First working day of 13th Party Central Committee’s 12th plenum
The 13th Party Central Committee convened its 12th plenum in Hanoi on July 18, with Party General Secretary To Lam delivering the opening speech and Politburo member and State President Luong Cuong, on behalf of the Politburo, chairing the meeting.
At the opening ceremony of the 13th Party Central Committee’s 12th plenum in Hanoi on July 18. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The 13th Party Central Committee convened its 12th plenum in Hanoi on July 18, with Party General Secretary To Lam delivering the opening speech and Politburo member and State President Luong Cuong, on behalf of the Politburo, chairing the meeting.
During the morning session, the Party Central Committee worked in the plenary hall and reached consensus on a plan to complete draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Party Congress. These include three reports – a new political report (integrating the content of a political report, a socio-economic report, and a report summarising Party building and implementation of the Party Charter); a report on the implementation of the Party Charter; and a report summarising theoretical and practical issues from the four decades of the socialist-oriented renewal process in Vietnam. The committee also considered personnel matters.
In the afternoon, the committee members met in groups to discuss various topics, including personnel plans for the 14th National Party Congress; and criteria, structure, number, and allocation of delegates to the 14th congress. They also opined on draft documents for the congress based on the new orientation agreed upon by the Party Central Committee.
The central committee discussed several proposed amendments and supplements to its resolutions to provide political and legal foundations for continued national reform in the time to come. These include land policy (Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW dated June 16, 2022); building a socialist rule-of-law state (Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW dated November 9, 2022); education and training (Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 4, 2013, and Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017).
The c🧸ommittee also gave opinions on guidelines for adjusting the national master plan for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050./.
This plenum will focus discussions on three major groups of issues - preparations for the 14th National Party Congress; the development of a political and legal foundation for continued reform in the coming years; and personnel work.
In his opening speech, the Party chief highlighted the significance of the event, saying that the convening of the conference nearly three months earlier than the schedule demonstrates the proactive, urgent, and highly responsible spirit of the entire Party in comprehensively and thoroughly preparing the contents to be presented at the 14th National Party Congress.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed the need for the Organisation Commission to promote its role as the strategic advisory body so as to build the Party clean, strong, and capable of leading the country in the new era.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decision assigning Tran Duc Thang, a member of the Party Central Committee and Standing Deputy Inspector General of the Government Inspectorate, as acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said he hopes National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man's upcoming trip will achieve substantive results, especially in trade, investment, agriculture, sustainable development, and innovation, and create a premise to deepen bilateral relations between Vietnam and the three countries.
The 12th session of the 13th Party Central Committee, the ninth political consultation between the Vietnamese and Cambodian foreign ministries, and the 2025 Vietnam-Laos Trade Fair are among news highlights on July 18.
Trade between Laos and Vietnam reached 2.25 billion USD in 2024, up 38.2% from the previous year. In particular, total trade turnover in the first five months of 2025 hit 1.6 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 100.4%.
The National Committee for APEC 2027 is tasked with assisting the PM in considering, directing, and coordinating the performance of tasks related to the preparation for and organisation of APEC conferences and related activities in 2027.
In the first six months, Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities signed more than 250 commitments and cooperation agreements during the diplomatic activities of high-ranking leaders, doubling the 2024 number.
Set against the backdrop of major political and economic developments in both nations, this visit is poised to open up new cooperation opportunities, said Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Quoc Khanh.
The two sides agreed on priority areas for future cooperation, including increased delegation exchanges, information sharing, and trade promotion, with a view to raising two-way trade above the current 50 million USD. They also discussed collaboration in the Halal industry.
PM Pham Minh Chinh's reception for Global Head of Equity and Multi Asset of FTSE Russell Gerald Toledano, the third meeting of the Vietnam – Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Committee on Economic – Trade and Scientific – Technical Cooperation, and the Foreign Ministry's regular press conference are among news highlights on July 17 evening.
FTSE Russell’s Global Head of Equity and Multi Asset Gerald Toledano praised Vietnam’s reform momentum, noting that its stock market, now the most liquid in ASEAN, has surpassed those of Thailand and Singapore.
The top legislator urged the SAV and SAO to advance their 2025-2028 medium-term cooperation plan and the 2021-2030 strategy, asking for more exchanges of delegations and expertise, particularly in digital transformation and staff training.
Cambodia always remembers and appreciates Vietnam’s support for Cambodia’s escape from the Pol Pot genocidal regime, said Secretary of State Ung Rachana of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The 27th Party Congress of the VNA elected a 27-member Party Committee for the new term and a delegation of six official and two alternate delegates to attend the first congress of the Government's Party Organisation.
The Foreign Ministry spokeperson was responding to a reporter's question regarding July 12, 2025, which marked the 9th anniversary of the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the East Sea arbitration case between the Philippines and China under Annex VII of UNCLOS.
The two sides agreed to enhance information sharing and policy consultation at all levels – from technical experts to government leaders – to promptly address issues arising during the course of cooperation, and to seek flexible solutions to balance and raise bilateral trade.
Nominees for the National Assembly Party Committee members must demonstrate political mettle, intellect, moral integrity, prestige and proven competence to fulfill the mission entrusted by the Party, the NA, and the people
According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia, 140 Vietnamese citizens were temporarily detained by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh on July 14 due to suspected involvement in online scam activities.
Vietnam has invited the defence ministers of Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, Cuba, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan to attend the celebration of the 80th National Day anniversary on September 2; and five countries – Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, and Belarus – to send forces to participate in the parade at the National Day celebration.
The top legislator will attend the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Switzerland, engage in bilateral activities there, and pay official visits to Morocco and Senegal from July 22 to 30.
