Vietnam ready to support Venezuela after earthquake: spokesperson

Vietnam stands ready to provide appropriate support for Venezuela following the devastating earthquake that struck the South American nation on June 24 evening, while closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of Vietnamese citizens there, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said on June 25.

Speaking at the ministry’s regular press briefing in Hanoi, Hang said Party General Secretary and State President To Lam sent a message of sympathy to Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez following the disaster, which caused significant human and material losses.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, who recently paid an official visit to Venezuela, also conveyed his condolences directly to the Venezuelan side, according to VNA.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)

Based on the traditional friendship between the two countries, Vietnam is ready to provide appropriate forms of support for Venezuela, the spokesperson said.

She cited the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela as informing that Vietnamese citizens living, studying and working in the country remain safe. The embassy is maintaining close coordination with local authorities and monitoring developments to promptly implement citizen protection measures should any Vietnamese nationals be affected.

Vietnamese citizens requiring emergency assistance are advised to contact the embassy’s citizen protection hotline at +58 424 267 4447 or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 24/7 citizen protection hotline at (+84) 981 84 84 84.

At the same press briefing, Hang also provided updates regarding a recent fire at the Sadovod trade center in Moscow, Russia, which affected several Vietnamese-owned businesses.

According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, embassy officials travelled to the scene immediately after the incident and worked with the trade center’s management board to assess the situation and offer support to affected traders.

To date, Vietnamese business owners have been assisted to resume their commercial activities, she said.

Responding to a question about the June 16 hearing before France’s Court of Cassation concerning the lawsuit filed by Vietnamese-French citizen Tran To Nga against 14 US chemical companies over Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, the spokesperson reiterated Vietnam’s longstanding position on the issue.

Although the war ended decades ago, its severe consequences continue to affect Vietnam and its people, including the long-lasting and serious impacts suffered by AO/dioxin victims, she said.

“Once again, we support the efforts by AO/dioxin victims to seek accountability from the chemical companies that produced and supplied AO/dioxin to the US during the war in Vietnam, and to require them to address the consequences caused by their actions,” Hang stated.

Venezuelan NA leader hails President Ho Chi Minh’s legacy

First Vice President of the Venezuelan National Assembly Pedro Infante praised the life, career and great thought of President Ho Chi Minh while addressing a wreath-laying ceremony held on June 24 at the Ho Chi Minh Monument in the capital city of Caracas as part of Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung's official visit to Venezuela.

He emphasized that the late leader’s lifelong devotion and sacrifices for national independence and freedom continue to inspire peace-loving peoples around the world, including the Venezuelan people.

​Pedro Infante expressed deep admiration for the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in the country’s past struggle for national liberation as well as its ongoing national development efforts.

Praising Vietnam’s remarkable achievements under the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, he affirmed that the great successes of the Vietnamese revolution stem from the sound policies and talented leadership of the CPV and the immense contributions of President Ho Chi Minh.

He noted that in Venezuela’s current efforts to safeguard independence and promote national development, the image of President Ho Chi Minh remains deeply rooted in the hearts of members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and the Venezuelan people. Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh, he said, continue to serve as an inspiring model for Venezuela’s revolutionary cause. He reaffirmed Venezuela’s desire to further strengthen and deepen traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two Parties, States, National Assemblies and peoples.

​In his remarks at the ceremony, Trung reviewed major milestones in President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary life and career, stressing that the great ideological legacy left by the late leader continues to serve as the guiding principle behind all victories of the Vietnamese revolution, VNA reported.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (second, right) speaks at the wreath-laying ceremony held on June 24 at the Ho Chi Minh Monument in the capital city of Caracas (Photo: VNA)

​The minister particularly highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s famous saying: “Solidarity, solidarity, great solidarity. Success, success, great success,” noting that it reflects not only the strength of national unity but also the foundation of sincere international solidarity. He affirmed that the close ties and solidarity between Vietnam and Venezuela stand as vivid testimony to the enduring value of that ideology in the contemporary era.

The ceremony also featured performances of well-known songs praising President Ho Chi Minh composed by Venezuelan revolutionary and People’s Artist Ali Primera. The songs were performed by Deputy Minister of Culture, National Assembly deputy and artist Ali Alejandro, the late musician’s grandson, drawing emotional responses from Caracas residents and representatives of political parties in the ruling coalition.

Later the same day, the Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath in tribute to national hero Simón Bolívar at the National Pantheon. The ceremony was attended by representatives of Venezuelan central and local authorities, as well as ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Venezuela.

Vietnamese and Lao youth serve as bridge strengthening bilateral ties

A 67-member volunteer delegation from the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union has launched a broad array of community activities across southern Laos under the Summer Volunteer Program in Laos, running from June 12 to 28.

This marks the 22nd year the program has been held in Laos, continuing to promote the spirit of volunteerism and youth engagement while contributing to the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Across the provinces of Attapeu, Sekong, Salavan and Champasak, the delegation has carried out various social welfare, community support and youth projects, with total support valued at nearly VND1 billion (about US$38,000).

The program focuses on healthcare, education, social welfare and improving living conditions for local communities. Activities include medical check-ups, health consultations and free medicine distribution for thousands of local residents; donations of social welfare gifts, wheelchairs, blood pressure monitors, backpacks and school supplies for students; as well as training courses in agricultural techniques, livestock farming, veterinary care and sewing.

The delegation has also organized Vietnamese language classes for students and professional training sessions for teachers. In addition, volunteers have donated and handed over a range of practical community projects, including Friendship Houses, clean drinking water systems for schools, computer rooms, RO water filtration systems, friendship street lighting systems, children’s playgrounds and school renovation projects.

Alongside volunteer work, the delegation laid flowers at the Vietnam-Laos Combat Alliance Monument and the monument dedicated to President Kaysone Phomvihane. They also paid courtesy visits to leaders of southern Lao localities and the Consulate General of Vietnam in Pakse, cited VOV.

The volunteer delegation presents gifts to disadvantaged families in Xekong province (Photo: VNA)

Leaders of southern Lao localities hailed the meaningful contributions made by Ho Chi Minh City’s youth over more than two decades of implementing the program, saying these efforts bring practical benefits to local communities while helping strengthen mutual understanding, foster youth connections and deepen friendship between the two nations.

Since 2004, the Summer Volunteer Program in southern Laos has served as an important bridge connecting the youth of Vietnam and Laos. Over the past 22 years, it has continued to affirm the role of young people in community building while helping forge friendship between the two countries in a more substantive and meaningful manner, bringing practical benefits to their people.

Vietnam, Norway seek to deepen cooperation in construction, transport and green transition

Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan on June 24 received Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken, on her farewell visit marking the conclusion of her diplomatic mission.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan congratulated Ambassador Hilde Solbakken on the successful completion of her tenure in Vietnam and highly commended her positive and effective contributions to strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and Norway, particularly in the fields of construction, transport and environmental protection.

He stressed that the Norwegian Embassy's close cooperation over the past years had played an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and expanding practical cooperation between agencies and institutions of the two countries, especially in areas under the Ministry of Construction's management.

Expressing her appreciation for the warm reception, Ambassador Hilde Solbakken praised the Ministry of Construction for its close and effective cooperation throughout her tenure in Vietnam. She noted that Vietnam has made significant progress in developing green transport, advancing the energy transition and fulfilling its commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in which Norway possesses extensive experience and strong potential for cooperation.

Ambassador Hilde Solbakken expressed confidence that, building on the solid bilateral relationship and the positive cooperation achieved in recent years, particularly in green shipping, the circular economy and energy transition, relations between Vietnam and Norway would continue to develop in a deeper, more practical and more effective manner.

Affirming that Vietnam and Norway have maintained productive cooperation across a wide range of sectors, notably maritime affairs, construction materials and environmental protection, Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan said Norwegian Government assistance programmes had made practical contributions to strengthening human resource capacity, supporting the modernisation of Vietnam's maritime sector and facilitating the country's implementation of international commitments on greenhouse gas emissions reduction, NDO reported.

Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan, Ambassador Hilde Solbakken and delegates at the meeting. (Photo: Ministry of Construction Portal)

In line with Vietnam's sustainable development and green transition agenda, the Deputy Minister expressed his hope that the two sides would further expand cooperation in promising areas such as smart seaport development, green logistics, digital transformation, the use of clean fuels and the training of high-quality human resources. These areas, he noted, are fully aligned with global development trends and will help deepen the effectiveness and substance of Vietnam–Norway cooperation.

On behalf of the Ministry of Construction, Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan wished Ambassador Hilde Solbakken every success in her new assignment and expressed confidence that she would continue to serve as an important bridge in fostering and strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Norway.

Vietnam News Today (Jun. 21): Vietnam Affirms Position in ASEAN, Creating New Growth Space Vietnam News Today (Jun. 21): Vietnam, Japan strengthen cooperation on intellectual property protection; Vietnam-France Business Forum 2026 elevates strategic cooperation in AI era; Vietnam affirms ...

Vietnam News Today (Jun. 22): Vietnam-Singapore Trade Reflects Deeper Integration in Supply Chains Vietnam News Today (Jun. 22): Vietnam-Singapore trade reflects deeper integration in supply chains; Da Nang, Copenhagen strengthen ties for green development; President Ho Chi Minh ...