Vietnam News Today (Nov. 30): Vietnam Reaffirms Strong Commitment to Work with GMS Members Toward Shared Prosperity

	Vietnam News Today (Nov. 28): Vietnam, Australia Hold Financial Policy Dialogue
	Vietnam News Today (Nov. 29): Vietnam, RoK Step Up Cooperation in Labor, Employment

The upcoming state visit to Laos by Party General Secretary To Lam is set to further deepen the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to preserving their traditional bonds and strengthening their enduring great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam has said.

In an interview with Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Laos, the ambassador emphasized that the Party leader’s visit carries historic significance and special importance for Vietnam–Laos relations, particularly as both countries celebrate major national milestones in 2025.

During the visit, which will be made at the invitation of Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith, the Vietnamese Party chief and his entourage will attend a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of National Day of Laos, and co-chair the high-level meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party from December 1–2.

The visit is a historic diplomatic milestone that reflects the deep respect, close bond, and strong mutual support between the two Parties, States, and peoples, helping reinforce political trust, advance comprehensive cooperation, and open new directions for bilateral relations in the new era, Tam said.

The Vietnamese Party leader’s participation in Laos’ 50th National Day celebrations highlights the special bond, deep solidarity, and enduring friendship between the two nations, underscoring that each country’s success is a shared success of the two nations, while the Lao Party, State, and people’s achievements provide strong encouragement and motivation for Vietnam.

It also serves as a vivid testament to the steadfast, shared, and inseparable bond between the two Parties, countries, and peoples - standing together through hardship and joy alike - both during the past struggle for national liberation and in the national construction and defense at the present, Tam said.

According to the diplomat, Party General Secretary To Lam is scheduled to hold talks with Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith; meet with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane, and visit former senior Lao leaders; attend a ceremony to inaugurate the Laos–Vietnam Friendship Park; deliver a policy speech at the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration.

The two sides are expected to provide updates on the situation of each Party and country; share views on global and regional situations of common concern; discuss key areas of cooperation; review and evaluate bilateral relations over the past five years; and set major directions for future collaboration across politics, defense, security, and foreign affairs.

The two sides will discuss to deepen political relations as the core of bilateral ties, strengthen strategic cooperation on security and development, enhance collaboration across all levels and sectors, and maintain high-level visits and meetings between the two Parties, states, ministries, agencies, and localities. Close coordination in defense, security, and foreign affairs will remain a pillar of the Vietnam–Laos relationship, contributing to ensuring political stability, social order, and the protection of national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

They also aim to achieve breakthroughs in economic, trade, investment, and infrastructure cooperation, strengthen cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges; and expand mutual support and cooperation across ministries, agencies, and localities to deepen the enduring friendship and close ties between the two nations.

The two sides are expected to sign several key cooperation documents, providing a legal framework and setting new directions that align with each country’s development requirements and the shared interests of the two nations, towards further deepening the special Vietnam–Laos relationship in the new context.

These planned exchanges will lay a solid foundation for the two countries to jointly overcome challenges in safeguarding and developing their nations, reflecting a shared vision and long-term strategic interests for sustainable, self-reliant, and prosperous development, while contributing positively to promoting peace, friendship, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, Tam said.

According to the diplomat, to further strengthen and advance the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in the new period, the two sides need to maintain and continuously consolidate their political foundation; deepen their close coordination on strategic issues related to each country’s security and sustainable development; and intensify the sharing of experience in Party and political system building, ensuring national defense and security, foreign affairs, and international integration.

At the same time, it is essential to promote communication about the history and tradition of Vietnam–Laos relations among officials, Party members, and the public, especially the younger generations of both countries, according to VNA.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam (Photo: VNA)

He also underlined the importance of promoting economic cooperation, especially in institutional development, finance, transport infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, telecommunications, tourism, production–consumption linkages, innovation, science and technology, green growth, business partnerships, which enable both Vietnam and Laos to pursue sustainable and resilient development.

Attention should be paid to promoting people-to-people exchange, and cooperation in education-training, and creating opportunities for young officials, party members, youth, students, and pupils of the two sides to connect, exchange, learn from one another, and grow together, he noted.

The two countries should also strengthen coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, to safeguard shared interests and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region, Tam said.

He showed his belief with their tradition of special solidarity, strong political trust, and the shared will of their people, Vietnam and Laos will continue to stand side by side, advance toward prosperity, and further nurture their great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation, ensuring this enduring partnership grows stronger and forever.

Sultan’s state visit underlines Vietnam-Brunei strategic trust and economic prospects

The state visit to Vietnam by the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, from November 30 to December 2, reaffirms both countries’ resolve to deepen friendly ties and expand cooperation across politics, defense, energy, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

On the occasion of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah’s state visit to Vietnam, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Anh Vu spoke with a Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reporter about the significance of the visit and prospects for bilateral economic cooperation.

Ambassador Tran Anh Vu said that, at the invitation of President Luong Cuong, the Sultan’s visit reaffirms both countries’ determination to consolidate and deepen friendly relations and cooperation across all fields following the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership in 2019.

During the visit, the two sides will review the implementation of cooperative areas under the 2023-2027 action plan adopted during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Brunei in February 2023. The trip provides an opportunity to discuss measures to strengthen cooperation in priority areas such as diplomacy, defense, security, energy, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, as well as other fields of shared interest, reported VOV.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Tran Anh Vu.

For Brunei, the visit reflects the value it places on its enduring friendship with Vietnam as a trusted partner in ASEAN. For Vietnam, receiving the Sultan supports the Party and State’s foreign policy of giving priority to ties with ASEAN member states, consolidating and expanding all-around cooperation with Brunei, and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Economic and trade cooperation, a key pillar of the Comprehensive Partnership, has recorded positive progress in recent years. In 2024, two-way trade exceeded US$670 million, surpassing the target of US$500 million set for 2025.

Over the past 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s exports to Brunei rose by more than 30% compared with the same period last year. These results provide a basis for the two countries to pursue higher, more balanced and sustainable trade, including the goal of lifting bilateral trade to US$1 billion in the 2030-2035 period.

President of the Cambodian Senate and President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cambodia deepen traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son held meetings with Cambodian Party and Government leaders on November 28 to further consolidate and strengthen the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two countries.

The meetings took place during his official visit to Cambodia, where he co-chaired the 13th Conference on Cooperation and Development between Vietnamese and Cambodian border provinces from November 27-28.

During a courtesy call on President of the Cambodian Senate and President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Deputy PM Son expressed his delight at the strong growth of bilateral ties in recent times. He highlighted that cooperation through the Party channel has helped reinforce mutual trust and laid the foundation for advancing cooperation in other fields. Security and defense cooperation continues to play a pivotal role, helping maintain order along the shared border. Increasingly close economic cooperation has become a bright spot in bilateral relations, reflected in robust trade growth.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will direct relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to effectively carry out agreements between the two countries, especially the key outcomes reached at the 13th conference on cooperation and development of border provinces.

President Hun Sen voiced satisfaction with the positive and comprehensive progress in bilateral ties in recent years, stressing the importance of Party-to-Party cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as among Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. He recommended that the two sides step up cooperation across all fields, from politics, security, defense, economy, trade, and investment to education, training, culture, science, technology, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation between border provinces.

Later the same day, during his courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, Son congratulated Cambodia on the significant achievements recorded since the start of the seventh term of the Royal Government under PM Hun Manet’s leadership, including sustained political stability, continued economic growth, improved living standards, and enhanced international standing.

He emphasized that under the close attention and direction of the two countries’ leaders, Vietnam–Cambodia relations have been continuously strengthened and expanded, delivering tangible benefits to both peoples. Economic cooperation has become increasingly close and remains a highlight of bilateral ties. He affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to work closely with Cambodia to ensure the successful organisation of the 20th Francophonie Summit.

Son expressed his hope that PM Hun Manet, in his role, will continue directing relevant Cambodian ministries, sectors, and localities to work closely with Vietnam to create breakthroughs in economic cooperation, particularly by accelerating transport and logistics connectivity, including the Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai–Bavet–Phnom Penh expressway project. The two countries will develop border gates and cross-border trade infrastructure; and encourage proactive local-level cooperation, especially in trade, health care, and education.

He also called for strengthened defense and security cooperation, including joint efforts against cybercrime, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes; effective solutions for outstanding border demarcation issues; early signing of agreements on land border gates and border management; and continued attention to granting citizenship to all eligible persons of Vietnamese origin and facilitating their children’s access to public schools, cited VNA.

Hun Manet called for the continued implementation of Party-to-Party cooperation and trilateral cooperation among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; enhanced connectivity by road, waterway, and air; and strengthened comprehensive cooperation between border provinces in culture–education, security–defense, and combating transnational crime. He also emphasized that the Royal Government of Cambodia attaches importance to the Vietnamese-origin community and will support Vietnamese enterprises operating and investing in Cambodia.

Earlier, on November 27, Deputy PM Son and his delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia, where he met embassy staff, representatives of the Vietnamese community, and people of Vietnamese origin living and working in the country. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of strengthening and further promoting the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia, one of the top priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy, for the mutual development of both countries.

He noted that the Government is actively advancing international integration and introducing preferential mechanisms and policies to support integration, thereby creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses investing in Cambodia and other countries, while offering border provinces opportunities to proactively enhance cooperation with neighbouring localities.

Son encouraged the Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin communities in Cambodia to continue integrating well into local society, uniting and supporting one another to grow stronger, thereby contributing to reinforcing Vietnam–Cambodia relations.

He also visited several Vietnamese businesses operating in Phnom Penh.

Vietnam reaffirms strong commitment to work with GMS members toward shared prosperity

A Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong, attended the 27th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministerial Conference held on November 27-28 in Bangkok, Thailand

The meeting reviewed and hailed cooperation activities under the GMS framework to implement the outcomes of the GMS Summit held in Kunming, China, in November 2024 across multiple areas including transport, energy, trade and investment promotion, agriculture, the environment, health, and urban development.

During the conference, GMS member countries and development partners also discussed and shared information to accelerate regional development projects, with a focus on financing mechanisms.

Participants highlighted key issues affecting the subregion’s development, such as innovation, digitalization, knowledge sharing, and enhancing the role and engagement of local governments and the private sector in stimulating regional growth.

Alongside representatives from other GMS members (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand), the GMS Secretariat, development partners, and business communities from the subregion, the Vietnamese delegation actively participated in conference events and sideline meetings, cited VOV.

Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong addresses the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong delivered remarks at the high-level policy dialogue between governments and business communities, as well as the official ministerial session on November 28. He updated attendees on Vietnam’s latest socio-economic policies, particularly regarding science, technology, innovation, and private sector development-topics closely aligned with the conference theme.

Regarding the conference’s main theme, Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong proposed specific policy measures to strengthen the participation of local governments and the private sector in the GMS’s shared development.

For local administrations, he suggested establishing regular consultation mechanisms between central and local administrations; ensuring financial resources for local projects through domestic funding or public-private partnership (PPP) models; and enhancing local officials’ capacity in development planning, project management, and resource mobilization. He also emphasized the need for stronger decentralization and direct cooperation between localities.

On private sector development, Vietnam proposed that the GMS establish or expand technical assistance programs for small and medium-sized enterprises in areas such as digital transformation, technology innovation, market connectivity, and access to finance.

Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong also proposed that GMS strengthen its role in connecting public and private sectors, developing suitable PPP models to encourage greater private sector involvement in transport infrastructure, sustainable energy, trade and tourism promotion, and digital transformation, reducing public financial burdens while creating investment opportunities for private enterprises domestically and across the region.

During the ministerial conference, Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong and leaders of three participating provinces met with Scott Morris, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), to discuss future cooperation between Vietnam and ADB, focusing on implementing ADB’s financial support for Vietnam’s development projects.

Unusual tropical depression heads toward Typhoon Koto in the East Sea

A rare tropical depression moving through the East Sea is heading toward Typhoon Koto (the 15th storm of the season), prompting marine warnings even though it is not expected to make landfall in southern Vietnam.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 1:00 p.m. on November 29, the center of the tropical depression was located in the southwestern part of the southern East Sea. Wind speeds near the center ranged from level 6 to 7 (39–61 km/h), with gusts reaching level 9.

The depression is moving east-northeast at approximately 15 km/h.

What makes this system particularly noteworthy is its origin. It developed from Typhoon Senyar, a rare storm that formed in the Strait of Malacca - only the second recorded storm to do so since Typhoon Vamei in 2001. Senyar then traveled from the Indian Ocean, crossed Malaysia, and moved into the western Pacific.

Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Weather Forecasting Center, explained that while tropical depressions forming below 5°N latitude have been recorded since 1951, almost all of them tend to move westward - not eastward as in this case.

“This eastward-moving low-latitude depression is extremely rare - possibly unprecedented,” Khiem emphasized.

He also noted that although the depression is unlikely to directly impact the southern mainland, it could still affect offshore areas as it moves toward the south-central coast, where Typhoon Koto is currently located, VNN reported.

Forecasted path of Typhoon Koto and the rare tropical depression on Nov 29, 13:00. Source: NCHMF

In the next 24–48 hours, the depression is forecast to track northeast at 10–15 km/h, passing offshore from the southern to south-central provinces. By 1:00 p.m. on November 30, it is expected to maintain wind speeds of level 7 with gusts to level 9 before gradually weakening into a low-pressure area. By December 1, it will likely sit in the northwestern part of the southern East Sea.

Typhoon Koto remains stalled in central East Sea

As of 1:00 p.m. on November 29, the center of Typhoon Koto was located in the northwestern sector of the central East Sea. Its maximum sustained winds were at level 9–10 (75–102 km/h), with gusts reaching level 13.

Koto is currently drifting northward at a very slow pace of 5 km/h. Forecasts suggest the storm will linger in the central East Sea over the next three to four days, maintaining intensity while continuously changing direction.

Today, it moves north. Tomorrow (November 30), it is expected to shift westward, and by December 1, south-westward. Each day, the storm is likely to weaken by one level.

By December 2–3, Koto is expected to approach offshore areas near Gia Lai (formerly part of Binh Dinh) and Dak Lak (formerly Phu Yen), eventually degrading into a tropical depression, then a low-pressure zone.

Specifically, by 1:00 p.m. on December 2, the storm will continue southwestward at 3–5 km/h, weakening further. Its center will be about 250 km off the eastern coast of Gia Lai–Dak Lak, with wind speeds of level 8 and gusts up to level 10.

Between 72 and 120 hours from now, Koto is forecast to move west-southwest at 5–10 km/h and continue to weaken.

Risk alert level 3 issued for two marine zones

The simultaneous presence of Typhoon Koto and the rare tropical depression has led to dangerous sea conditions in multiple areas.

From November 30 onward, the northwestern sector of the central East Sea is expected to face winds at level 7, with areas near the storm center seeing wind speeds of level 8–10 and gusts reaching level 12–13. Waves may reach 3–5 meters, with peak heights up to 6–8 meters near the storm’s core, causing extremely rough seas.

The southwestern part of the southern East Sea - including waters near the southwest of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago - is expected to experience level 6–7 winds, gusts to level 8–9, and waves from 2.5 to 4 meters.

Coastal waters from Da Nang to Khanh Hoa will face strong north-to-northwest winds of level 6–7, gusting to level 8–9, with waves as high as 5 meters.

The northern East Sea - including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago - and waters off southern Quang Tri to Hue will also be affected by northeast winds at level 5–6, gusting to level 7–8, and waves of 2–4 meters.

The general disaster risk level at sea is currently set at Level 2, with Level 3 warnings issued for the northwestern sector of the central East Sea and the southwestern sector of the southern East Sea.

Vessels operating in these zones are at high risk of encountering strong winds, thunderstorms, and dangerous swells.

Vietnam News Today (Nov. 26): Vietnam, EU Hold Sixth Joint Committee’s Session to Advance Partnership Vietnam News Today (Nov. 26): PM shares Vietnam’s development strategy at CEO500 Tea Connect; Vietnam ready to share digital transformation experience with Laos; Vietnam, EU ...

Vietnam News Today (Nov. 27): Vietnam Celebrates 50 years of UNICEF Partnership Vietnam News Today (Nov. 27): Vietnam celebrates 50 years of UNICEF partnership, 35 years of child rights commitment; Philippines, Vietnam bolster defense ties at 7th ...