At the talks between Vice President of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Thanh and Vice President of the German Bundestag Bodo Ramelow. (Photo: VNA)

Viet Nam, Germany strengthen political trust, promote substantive cooperation

The working visit to Germany by Vice President of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Thanh and a Vietnamese NA delegation from September 24-26 contributed to strengthening political trust and parliamentary ties, while promoting practical cooperation in vocational education, high technology and human resources between the two nations.

During the visit, Thanh held talks with Vice President of the German Bundestag Bodo Ramelow; had a working session with Armin Laschet, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the German Bundestag; attended a plenary session of the Bundestag; visited the Rahel Hirsch Center for Translational Medicine in Berlin; and met with the Vietnamese community in the European country.

At the talks with Ramelow, Thanh affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to relations with Germany, one of its most important partners in Europe, and wants to further deepen the bilateral Strategic Partnership in a substantive and effective manner.

She proposed the two sides strengthen political trust, maintain high-level exchanges, promote the role of the two legislative bodies in facilitating and supervising the implementation of agreements between the two countries; enhance cooperation between their specialised committees and legislators, and coordination at inter-parliamentary forums.

Regarding economic, trade and investment cooperation, Thanh called for more effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and existing cooperation frameworks; increased German investment in Viet Nam, particularly in high-tech, digital transformation, green transition, renewable energy and infrastructure; and Germany’s support for the European Commission’s early removal of its “yellow card” warning related to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing on Vietnamese seafood in recognition of Vietnam’s efforts and progress.

Ramelow spoke highly of the positive development of Viet Nam-Germany relations, noting the two countries’ complementary advantages and huge room for cooperation, particularly in transport infrastructure, vocational training and healthcare. He expressed his wish to further promote political trust and parliamentary cooperation and strengthen connections among agencies, localities, vocational education institutions and businesses.

At the working session with Thanh, Laschet highly valued Vietnam’s growing role in the region and the world, and expressed interest in the Southeast Asian country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation as well as its role in regional and international mechanisms.

Discussing international and regional issues, the two sides stressed the need to promote dialogue, peacefully settle disputes; uphold the UN Charter, multilateralism and international law; and ensure peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and uninterrupted international trade routes in accordance with international law.

Regarding the East Sea, Thanh reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance of settling disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

The two sides agreed to strengthen parliamentary exchanges, share legislative and supervision experience, and coordinate at multilateral forums to further deepen the Viet Nam-Germany Strategic Partnership.

The Vietnamese legislator also proposed the German side continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Germany in stabilising their lives, successfully integrating into the host society and promoting its role as a bridge between the two countries, contributing to promoting people-to-people exchanges, and tourism and travel connections.

Thanh took this occasion to conveyed NA President Tran Thanh Man’s invitation to President of the German Bundestag Julia Klöckner to pay an official visit to Viet Nam at a convenient time.

On September 25, the Vietnamese delegation attended a plenary session of the German Bundestag, which offered the delegation an opportunity to learn about the Bundestag’s operations, legislative procedures and voting process.

Visiting the Rahel-Hirsch centre, the Vietnamese delegation learned about its training model and met Vietnamese trainees. She proposed stronger links between the centre and Vietnamese vocational education institutions, including exchanges of teachers and trainees, sharing training programs and methods, and expanding cooperation based on Germany's occupational standards.

Thanh said that cooperation in this field could make a practical contribution to Vietnam’s goal of developing high-quality human resources while helping meet Germany’s demand for skilled workers, thereby creating an additional driver for long-term cooperation between the two countries.

Meeting with more than 200 representatives of Vietnamese associations, businesses, intellectuals, students and young people in Germany, Thanh affirmed that overseas Vietnamese are an integral part of the nation and an important resource for national development.

She emphasised that the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs continues to affirm this consistent viewpoint, while setting out the requirement to more strongly harness the resources, intellect, experience, networks and bridging role of the Vietnamese community abroad in the country’s new development period.

Thanh encouraged the community to stay united, integrate successfully, preserve Vietnamese language and culture, and strengthen connections with the homeland.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh affirmed that the embassy would continue connecting agencies, localities, businesses and German partners to concretise cooperation priorities and further deepen the Viet Nam-Germany Strategic Partnership.

Viet Nam-Tanzania Joint Commission’s 2nd session promotes deeper economic, trade ties

The second meeting of the Viet Nam-Tanzania Joint Commission for economic, trade, technical, scientific, cultural and social cooperation concluded in Tanzania on September 25, with the two sides agreeing on priority areas and measures to turn cooperation potential into concrete projects.

Held in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, the five-day session reviewed bilateral cooperation, addressed obstacles and explored new opportunities for economic and trade partnerships, contributing to strengthening Tanzania’s role as a key partner of Viet Nam in East Africa.

Viet Nam's inter-sectoral delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep.

At the technical session, the two sides discussed cooperation in politics, diplomacy and security; finance, investment, trade and transport; agriculture, forestry, fisheries and livestock; and science and technology, focusing on promoting the bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement (BIPA) and double tax avoidance agreement (DTA), trade promotion, agricultural production and processing, irrigation, fisheries, forest management, climate change response, digital transformation and telecommunications infrastructure.

They agreed to strengthen coordination and develop highly feasible cooperation programs, while promoting South-South cooperation in agriculture and closer links among government agencies, businesses and professional organizations of the two countries.

At the official session, the two sides reviewed all areas of cooperation, identified priorities and signed the minutes of the session, outlining measures to implement the reached agreements. They committed to further completing key legal frameworks, particularly the BIPA and DTA, to create a more transparent and favourable business environment.

On the occasion, Intimex Group JSC signed a cooperation agreement with Akros Cashew Factory and a memorandum of understanding with Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (METL), helping expand trade and supply-chain links between the two business communities, according to VNA.

A representative of the Vietnamese inter-sectoral delegation speaks at the second meeting of the Viet Nam-Tanzania Joint Commission for economic, trade, technical, scientific, cultural and social cooperation in Tanzania. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese delegation then conduct field visits in Arusha and met with local officials, during which the two sides discussed cooperation potential in agriculture, agro-processing, environmental protection and sustainable development.

​On the second working day, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and Viettel Tanzania (Halotel), organized the Viet Nam-Tanzania Business Forum, attracting more than 50 delegates and major Vietnamese companies, including Vingroup, Intimex, Phulimex and Viettel.

The forum focused on the investment and business environment and cooperation opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, infrastructure, mining, technology, telecommunications and marine economy.

Tanzanian representatives outlined investment incentives and called for deeper processing and higher value-added production, while Vietnamese businesses shared their experience and capacity. Following the forum, Vingroup surveyed the real estate market in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, Phulimex explored agricultural opportunities, and Viettel worked with local authorities on telecommunications and digital transformation.

Vietnam–Tanzania trade relations continue to record positive growth in recent years. Viet Nam considers Tanzania an important partner in East Africa and is ready to serve as a bridge for Tanzanian goods to access the ASEAN market. The two sides also agreed to promote developing stable supply chains for products Tanzania has strengths in and Viet Nam needs, including raw cashew nuts, cotton, legal timber and certain essential minerals.

​In investment, Halotel remains a prominent project, with total investment of about 1 billion USD. It serves more than 18 million subscribers and provides jobs for over 30,000 local workers, importantly contributing to telecommunications infrastructure and the digital economy in the Eastern African nation.

The second meeting of the Viet Nam-Tanzania Joint Commission and related activities contributed to strengthening the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Tanzania while opening new avenues for all-around cooperation and turning potential into substantive projects.

Fresh impetus for Viet Nam-Norway bilateral relations

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Doan Anh, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA), led a high-ranking NA delegation to pay an official visit to Norway from September 25 to 27.

Taking place as Viet Nam and Norway celebrate the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, the visit holds significant importance in maintaining traditional friendship, consolidating political trust, and adding new impetus to bilateral cooperation.

This also marks Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Doan Anh’s first official working trip to Norway in his capacity as Vice NA Chairman, showing the Vietnamese legislature’s high regard for bilateral ties while contributing to the promotion of parliamentary cooperation and the realization of cooperative potential between the two countries, VOV reported.

NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh holds talks with First Vice President of the Storting Morten Stordalen. (Photo: VNA)

During the visit, Doan Anh held talks with First Vice President of the Storting Morten Stordalen; met with Nikolai Astrup, Chairman of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Parliamentary Committee, and Tellef Inge Mørland, Head of the Norwegian Delegation to the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA); had working sessions with DNV and TOMRA; attended the reception celebrating the 81st National Day of Viet Nam and the 55th anniversary of Viet Nam-Norway diplomatic relations; and met with embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Norway.

During the talks and meetings, both sides assessed that Viet Nam-Norway relations are well-positioned to enter a new stage of development. Over the past 55 years, bilateral ties have been steadily reinforced on the foundation of friendship, mutual respect, and trust, with cooperation continuously expanding across state, governmental, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels. Notably, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on a Green Strategic Partnership in April 2026 has provided an additional framework and impetus for long-term cooperation in maritime economy, renewable energy, circular economy, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.

Exchanging views with the leaders of the Norwegian parliament (the Storting), Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh briefed them on Viet Nam's socio-economic development, the prominent outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, and the activities of the 16th National Assembly, while discussing orientations to further strengthen relations between the two legislative bodies.

He affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to and wishes to further develop its friendly and cooperative relations with Norway, proposing that the two parliaments maintain delegation exchanges and frequent contacts, expand cooperation between specialized committees, and enhance the sharing of experience in legislation, supervision, and institutional refinement.

Top leader’s trip to US, Canada underscores Vietnam’s message in new era: FM

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung has cast General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam's five-day trip through the US and Canada as a milestone that cemented the country's standing on the world stage.

The September 20-25 trip marked the top leader's first outing to the United Nations (UN), with his attendance at the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, and his debut visits to the US and Canada since Viet Nam wrapped up its 14th National Party Congress and elected deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.

His state visit to Canada at the invitation of Governor General Louise Arbour was the first by a Vietnamese Party and State leader since the two nations began diplomatic ties 50 years ago, arriving amid an increasingly complex global landscape, with geopolitical, economic and technological shifts.

At the highest levels, the leader pressed Viet Nam's case for its economic renewal and laid out the country's development goals and foreign policy direction for a new era, Trung said.

He used the occasion to position Viet Nam as a responsible player in the international community that proactively and actively contributes to settling global challenges, reported VOV.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung.

His address at the high-level General Debate won praise for urging UN to elevate its role and shore up multilateral institutions at a moment when the organization is facing numerous challenges.

On this occasion, he also met with UN funds, development agencies and specialised bodies to offer Viet Nam's cooperation, with officials citing the country as a model for how developing nations can partner with the UN.

Another highlight was his string of meetings with government and legislative leaders, business executives, scholars, friends and Vietnamese communities across the US and Canada. The US meetings and working sessions built momentum in bilateral ties and showed Vietnam’s goodwill on issues of mutual concern, including trade. In Canada, the two countries agreed to upgrade ties to a Strategic Partnership, backed by an action plan spanning a wide range of areas.

Beyond the General Secretary and President's own schedule, other senior Vietnamese officials met separately with partners, businesses and research institutes. Vietnamese companies struck a series of agreements with US and Canadian counterparts on trade, investment, technology, education, energy and transport cooperation tailored to both sides' priorities.

Overall, Trung said the mix of bilateral and multilateral engagement opened doors for concrete cooperation while advancing shared goals with the UN, US and Canada - all of which, he said, want Viet Nam to take a bigger hand in global and regional affairs.

According to him, UN officials and member states value Viet Nam's views on global affairs, its policy proposals and track record, including regional peacekeeping contributions, and want the country's role to keep growing.

Trung called on Vietnamese agencies to work with UN bodies not just for funding, as in the past, but to tap the organization's expertise for the country's next growth phase, including drawing on international norms for intellectual property, information technology and AI governance.

On the US and Canada fronts, ministries, agencies, and localities must now turn commitments into action with firm timelines and accountability, spanning political ties, people-to-people exchange, science - technology, economy-trade - investment, national defence - security, energy, and education - training, particularly quality workforce, he said.

Trung also urged fast-tracking capacity building in emerging sectors, singling out nuclear energy cooperation as a new frontier where both the US and Canada bring ample expertise.

Viet Nam-Laos Product Week to be held in Ha Noi

From October 1-4, over 100 signature products from Viet Nam and Laos will be showcased and sold directly in Ha Noi as part of the “Viet Nam-Laos Product Week.”

The event is organized by the Viet Nam Domestic Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam in collaboration with the Domestic Trade Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Laos.

During the four-day program, consumers in the capital and visitors can explore and select signature products from both Viet Nam and Laos at 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ha Noi.

The event brings products from both nations closer to consumers within a shared space, enabling businesses to gain direct insight into market demand and strengthening opportunities to connect production with consumption.

Over 100 diverse signature products will be showcased, ranging from food, beverages, and fashion to cosmetics and consumer goods. Offerings from Laos include glutinous and regular rice, buffalo and beef products, beer, and various types of tea.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese products featured include “com” (young green rice flakes), “banh bot loc” (clear tapioca dumplings), “banh cha” (traditional pork-fat pastries), fish sauce, and “to he” (traditional dough figurines), alongside vegan and natural cosmetics.

A highlight of the program is that the products are not merely on display but are also available for direct sale. This allows consumers and visitors to learn about the products’ origins and characteristics, as well as to personally select and purchase goods from businesses representing both countries, NDO reported.

The Viet Nam-Laos Product Week is scheduled to take place in Ha Noi from October 1-4. (Photo: the Ministry of Industry and Trade)

For manufacturing and trading enterprises, bringing products directly to the Ha Noi market enables them to engage with consumers, observe feedback, and gain insight into actual demand. This serves as a basis for businesses to evaluate market expansion potential, further develop their products, and identify additional distribution channels.

Organizing the Viet Nam-Laos Product Week in Ha Noi also creates a platform for showcasing Vietnamese and Lao products directly to consumers, moving beyond reliance solely on standard trade promotion activities.

Market and buyer feedback can provide valuable insights for businesses as they refine their products, customer engagement strategies, and distribution systems.

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