Vietnam News Today (July 20): Diplomacy Opens New Pathways for Vietnam’s Development
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Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) receives Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Executive Acting Secretary-General Hagiuda Koichi in Hanoi on July 21. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Japan seek to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung hosted a visiting delegation of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Executive Acting Secretary-General Hagiuda Koichi in Hanoi on July 21.

At the meeting, both sides shared the delight at the substantive and steady progress in relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the LDP, as well as the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Trung congratulated Japan and the LDP on their recent achievements, noting that following the successful visit to Vietnam by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in May, the current visit by the high-ranking LDP delegation carries significant importance for further strengthening ties between the two ruling parties and expanding bilateral cooperation.

Sharing updates on the outcomes of the 14th National Party Congress, Vietnam's foreign policy and future growth model, the Vietnamese FM reaffirmed that despite increasingly complex regional and global environments, Vietnam continues to regard Japan as a key partner and remains committed to deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Hagiuda congratulated Vietnam on the successful 14th National Party Congress and commended the new leadership's determination to advance administrative reform, streamline local government structures and pursue the goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045, cited VNA.

He said he is pleased to return to Vietnam three years after his 2023 visit on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam–Japan diplomatic relations as Chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council. He also praised Vietnam's socio-economic achievements and highlighted the importance of the two ruling parties' effective cooperation under a memorandum signed in 2015.

Noting the considerable potential for further expanding bilateral ties, Trung proposed that both sides strengthen mutual understanding and political trust through more high-level exchanges, enhance cooperation between the parties' respective commissions, and effectively implement agreements reached by the two countries' senior leaders, particularly those in the fields of economy, science and technology, and education and training agreed during Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to Vietnam in May.

He also called for closer coordination, exchanges of views and mutual support on regional and international issues.

On the occasion, Trung invited representatives of the Japanese Government and local authorities to attend the second Vietnam–Japan Local Cooperation Forum, scheduled to take place in the central city of Hue in early September 2026. He also expressed hope that the LDP will continue supporting policies to ensure fair and favourable living and working conditions for the approximately 700,000 Vietnamese residing in Japan.

Agreeing with the minister's proposals, Hagiuda affirmed that he would continue working to encourage the LDP and the Japanese Government to advance substantive cooperation between the LDP and the CPV and further deepen bilateral relations, particularly in digital transformation, green transition and energy security.

He highlighted the importance of effectively implementing Japanese initiatives such as the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) and the Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (POWERR Asia).

Vietnam reaffirms commitment to human rights at AMM-59

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed Vietnam's strong commitment to promoting and protecting human rights after country won a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term.

He pledged that Vietnam would advance key priorities, including addressing human rights in the context of climate change and digital transformation, promoting gender equality, and protecting vulnerable groups.

Dang, who also heads the Vietnamese delegation to the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), made the remarks during the interface meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Manila, the Philippines, on July 20. The meeting took place within the framework of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings, held from July 20–24.

He emphasized that Vietnam highly values AICHR's role in advancing regional human rights cooperation, describing human rights as a cross-sectoral and cross-pillar issue that requires a comprehensive approach and close coordination among ASEAN's specialized bodies.

Dang stressed that AICHR should continue to operate in line with the ASEAN Charter, the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, and ASEAN's agreed rules, procedures, and principles, ensuring that regional human rights cooperation is guided by mutual trust and understanding.

He reaffirmed Vietnam's readiness to work closely with fellow ASEAN member states to strengthen the bloc's voice and contribution to international human rights efforts, VGP reported.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang.

The deputy minister also thanked ASEAN member states and AICHR representatives for supporting the AICHR workshop hosted by Vietnam in Hanoi in June, which focused on raising awareness and sharing best practices on promoting and protecting human rights at sea.

At the meeting, ASEAN foreign ministers commended AICHR's contributions to ASEAN Community-building and its continued efforts to promote and protect human rights. They highlighted the commission's cooperation with ASEAN bodies to raise human rights awareness across various sectors, advance the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities, and address emerging challenges such as environmental protection, the rights to development and peace, transnational crime, human trafficking, and online scams.

The ministers reviewed AICHR's 2025–2026 annual report and Priority Agenda 2027, acknowledged the initial progress in implementing the AICHR Work Plan 2026–2030, and discussed the roadmap for implementing the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment and the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace.

During the meeting of the Commission for the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), Dang expressed concern over growing strategic uncertainty and the increasing role of nuclear weapons in national security doctrines, warning that these trends undermine strategic trust and heighten the risks of arms races and nuclear proliferation.

He underscored that the SEANWFZ Treaty reflects Southeast Asia's shared determination to prevent nuclear proliferation, reduce nuclear risks, and work toward the ultimate goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, thereby contributing to regional and global peace and security.

Dang called on ASEAN to fully and effectively implement the Treaty's Plan of Action by not only supporting international peace and security but also strengthening cooperation on nuclear safety, emergency preparedness, and response.

He further proposed that ASEAN expand its contribution to global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation by establishing closer consultative relations with other nuclear-weapon-free zones. Such cooperation, he said, would facilitate the exchange of experiences, strengthen collective advocacy for nuclear disarmament, reduce strategic risks, and reinforce compliance with international non-proliferation norms.

On the occasion, Dang thanked ASEAN member states for their strong support for Vietnam in its role as President of the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

The ministers welcomed progress in implementing the 2023–2027 Plan of Action for the SEANWFZ Treaty. They also exchanged views on encouraging nuclear-weapon states to accede to the Treaty's Protocol and discussed potential cooperation with the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) and the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (CANWFZ). They reaffirmed their commitment to upholding ASEAN unity and promoting the Treaty's significance at the global level.

On July 19, ASEAN senior officials finalized the agenda and key documents for ministerial consideration, including the draft joint communiqué, joint ministerial statements with dialogue partners, and new action plans with ASEAN's partners.

On July 21, ASEAN foreign ministers will continue the second day of AMM-59 with the opening ceremony, plenary session, and retreat, followed by an expanded informal consultation on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar.

Vietnam climbs global supply chain ladder with robust supply capacity

Rising foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, competitive costs, policy stability, an extensive network of free trade agreements (FTAs) and agile businesses are among the key factors helping Vietnam strengthen its position on the global supply chain map

Testing supply capacity

Stable supply, traceability and compliance with green standards, including ESG requirements, are among the criteria global importers are increasingly demanding from Vietnamese suppliers as the country prepares to welcome 400-500 international buyers to the 2026 Vietnam International Sourcing Expo (VIS 2026).

With nearly two months to go before the event, the list of confirmed buyers continues to grow, featuring major names from the US, the EU, China, Japan, Mexico and other markets, including Walmart, ESFLO Mkting, IKEA and Central Retail.

Beyond a trade exhibition, VIS 2026 serves as an important export promotion platform, helping affirm Vietnam’s position in global supply chains that continue to shift and undergo restructuring.

The return of major importers such as Walmart, Central Retail and IKEA is also a strategic test of Vietnamese manufacturers’ ability to meet increasingly stringent requirements on product traceability, sustainability, recyclability and environmentally friendly packaging.

For the fourth consecutive year, Walmart, the largest retailer in the US, will participate in the event to seek Vietnamese suppliers in six categories - clothing and accessories, footwear, textiles and accessories, consumer electronics, furniture, and food and consumer goods.

Vietnam is not a new sourcing destination for Walmart. The retailer imports billions of US dollars worth of Vietnamese goods annually through its representative office, established in 2013, which helps source products and develop suppliers for its distribution network of 10,900 stores and clubs in 19 countries, reported VNA.

Trung Nam Ca Na International Port in Khanh Hoa province forms a goods supply chain in the region. (Photo: VNA)

The Department of Foreign Market Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) said that becoming a supplier of Walmart effectively gives Vietnamese businesses a powerful “passport” to enter any demanding market in the world.

The Republic of Korea (RoK), which imports more than 30 billion USD worth of goods from Vietnam each year, will also send several major buyers to VIS 2026. Among them, HiteJinro aims to source Vietnamese processed food products for distribution through its global network, while also preparing for plans to expand production in Vietnam in the coming time.

Engagement with global retailers enables Vietnamese manufacturers and exporters to better understand international market requirements. Meeting the high standards of major retailers can also help businesses restructure, improve competitiveness and upgrade their products.

Vietnamese goods find expanding opportunities in South American market

The Vietnam Trade Office in Argentina reported on July 20 that numerous businesses from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, and Peru have registered to source suppliers from Vietnam.

Demand centers on agricultural products, athletic shoes, military uniforms, technical rubber, modular construction materials, and renewable energy equipment.

Trade representatives highlighted substantial growth potential for Vietnamese exporters in the region, particularly in sectors where domestic manufacturers hold strong competitive advantages in scale, product quality, and delivery capability, reported VOV.

Overseas enterprises look to connect with Vietnamese suppliers. (Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Argentina currently ranks as Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner in Latin America. In 2025, two-way trade reached approximately US$4.27 billion, with Vietnamese exports to the South American nation soaring 68.7% year-on-year to nearly US$877 million.

Although long shipping distances and logistics costs pose ongoing challenges, the complementary nature of the two economies and progress toward a Preferential Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Mercosur bloc are opening up vast opportunities for Vietnamese firms to penetrate deeper into the South American market.

Low-pressure system off Philippines may hit East Sea as storm by weekend

A low-pressure area east of the Philippines is expected to strengthen into a tropical depression and potentially a storm before moving into the northeastern East Sea by the weekend, alongside warnings of heavy rainfall across northern Vietnam, the national weather forecasting agency said on July 21.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), the system was located near 13 degrees North latitude and 135 degrees East longitude as of July 21 afternoon, roughly 1,200 km east of the Philippines.

Forecasters project a 70% chance that the low-pressure area will intensify into a tropical depression by July 23 and further develop into a storm between July 24 and 25. Moving northwest, the system has a 60-70% probability of entering the northeastern part of the East Sea around July 25 or 26.

Meteorologists emphasized that complex atmospheric interactions could cause rapid shifts in both the storm's intensity and trajectory as it nears the East Sea.

Parallel to the offshore developments, northern Vietnam is forecast to experience a heavy downpour from July 23 to 25. Rainfall across the region is expected to average between 70 mm and 150 mm, with localized totals exceeding 250 mm. High-risk provinces include Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, and Son La, cited VOV.

Forecasters warned that intense rainfall over short periods poses significant risks of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, as well as inundation in low-lying urban zones. Scattered thunderstorms will continue across the North through July 24 before easing around July 25 or 26, depending on whether the region is directly affected by the storm's outer circulation.

Meanwhile, severe heat will persist across central provinces from southern Nghe An to Da Nang, as well as eastern portions of Quang Ngai to Dak Lak. The Central Highlands and southern regions will see scattered evening thunderstorms, with rainfall increasing around July 25 and 26.

Residents, particularly fishermen in the East Sea, as well as coastal and northern mountainous localities, are advised to closely monitor official updates to prepare response plans and minimize natural disaster damage.

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