Vietnam News Today (Oct. 10): Vietnam, DPRK Vow to Take Bilateral Ties to New Heights

	Vietnam News Today (Oct. 8): Vietnamese, French Port Cities Set Up Cooperative, Friendly Ties
	Vietnam News Today (Oct. 9): Vietnam and DPRK Look Towards Stronger Bilateral Relations

Vietnam, DPRK vow to take bilateral ties to new heights

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) To Lam held talks with General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un at the WPK headquarters on October 9 in Pyongyang immediately following the solemn welcome ceremony for the top Vietnamese Party leader.

General Secretary and President Kim Jong Un warmly welcomed Party General Secretary To Lam and his entourage on their state visit to the DPRK and for attending the celebration of the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Kim Jong Un stressed that this visit carries special significance, creating strong momentum to deepen mutual understanding, consolidate political trust, and elevate relations between the two Parties and the two countries to a new height, with a view to fulfilling each country’s socialist development objectives; it will also contribute to supporting the development of the DPRK.

The host leader recalled with great fondness his positive impressions of the Vietnamese people and the beautiful, developing country of Vietnam during his official friendly visit to Vietnam in 2019.

Expressing his pleasure at visiting the DPRK in his new capacity and at a time when the DPRK is solemnly marking the 80th founding anniversary of the WPK Korea (October 10, 1945 – October 10, 2025) and when both sides mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, the Vietnamese Party chief warmly congratulated the DPRK on its great achievements over the past 80 years under the leadership of the WPK, led by President Kim Il Sung, General Secretary Kim Jong Il, and now by General Secretary and President Kim Jong Un.

Party General Secretary To Lam expressed his belief that, guided by the principles of “putting the people at the center,” “great unity,” and “self-reliance,” the DPRK will accomplish the tasks and objectives set by the WPK and usher in a new era of comprehensive national rejuvenation.

In a cordial, friendly, and open atmosphere, the two leaders exchanged views on the overall situation in each country, bilateral Vietnam–DPRK relations, and international and regional issues of mutual concern. Kim Jong Un emphasized that, during Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation, the Korean people regarded that struggle as their own and selflessly supported the Vietnamese people; he also expressed gratitude for the valuable support the DPRK has received from the Party, State, and people of Vietnam in difficult times while building and defending their country.

Warmly congratulating Vietnam on its achievements over the past 80 years, Kim Jong Un expressed confidence that, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by Party General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will soon realize the development goals set by the 13th National Party Congress, successfully organize the 14th National Party Congress, and continue to achieve even greater achievements in the process of developing a socialist country in the time ahead.

Host and guest reviewed and reaffirmed the traditional friendship between the two Parties and peoples established by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung and nurtured by successive generations of leaders; they recalled the faithful and heartfelt mutual assistance during the difficult revolutionary years, reported VOV.

Party leader To Lam and his delegation at the talks (Photo: VNA)

They showed elation at the continued consolidation and strengthening of relations between their Parties and countries, and agreed to jointly promote Vietnam-DPRK ties into a new phase of more practical and effective development, thus contributing to each country’s development goals, the well-being of their peoples, and peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Both sides agreed to step up all-level delegation exchanges across Party, State, government and parliamentary channels, and to enhance locality-to-locality cooperation to intensify experience-sharing, strengthen political trust and mutual understanding; to maintain effective dialogue and cooperation mechanisms; to explore possible co-operation in appropriate fields; and to intensify people-to-people exchanges to tighten friendly bonds between the two countries.

The Vietnamese Party leader proposed that the two sides make effective use of Party channels, consider organizing seminars to exchange theoretical perspectives and share experience in Party building and national development, ramp up both bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation, and bolster mutually beneficial economic cooperation in line with each country’s development targets and international regulations.

Vietnam stands ready to share its experience in economic reforms and external economic relations, and to exchange information on economic management policies, import–export procedures, and socio-economic development, To Lam told his host.

He also expressed hope that the two countries would expand cooperation in promising fields of mutual strength and potential, including culture, sports, tourism, education, health, and media; and that they would develop radio and television programs to introduce each country’s culture, land and people.

Welcoming and endorsing General Secretary To Lam’s proposals for cooperation, Kim Jong Un affirmed that the DPRK wishes to work closely with Vietnam in Party building and national development, and is ready to augment cooperation across appropriate fields.

Kim Jong Un urged Party agencies, the foreign ministries, and relevant ministries, sectors and localities on both sides to increase exchanges on specific measures to effectively carry out major directions for developing bilateral ties set out during this visit, thereby bringing Vietnam-DPRK relations into a new phase of development that yields practical benefits for the peoples of both countries.

The two leaders also compared notes on regional and international situation, and consented to boost cooperation, offer mutual support, and jointly coordinate cooperative activities at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and ASEAN-related regional forums.

Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed his support for relevant parties to promote dialogue, peacefully resolve differences, and jointly preserve a peaceful, stable environment conducive to cooperation and development on the Korean Peninsula.

He called on the DPRK to actively support efforts to uphold international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to ease tensions and to appropriately settle disputes and disagreements in accordance with international law.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) World Congress 2025, Hanoi, October 8, 2025 - Photo: VGP

Prime Minister addresses FIATA World Congress 2025 in Hanoi

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) World Congress 2025 that took place in Hanoi on October 8.

Themed "Green and Resilient Logistics", the event drew the participation of more than 1,200 delegates from over 150 countries and territories.

It featured high-level discussions, an exhibition of over 120 booths, and a B2B networking program powered by modern digital platforms.

Participants include government leaders, policymakers, heads of logistics associations, executives of global logistics, transportation and import–export corporations, and experts from major international organizations.

This year's congress focused on topics such as cross-border e-commerce, resilient supply chains, new economic corridors, green logistics, and the development of waterway and railway transport to reduce emissions and optimize costs.

In his remarks, Pham said, the event is not only an occasion for the global logistics community to meet, connect, collaborate, and share experiences, but also a forum to discuss emerging trends and explore innovative solutions to foster a modern, green, and sustainable logistics industry with greater adaptability in an ever-changing world, cited VGP.

According to the Prime Minister, FIATA's decision to select Vietnam as the host country of this year's congress and choose the capital city of Hanoi as the venue demonstrates the strong trust of the international community and the global logistics sector in Vietnam's role, potential, and development aspirations in the field of logistics.

The Vietnamese leader called on the FIATA community and international enterprises to work together with Vietnam to strengthen cooperation in science, technology and innovation, and promote the application of digital technologies in logistics.

He underscored the need to enhance collaboration to boost fast, green, and sustainable logistics, and foster partnerships in training high-quality human resources and building smart logistics centers.

Pham called for promoting collaboration in connecting logistics hubs within countries, between nations and regions, and between regions and the international community while stepping up cooperation in integrating various logistics modes, including road, rail, air, sea, and inland waterway transport.

The nation will ensure the most favorable conditions for domestic and foreign enterprises to invest and develop logistics in the country, noted Pham.

The legitimate rights and interests of both domestic and international investors and businesses across all sectors, including logistics will be guaranteed, he stressed.

Vietnam will also safeguard national independence, sovereignty, political stability, and social order and security so that investors can operate with safety, confidence, and peace of mind, said Prime Minister Pham.

Vietnam calls for further international support following recent storms

Vietnam calls for continued partnership and assistance from international partners as the country is grappling with floodwaters in many areas rising above historic levels, posing a high risk of prolonged inundation and landslides, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep said on October 9.

Speaking at the disaster risk reduction partnership meeting to update on subsequent floods following typhoons held in Hanoi, the official expressed sincere gratitude to all international partners, organizations, and individuals for their support to Vietnam in disaster prevention and risk mitigation. In 2024, partners contributed about 25 million USD and thousands of tonnes of relief goods, helping communities recover from severe disasters, according to VNA.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep meets with members of the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership (DRRP) to share updates on post-storm flooding and discuss emergency relief measures (Photo: VNA)

He said in 2025, natural disasters in Vietnam have continued to grow more complex and extreme. Despite the country’s extensive efforts in prevention and response, many disasters have struck with an intensity exceeding the response capacity of both local communities and existing prevention systems.

Recent storms and their remnants have caused serious damage, with total losses estimated at 35 trillion VND (around 1.33 billion USD) — nearly half of last year’s total. The disasters have also reduced national GDP growth by about 0.2 percentage points, he noted.

According to the deputy minister, disaster patterns have shifted significantly. Some storms now move rapidly at sea but slowly over land, bringing prolonged heavy rains. Late-season storms have also been striking northern provinces — a rare occurrence in previous years.

Through the meeting, Vietnam seeks to share updates on the disaster situation and priority support needs, as well as to coordinate mechanisms for the swift and efficient transport and distribution of relief supplies, the official added.

Essential supplies such as food, clean water, water purifiers, household items, and disinfectants are urgently needed, while housing and production recovery remain top priorities as nearly all homes in flood-hit areas have been damaged and require repair, Hiep said.

Although the Government will issue a resolution on recovery support, domestic resources are limited. Therefore, contributions from international organizations remain crucial, Hiep stressed, adding that key infrastructure such as clinics, schools, and local government offices must be restored quickly to stabilise livelihoods and maintain public services.

Regarding coordination, the official proposed maintaining the 2024 approach, including joint field assessment missions. He suggested that, if possible, teams begin visiting the hardest-hit areas as early as October 10 to assign specific tasks.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis expressed deep sympathy for the loss of lives and property caused by the recent disasters and reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to stand with Vietnam not only in emergency response but also in long-term resilience programs.

Drawing lessons from the response to Typhoon Yagi in 2024, she emphasised the importance of synchronised coordination so that each partner can leverage its own advantage to ensure assistance reaches the right people, at the right time, and according to actual needs.

Participating partners expressed their wish to soon dispatch assessment missions to develop timely, effective, and well-coordinated support plans.

Hiep assigned the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to promptly deploy three working groups to Tuyen Quang and Phu Tho, Cao Bang and Lang Son, and Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen provinces.

Vietnam, Laos strengthen cooperation to enhance education quality

A training course on “Self-assessment of primary school quality” for education managers and teachers from the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos opened on the morning of October 9 in Vientiane.

The hybrid event brought together officials, staff, and educators from both Vietnam and Laos.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Huynh Van Chuong, Director of the Education Quality Management Agency under the Ministry of Education and Training, said the plan on capacity enhancement for the education quality management system for the 2021–2030 period focuses on two key objectives: enhancing the capabilities of Lao officials and teachers in self-assessing primary school education quality, and supporting them to meet the requirements of the national primary education curriculum of Laos.

The training aims to equip around 150 Lao participants with the skills to conduct self-assessments and implement quality improvements according to primary education standards in Laos, while effectively applying new teaching methods, tools, and criteria in school management, cited VNA.

At the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Under the plan, practical training and professional exchanges will be conducted concurrently in Vietnam and Laos, focusing on three main areas: sharing Vietnam’s experience in building and operating education quality assurance systems; developing a core team of Lao educators capable of independently conducting self-assessments and quality improvements at the school level; and strengthening the exchange of learning resources, digital tools, and quality management systems.

The course exemplifies the spirit of “cooperation – sharing – mutual development” between the Vietnamese and Lao education sectors. The great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations remain a treasured legacy cultivated over generations, with educational collaboration standing out as a particularly successful area.

Vietnam exceeds global forecasts with 8.23% GDP growth

According to data from the National Statistics Office (NSO), cited by many international news outlets, this marks the highest growth rate since 2011, highlighting the country’s strong adaptability amid global uncertainties.

Notably, this growth momentum continued even after the US officially imposed a 20% tariff on most imports from Vietnam starting August 7.

Reuters reported that Vietnam’s total import-export turnover reached over US$680 billion by the end of September 2025, posting a trade surplus of US$16.8 billion. Inflation in September stood at 3.38%, below the government’s target range of 4.5 – 5%, while industrial production in the third quarter rose by 9.1%. Foreign direct investment (FDI) disbursement in the first nine months of the year hit its highest level in five years.

Vietnam’s exports in September fell by 1.7% from August, marking the second consecutive monthly decline, mainly due to the new US tariff policy. However, the figure in the first nine months of the year still rose by 38% year-on-year, driven by strong growth in coffee, chemicals, and electronic components, which offset declines in textiles and footwear.

Vietnam’s total export earnings reached US$128.57 billion in the third quarter, up 18.4% year on year, while imports rose 20.2% to US$119.66 billion, maintaining a trade surplus of US$8.91 billion.

International observers attributed these results to the agility of Vietnam’s production sector, particularly in electronics, chemicals, and renewable energy — the industries benefiting from global supply chain diversification and bilateral preferential tax policies.

According to the US-based website ainvest.com, Vietnam’s steady recovery is driven by three key factors - rising FDI, a strong rebound in international tourism, and robust growth in domestic consumption and credit. Moreover, low and stable inflation has given consumers greater spending power, helping sustain domestic demand. It noted that amid the impact of US tariffs on traditional exports, Vietnam is emerging as a new renewable energy hub in Asia. The manufacturing sector continued to expand in September 2025, with the Purchasing Managers' Index at 50.4, marking the third month of expansion, and indicating a “cautiously optimistic” business outlook.

The clean energy sector, especially solar and wind power, has become a standout performer. Although the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) has warned of risks related to anti-dumping tariffs and competitive bidding mechanisms, investors still view Vietnam as having strong comparative advantages thanks to its abundant resources, competitive costs, and stable investment environment.

However, several reputable international institutions have cautioned that Vietnam still faces certain risks in the remaining months of the year. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the impact of US tariffs will gradually unfold in the last quarter of 2025 as export orders begin to reflect higher costs. The IMF estimates that the 20% tariff could reduce Vietnam’s GDP by 0.5–0.7 percentage points unless offset by public investment and domestic consumption, VOV reported.

Photo: VNA

International organizations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecast that Vietnam’s growth will slow in the last quarter as global demand weakens and the impact of US tariffs becomes more evident. However, the baseline scenario still places Vietnam among Asia’s top-performing economies, with full-year growth projected at 6.6 – 7%, significantly higher than many other emerging markets.

Nguyen Ba Hung, an ADB economist, said the bank’s latest economic outlook released on September 30 raised Vietnam’s 2025 growth forecast, citing several positive factors, especially the continued rise in exports and foreign investment despite US tariff impacts.

According to international experts, if Vietnam sustains its three key pillars - stable FDI inflows, strong domestic consumption, and effective public investment - while advancing energy transition and digital transformation, the Government’s growth target in 2025 remains achievable under a favorable scenario.

Most international observers see the 8.23% growth in the third quarter as clear proof of Vietnam’s resilience and adaptability amid global trade turbulence. However, to reach the 8.5% annual target, experts said Vietnam must further restructure its growth model—moving away from labour-intensive exports toward a technology-driven, clean-energy, and innovation-based economy.

If successful, Vietnam will evolve from a supply chain beneficiary into a key driver of a new industrial value chain in Asia.

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