation with advanced equipment on display, contributing to the overall success of the event.

For his part, Paparo spoke highly of the growing defense relationship between the two countries, stressing that the US respects Vietnam’s “four no’s” defense policy. He expressed satisfaction with the positive progress made in bilateral defense cooperation and hoped it would continue to become more substantive and effective, particularly in post-war recovery, training and military medicine.

Regarding post-war recovery, the Admiral stressed the US’s commitment to working closely with Vietnam in mine clearance, information sharing, and strengthening DNA identification capabilities for war remains, thereby supporting the successful implementation of its ongoing campaign to search for, recover and identify the remains of fallen soldiers.

Kujira becomes Vietnam's third named storm of 2026

A tropical depression over the southeastern waters of the northern East Sea has strengthened into Tropical Storm Kujira, becoming Vietnam's third named storm of 2026.

According to the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), at 4 a.m. on August 5, the center of Tropical Storm Kujira was located over the southeastern waters of the northern East Sea.

Maximum sustained winds near the storm's center reached 62-74 km/h (39-46 mph), equivalent to Beaufort Force 8, with gusts up to Force 10. The storm was moving eastward at around 10 km/h.

Forecasts indicate that over the next 24 hours, the storm will move east-northeast at approximately 5-10 km/h.

By 4 a.m. on August 6, the storm's center is expected to be northwest of Luzon Island in the Philippines, where it is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression, with sustained winds of Force 7 and gusts up to Force 9.

During the following 24 hours, the system is expected to continue moving east-northeast at 5-10 km/h.

By 4 a.m. on August 7, the center is forecast to be northeast of Luzon before weakening further into a low-pressure area.

The storm is expected to generate Force 6-7 winds, with gusts reaching Force 9, across the southeastern waters of the northern East Sea. Areas near the storm's center could experience sustained Force 8 winds with gusts up to Force 10, VNN reported.

Forecast track and intensity of Tropical Storm Kujira issued at 5 a.m. on August 5, 2026. Source: Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

Wave heights are forecast to reach 2-4 meters, with rough sea conditions expected.

The weather agency warned that vessels operating in the affected waters could encounter thunderstorms, waterspouts, strong winds and high waves.

According to the NCHMF, Tropical Storm Kujira is not currently forecast to affect Vietnam's coastline or mainland.

In its 8 a.m. update on August 5, the forecasting center said the storm had shown very little movement during the previous three hours.

As of 7 a.m., the storm's center remained over the southeastern waters of the northern East Sea, with maximum sustained winds still at Force 8 (62-74 km/h) and gusts reaching Force 10. The storm was moving eastward at only 3-5 km/h, reflecting its unusually slow forward speed.

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