Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a 🍬list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam on February 18 received Chen Gang, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chairman of the Regional People's Congress Standing Committee.

Chen is visiting Vietnam to attend a New Year meeting for the secretaries of the Party committees of Vietnam’s Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Ha Giang provinces and China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as the 16th session of their Joint Working Committee, which will be held in Ha Long city of Quang Ninh from February 19–22. Read full story

- The 15th National Assembly (NA) voted to elect two new NA Vice Chairmen and two new Deputy Prime Ministers at its ongoing ninth extraordinary sessions in Hanoi on February 18.

Accordingly, Le Minh Hoan and Vu Hong Thanh were elected as NA Vice Chairmen, while Mai Van Chinh and Nguyen Chi Dung as Deputy Prime Ministers. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong on February 18 presided over a ceremony to announce and hand over the presidential decisions appointing two deputy prime ministers and four ministers serving the 2021-2026 term.

Accordingly, Mai Van Chinh and Nguyen Chi Dung have been appointed as Deputy PMs; Tran Hong Minh as Minister of Construction; Nguyen Manh Hung as Minister of Science and Technology; Do Duc Duy as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; and Dao Ngoc Dung as Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference on February 18 to implement the 15th National Assembly (NA)’s resolutions on the structure of the Government and to assign tasks to freshly appointed cabinet members for the 2021-2026 term.

Earlier the same day, during its 9th extraordinary session, the NA passed Resolution No. 176/2025/QH15 on the Government's organisational structure and Resolution No. 177/2025/QH15 on the number of cabinet members, both for its current term. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 18 received Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from February 18-20.

PM Chinh affirmed that the visit will further strengthen the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Chen Gang, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Hanoi on February 18, reaffirming the strengthened ties between Vietnam and the Chinese locality.

Chen, who is also Chairman of the Regional People's Congress Standing Committee, is visiting Vietnam to attend a New Year meeting between the Party secretaries of Vietnam’s Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Ha Giang provinces, and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Read full story

- The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee approved a resolution on the specific tasks, powers, and organisational structure of the legislature’s Council for Ethnic Affairs and committees at a session on February 18. The resolution, which comprises six chapters and 26 articles, stipulates that for the committee formed through the merger of two committees, it will essentially inherit and retain the tasks of the original committees prior to the restructuring. Adjustments will be made to certain areas and tasks between some agencies to ensure balance and harmony among them.

Additionally, a comprehensive review of the responsibilities and management areas of the agencies will be conducted to ensure there are no gaps or overlaps in their fields and tasks. Read full story

- There remains an ample room for Vietnam and Armenia to strengthen their relations in all areas, especially in economy and trade, in order to meet the development needs and goals, and aspirations of their people, according to Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Receiving Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam Suren Baghdasaryan on February 18, Hang spoke highly of the positive developments in the bilateral relations across all areas in recent times, reflected through frequent exchanges and meetings at various levels, with the most recent being the official visit to Vietnam by National Assembly President Alen Simonyan in November 2024, as well as close and effective coordination at multilateral forums and international organisations./. Read full story