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General Secretary To Lam (R) welcomes Politburo member of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) Jorge Inocenio Dombolo to Vietnam to attend the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification in Ho Chi Minh City on April 29, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Angola 50-year ties - Strong foundation, promising future: Ambassador

Building on the achievements of current cooperation, Vietnam and Angola expect a promising future economic collaboration with agriculture as a spearhead area, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency's reporter on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (November 12, 1975 – 2025).

Reviewing key milestones in the bilateral ties, the diplomat said that the past half-century stands as vivid testimony to the enduring friendship between the two peoples, united by their shared aspiration for independence, peace and development. On November 12, 1975 - just one day after President Agostinho Neto declared Angola’s independence - Vietnam officially recognized and established diplomatic relations with Angola.

Politically, ties between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) have remained a firm cornerstone of the bilateral relations.

The Cooperation Agreement for 2024–2029 reaffirms both sides’ determination to elevate their partnership. High-level exchanges have been maintained regularly, including visits to Angola by State President Tran Duc Luong (2002), Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh (2008), Minister of Public Security To Lam (2023), and most recently, State President Luong Cuong (August 2025). From the Angolan side, notable visits include those by President José Eduardo dos Santos (1987), Vice President Manuel Vicente (2012), and Foreign Minister Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti (2017).

The two countries have also coordinated closely at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the African Union (AU). With President João Lourenço serving as AU Chair since February 2025, Angola has been promoting ASEAN–AU cooperation, opening a new space for Vietnam–Angola relations, cited VNA.

Economically, bilateral trade is approaching 270 million USD, with the two sides targeting 1 billion USD following Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong’s visit. Agriculture remains a strategic focus given Vietnam’s strengths and Angola’s efforts to revitalize domestic production.

The 7th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee (March 2024) set new directions, while Xuan Thien Group - the first Vietnamese enterprise investing in Angola - has launched major projects in energy, agriculture, finance and infrastructure, marking substantive and mutually beneficial progress.

The naming of Ho Chi Minh Avenue in central Luanda stands as a powerful symbol of the enduring Vietnam–Angola friendship, stated the diplomat.

Vietnam enhances stronger maritime links with Greece

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai met with Gabriel Petris, Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Piraeus, Greece, and Chairman of Aerius Energy Group in Hanoi on November 10 to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation in the maritime sector.

The NA Vice Chairman praised Greece’s extensive experience and strong performance in shipping and shipbuilding, noting that the country ranks among the world’s leaders in maritime operations and revenue.

Hailing Petris’s interest in Vietnam’s shipbuilding and shipping industries, Hai expressed hope that partnerships between Aerius Energy and Vietnamese counterparts would soon materialize. He highlighted that maritime sector is area of mutual strength with high potential for cooperation.

Hai noted that high logistics costs remain a challenge for Vietnam’s import-export activities. To tackle this, the country is ready to encourage and support the development of shipping fleets, shipbuilding, and international partnerships in maritime transport.

Hai expressed his hope that Gabriel Petris would continue exploring investment and cooperation opportunities in Hai Phong city as well as other localities across Vietnam. Currently, the country has planned and is developing large-scale, integrated port and maritime logistics areas in the northern, central, and southern regions.

In addition, Vietnam prioritizes tourism development, considering it a key sector for coastal localities such as Hai Phong and Quang Ninh province, while also planning high-quality marina projects in Da Nang city, Khanh Hoa province, and several southern provinces, Hai told his guest.

Regarding cooperation in the seafarer sector, Hai stated that as Vietnam advances its maritime economy and ocean-oriented development, both sides could cooperate to utilize Vietnam’s abundant labor resources. He affirmed that the NA’s readiness to listen and help remove legal and regulatory obstacles, according to VOV.

NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai welcomes Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Piraeus Gabriel Petris (Photo: quochoi.vn)

He urged the Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VMC), through its governing agency, to submit necessary proposals to promote maritime economic cooperation between the two sides, enabling Vietnam to attract investment, technology, markets, and clients in this key sector.

Expressing pride in the increasingly strong and friendly ties between Vietnam and Greece, Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Piraeus, Gabriel Petris, applauded Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in recent years, particularly in maritime development which has utilized the country’s long coastline. He also emphasized that bilateral relations have expanded across politics, economics, trade, healthcare, education, and culture. With its extensive coastline, Greece is eager and ready to cooperate with and support Vietnam in developing an integrated fleet, port system, and shipbuilding industry, he added.

Vietnam, India vow to deepen defense cooperation

Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for Indian Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in Hanoi on November 10, during which both sides expressed satisfaction with the fruitful outcomes of the 15th Vietnam – India Defense Policy Dialogue held earlier the same day.

Giang highlighted the great potential for cooperation between the two countries and called on the defense ministries to further promote friendship, mutual understanding, and trust, making bilateral defense ties more practical and effective.

Affirming that Vietnam always treasures its traditional friendship with India, he expressed his belief that the Indian delegation’s visit, led by Singh, will be a success, contributing to strengthening bilateral relations in general and defense cooperation in particular.

The Vietnamese minister appreciated India’s support for Vietnam in recent years, especially in training hundreds of Vietnamese military officers in various fields, and in providing aid packages and preferential credit, VNA reported.

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (right) receives Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in Hanoi on November 10, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

He also noted bilateral defense cooperation has expanded continuously and achieved tangible results as seen in regular mutual visits, consultations, young officers’ exchanges, training cooperation, joint efforts in peacekeeping operations, and coordination at multilateral forums.

For his part, Singh noted India and Vietnam share many similarities in culture, people, and history, and that defense cooperation is one of the important driving forces of bilateral relations.

He expressed confidence that the outcomes of the 15th Defense Policy Dialogue, co-chaired by the Indian Defense Secretary and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, will further deepen the defense partnership between the two countries.

Vietnam and China border forces jointly disseminate legal regulations to border residents

From November 7 to 10, Border Guard Stations in northern Lang Son province coordinated with Chinese border forces and local authorities to conduct legal communication activities for residents living along the shared border.

Thousands of leaflets were distributed, providing information on agreements and protocols on border management and protection; the agreement on the regulations for the management of the Vietnam-China land border; entry-exit and import-export regulations; border-gate management rules; and measures to prevent smuggling and trade fraud. The materials also emphasized the importance of safeguarding territorial sovereignty and national border security.

At busy border gates such as Tan Thanh, Huu Nghi, and Chi Ma, leaflets were prepared in both Vietnamese and Chinese with clear, accessible language and illustrative visuals suitable for local residents, VOV reported.

Vietnamese and Chinese border forces provide legal guidance to traders at Tan Thanh market in Lang Son (Photo: VNA)

Lam Van Ha, a driver from Gia Lai rovince, said he frequently crosses the Tan Thanh Border Gate to transport goods to China. “Border guards regularly remind drivers involved in import–export activities to comply with legal regulations at the border gate. Thanks to these efforts, many people now understand what constitutes a violation and avoid engaging in unlawful acts,” he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Vi Van Duy, Deputy Political Commissar of the Tan Thanh Border Guard Station under the Lang Son Border Guard Command, noted that legal dissemination activities help border residents stay updated on newly issued regulations. He added that with about 1,000 people completing entry and exit procedures daily at Tan Thanh Border Gate, raising legal awareness remains essential. “We aim to foster voluntary compliance with the law among border communities on both sides,” he said.

The campaign also marked Vietnam Law Day on November 9 and contributed to strengthening cooperation between border forces of both countries, with the shared goal of building a border area of peace, friendship and development.

Typhoon Fung-Wong enters East Sea as storm No. 14, shifts direction

Typhoon Fung-Wong has entered the eastern waters of the northern East Sea, becoming the 14th storm of 2025 with sustained wind speeds of level 13 (134-149 km/h) and gusts reaching level 16.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, after making landfall over the Luzon Peninsula in the Philippines as a super typhoon, Fung-Wong weakened slightly early (November 10) and moved into the East Sea, officially becoming storm No. 14 of the year.

At 4 a.m., the storm’s center was located in the eastern area of the northern East Sea. The strongest winds near the center were at level 13 (134-149 km/h), with gusts reaching level 16. The storm was moving in a west-northwest direction at about 25 km/h.

According to meteorological agencies, after entering the East Sea, the subtropical high-pressure ridge to the north that typically guides storm trajectories weakened and extended further south. As a result, the storm did not follow the usual westward path but instead began shifting northward.

As the storm moved to higher latitudes, it entered a new jet stream in the upper atmosphere, likely causing it to change course toward the northeast and eventually exit the East Sea.

Specifically, within the next 24 hours, the storm is expected to shift its direction from west-northwest to northwest and slow down to a speed of 10-15 km/h. By 4 a.m. on November 11, the storm’s center is projected to remain over the eastern part of the northern East Sea, maintaining its intensity at level 13 with gusts of level 16.

Over the following 24 hours, the storm is forecast to change direction again, this time heading north-northeast at a similar speed. By 4 a.m. on November 12, its center will likely be located in the northeastern area of the northern East Sea, still maintaining level 13 intensity with level 16 gusts.

In the next 24 hours after that, the storm is expected to shift further to the northeast at a speed of 15-20 km/h. By 4 a.m. on November 13, it is predicted to approach the coastal waters northeast of Taiwan (China), weakening to level 8 with gusts of level 10.

Between 72 and 96 hours from now, the storm will continue moving east-northeast at 20-25 km/h while gradually weakening.

According to experts, storms that occur late in the typhoon season typically travel west or west-southwest and often impact Vietnam’s south-central provinces. However, Fung-Wong’s northward shift and exit from the East Sea are highly unusual.

Thus, after roaming the East Sea for around two days with level 13 intensity, typhoon No. 14 (Fung-Wong) is expected to move northward with minimal likelihood of making landfall in Vietnam, cited VNN.

Typhoon Fung-Wong reached super typhoon strength before entering the East Sea as storm No. 14, bringing intense winds and causing dangerous sea conditions.

Nevertheless, due to the storm’s influence, the eastern waters of the northern East Sea today and tonight will experience strong winds of level 8-10. Areas near the storm’s center will experience winds of level 11-13 and gusts of level 16, with sea waves reaching 5-8 meters, and up to 8-10 meters near the center. The sea will be extremely rough.

In the eastern part of the central East Sea, winds are forecast at level 6-7 with gusts at level 8-9. Seas in this region will also be rough, with waves from 6-8 meters.

Additionally, rain and thunderstorms are expected in the eastern waters of both the northern and central East Sea today and tonight. These storms may be accompanied by tornadoes and strong gusts.

A warning has been issued for continued severe weather over the eastern northern East Sea tomorrow and tomorrow night, with winds at level 8-10, gusts of level 16, and waves as high as 8-10 meters. The disaster risk level at sea is set at level 2, and specifically at level 3 for the eastern northern East Sea.

All vessels operating in these hazardous areas are at risk of encountering thunderstorms, waterspouts, strong winds, and high waves.

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