| Vietnam News Today (July 13) notable headlines Vietnam, France seek to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Vietnam seeks stronger economic links with Egypt's Red Sea Governorate Vietnam reiterates UNCLOS 1982 as sole legal basis for maritime rights Vietnam retains position as Cambodia's third-largest trading partner Forecasters warn of more heavy rain across northern Vietnam Vietnam urges ASEAN to step up direct dialogue with Myanmar Defense Minister Phan Van Giang starts official visit to Japan Kunming – Nha Trang air service resumes to boost tourism, connectivity HCM City forms advisory board for international financial center |
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| Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs Le Tan Toi (R) meets with Jean-Michel Jacques, Chairman of the French National Assembly's National Defense and Armed Forces Committee. (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam, France seek to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Vietnam and France have agreed to share legislative and oversight experience, and expand cooperation across a range of strategic areas, contributing to deepening the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The agreement was reached during talks in Paris on July 10 between Le Tan Toi, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs, and Jean-Michel Jacques, Chairman of the French National Assembly's National Defense and Armed Forces Committee.
The meeting took place just over a month after the French committee's successful working visit to Vietnam, reflecting both sides' determination to promote practical cooperation between the two legislative bodies and their committees.
Toi noted that bilateral relations have continued to develop positively since Vietnam and France elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He said France is Vietnam's first Comprehensive Strategic Partner in the European Union (EU) and one of the country's leading partners in Europe.
He said economic, trade and investment cooperation remains a key pillar of bilateral ties, while significant potential exists for expanding cooperation in strategic infrastructure, science and technology, defense industry, energy, high-tech agriculture, and education and training.
Building on discussions during the French delegation's visit to Vietnam in June, Toi proposed enhancing cooperation in maritime security, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, space technology, science and technology, seabed resource exploration, agriculture, education and technology.
He said these are areas where France has strong expertise and Vietnam has growing demand, offering opportunities for the two countries to exchange legislative and oversight experience while translating the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into concrete outcome, cited VNA.
The Vietnamese side proposed maintaining delegation exchanges and regular contacts between the two committees, while strengthening the sharing of legislative and oversight experience in areas including defense, security, defense industry, dual-use technologies, maritime security, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, crisis management and responses to non-traditional security challenges.
Vietnam hopes France will continue sharing expertise, supporting human resource development, facilitating knowledge transfer and promoting links between businesses and research institutions in areas including the peaceful use of nuclear energy, aviation, aerospace, defense industry and marine research, he added.
Regarding Vietnam-EU relations, Toi urged French lawmakers to further support the effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), encourage the French Parliament to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and back the European Commission's early removal of its "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.
For his part, Jacques highly valued his committee's visit to Vietnam in June, saying that upon returning to France he had written to the French minister responsible for agriculture, urging relevant French and EU authorities to support the review process for lifting the "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood.
He also said he would discuss with the Mayor of Caen the possibility of establishing a sister-city relationship between Dien Bien Phu and Caen, while strengthening cooperation between the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum and the Caen Memorial Museum.
Jacques added that the French committee plans to host an international scientific seminar next year on maritime and marine challenges, focusing on issues of global concern such as the sea-based economy, logistics and subsea cable infrastructure. The Vietnamese committee was invited to the event.
Welcoming the initiative, Toi said he would report the proposal to Vietnam's National Assembly leaders and respond to the French side.
Both sides agreed to continue promoting regular exchanges and practical cooperation within their respective areas of responsibility, contributing to closer ties between the two legislatures and further strengthening the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Vietnam seeks stronger economic links with Egypt's Red Sea Governorate
Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Nam Duong had a working session with Egypt’s Red Sea Governor Walid Al Barqi on July 11, discussing measures to strengthen economic, trade and investment and logistics cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Red Sea Governorate.
The ambassador said the elevation of Vietnam-Egypt relations to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2025 has created new opportunities for cooperation between their localities. He proposed strengthening links between the Red Sea Governorate and Vietnam's coastal provinces in maritime transport, logistics, trade, tourism and mining, reported VNA.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Nam Duong (L) has a working session with Egypt’s Red Sea Governor Walid Al Barqi on July 11. (Photo: VNA) |
Duong also encouraged Egyptian businesses to continue implementing contracts to supply phosphate ore to Vietnam, helping diversify the country's sources of materials while contributing to a more balanced bilateral trade relationship.
For his part, Al Barqi highlighted the Red Sea Governorate's strengths as one of Egypt's most dynamic economic centres, with competitive advantages in seaports, tourism, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, aquaculture and the marine economy.
He noted that the governorate possesses abundant phosphate reserves, with many products undergoing preliminary processing before export. Stressing the governorate's commitment to expanding international partnerships, Al Barqi said local authorities stand ready to facilitate Vietnamese businesses seeking investment and business opportunities, particularly in tourism, mining, logistics and marine economic development.
Earlier, on July 9, Duong and an embassy delegation met with Khaled Abdelgelyl, Chairman of the Red Sea Chamber of Commerce.
Abdelgelyl praised Vietnam's socio-economic achievements and said cooperation in phosphate mining and trade between businesses of the two countries has produced encouraging results. He proposed expanding cooperation into minerals, tourism and logistics to strengthen business connectivity.
Duong stressed that businesses and local chambers of commerce play a central role in translating high-level commitments into practical outcomes. Given the complementary nature of the two economies, he proposed prioritising cooperation in three key areas: securing supply chains and promoting balanced trade, developing the marine economy and high-tech aquaculture, and improving logistics and port connectivity.
Vietnam reiterates UNCLOS 1982 as sole legal basis for maritime rights
Vietnam has reaffirmed that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the sole legal basis that comprehensively and fully defines the scope of maritime entitlements.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang was speaking on July 12 in response to reporters' questions marking the 10th anniversary of the ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration constituted under Annex VII of UNCLOS in the arbitration between the Philippines and China.
Hang reiterated Vietnam's consistent position that maritime disputes must be settled by peaceful means, with full respect for diplomatic and legal processes, without the threat or use of force, and in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.
She reaffirmed Vietnam's support for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the Convention in accordance with the dispute settlement mechanisms provided for under UNCLOS, cited VOV.
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| Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang (Photo: MOFA) |
According to the spokesperson, UNCLOS serves as the legal framework governing maritime entitlements and the establishment and exercise of maritime claims under international law.
As a coastal state bordering the East Sea and an active State Party to UNCLOS, she said, Vietnam is committed to the faithful implementation of the Convention.
She also called on all relevant parties to fully comply with their obligations under UNCLOS and ensure that maritime claims and the exercise of maritime rights are consistent with the Convention.
She urged all parties to respect the legitimate rights and interests of other states and strengthen cooperation to maintain peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and the rules-based order in the East Sea.
Vietnam retains position as Cambodia's third-largest trading partner
Vietnam has maintained its position as one of Cambodia's leading trading partners, with bilateral trade continuing to expand during the first half of 2026.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia, the country's total international trade reached US$36.8 billion in the first six months of 2026, up 20.5% from the same period last year. Exports rose 19.5% to US$17 billion, while imports increased 21.4% to US$19.76 billion.
Against this backdrop, Vietnam was Cambodia's third-largest trading partner, behind China and the United States.
Official data showed that China retained its position as Cambodia's largest trading partner, with two-way trade exceeding US$11 billion, up 25.4% year on year. The United States was Cambodia's largest export market, with exports totaling more than US$7 billion, an increase of 31.4%.
Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Cambodia hit more than US$4.72 billion in the first half of the year, representing a 9% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
Cambodia's exports to Vietnam totaled more than US$2.52 billion, up 14.9%, while imports from Vietnam reached more than US$2.20 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.9%, VOV reported.
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| Vietnamese OCOP (One Commune One Product) items on display at a Vietnam - Cambodia border trade fair. |
Cambodia's main exports to Vietnam included agricultural products, garments, footwear, bicycles and consumer goods. Meanwhile, imports from Vietnam consisted largely of raw materials, machinery, transport equipment, electrical and electronic products, and consumer goods serving domestic production and business activities.
Vietnam's continued presence among Cambodia's top three trading partners underscores the growing economic ties between the two neighboring countries and highlights Vietnam's role as both an important export market and a key source of supplies for Cambodia's economy.
Bilateral trade has maintained steady momentum in recent years, with total two-way trade hitting US$11.37 billion in 2025, up 12.1% from 2024.
According to Meas Sok Sensan, Secretary of State at Cambodia's Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Cambodian government is implementing a range of measures to strengthen the country's competitiveness amid global economic uncertainties, rising energy prices and increasingly complex international trade conditions.
These measures include expanding export markets, accelerating digital transformation in trade activities, diversifying markets and reinforcing investor confidence.
Forecasters warn of more heavy rain across northern Vietnam
After days of widespread downpours, northern Vietnam may face another round of heavy rain as a tropical convergence zone is forecast to affect the region.
Northern Vietnam is forecast to continue experiencing heavy rainfall from July 11 to 18. Weather authorities have also warned that between July 19 and 23, the region could be affected by a tropical convergence zone, with the potential formation of a tropical storm or tropical depression capable of triggering widespread downpours.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, northern provinces have experienced persistent moderate to heavy rainfall over the past five days, from July 6 to 11, with accumulated precipitation generally ranging between 70 mm and 150 mm.
Rainfall totals reached between 100 mm and 200 mm in the provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Lao Cai.
Several locations recorded exceptionally heavy rainfall exceeding 300 mm, including Hua Trai in Son La Province with 511.8 mm, Muong Trai in Son La with 479.4 mm, Mong Cai in Quang Ninh Province with 469.6 mm, Quat Dong in Quang Ninh with 453 mm, and Binh Thanh in Thai Nguyen Province with 394.2 mm.
Meteorologists said northern Vietnam is expected to see widespread showers and thunderstorms from July 11 to 18, with localized areas likely to receive more than 100 mm of rain on a frequent basis, VNN reported.
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| Northern Vietnam is expected to continue experiencing widespread moderate to heavy rainfall in the coming days. Photo: Hoang Minh. |
More notably, between July 19 and 23, the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration forecasts that northern Vietnam could come under the influence of a tropical convergence zone.
"Along this convergence zone, conditions may favor the formation of a tropical cyclone - either a tropical storm or tropical depression - which could trigger another episode of widespread heavy rainfall across the region," weather experts warned.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting also noted that after several consecutive days of rainfall, soil across many northern mountainous areas has become saturated. Forecasts indicate that both localized and widespread heavy rain will continue over the coming days.
As a result, the risk of flash floods and landslides remains extremely high across northern provinces. Residents and local authorities are urged to closely monitor weather updates and proactively implement disaster preparedness and response measures to minimize potential damage.
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