Vietnamese Rescue Team Awarded "Hero of Venezuela" Medal

All members of the Vietnamese rescue team in Venezuela have maintained strict discipline, a strong sense of responsibility and unwavering focus when carrying out search, rescue and disaster recovery tasks, with the determination to successfully fulfil the international humanitarian mission entrusted by the Party, State and military. The latest recovery brings the total number of victims found by the Vietnamese mission to 45 since its deployment to the disaster zone. Through Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez sent a letter of gratitude and presented the "Hero of Venezuela" medal to Party General Secretary and State President To Lam. This recognition highlights Vietnam's commitment to international humanitarian efforts and its capacity to contribute to global disaster relief operations. The award underscores the professionalism and dedication of the Vietnamese rescue team, reinforcing Vietnam's image as a responsible global actor. In the context of Vietnam's one-party system, such international engagements are often strategically employed to bolster its standing on the world stage and foster diplomatic ties, while maintaining a delicate balance in its foreign policy, particularly concerning its relationship with China. The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency. Party General Secretary and President To Lam received in Hanoi on July 6 the newly accredited ambassadors of Portugal, Iran, Mongolia, the US and Myanmar, as they presented their credentials, officially beginning their diplomatic missions in Vietnam. Reaffirming Vietnam's goal of developing Gia Binh International Airport into a leading regional air cargo hub, Minister Luong Tam Quang suggested exploring operational cooperation between Yamato and Vietnamese partners once the airport becomes operational. The council reviewed its performance and the implementation of emulation and commendation work during the first half of the year, agreed on key tasks for the remainder of 2026, and considered nominations for the conferment and posthumous conferment of the “Hero of the People's Armed Forces” and “Hero of Labour” titles on collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements. NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man noted that the main challenge now lay not in policymaking but in implementation. Coordination among some agencies remains uneven while digital transformation and data application have yet to fully meet new requirements. The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. The Standing Board approved the formation of the specialised research unit, describing it as a necessary step to implement the orientations of the Politburo and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat while strengthening the NA Party Committee's research and advisory capacity. Technical operations should become a "steel wall" and an "intellectual pillar" of the People's Public Security Force, helping safeguard Vietnam's breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation, said Party General Secretary and State President To Lam. The launch of the search and recovery operation for martyrs’ remains at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City on July 6 is part of the nationwide 500-day campaign launched in April in Quang Tri province ahead of the 80th anniversary of Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947–2027), underscoring Vietnam’s determination to better care for people with meritorious service and fulfil the long-standing aspirations of martyrs’ families nationwide. Participation in the Montreal Declaration also provides a foundation for Vietnam to explore deeper engagement with the IEA's multilateral energy efficiency initiatives, offering opportunities to access data, policy experience, technical tools and public-private partnership models in energy conservation. The 3rd Vietnam–Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange at the ministerial level will take place on July 9–10 at the Nam On–Thanh Thuy auxiliary border gate area, located between Nghe An province of Vietnam and Bolikhamxay province of Laos. Thorough preparations will not only ensure the successful organisation of APEC 2027 events but also help showcase Vietnam as a friendly, peaceful and stable destination while promoting the cultural features and tourist attractions of Phu Quoc and An Giang to the international community. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's 83rd taskforce arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on July 5 for a five-day goodwill visit aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and mutual understanding between the naval forces of Vietnam and China. Vietnam is willing to support Timor-Leste through bilateral cooperation as well as mechanisms within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said Charge d'Affaires of Vietnam to Timor-Leste Pham Binh Dam. PM Le Minh Hung stressed that successfully implementing these focal tasks will not only determine Vietnam's growth performance in 2026 but also lay the cornerstone for strong economic restructuring and a new development model in the years ahead. Implementation capacity, rather than institutional frameworks, has now become the greatest obstacle to development, said Party General Secretary and State President To Lam. Nguyen Kim Son, Vice Chairman of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for Strategies and Policies, affirmed Vietnam always treasures its traditional friendship with France and the PCF, noting that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people always remember and appreciate the valuable support that the PCF has extended to Vietnam during the past struggles for national liberation, as well as the current period of national construction and development. In the letter and messages, the Vietnamese Party and State leaders congratulated the US on its tremendous achievements that have made it a leading world power over the past quarter millennium. During the conference, officials are set to discuss the socio-economic situation in June and the second quarter of 2026; the allocation and disbursement of public investment capital; the implementation of the national target programmes; and the implementation of state budget-related tasks in the first six months. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.