Vietnam's National Assembly to Hold Extraordinary Session in August

The first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly is tentatively scheduled for August 3–24, during which lawmakers are expected to consider 27 agenda items, including the adoption of 20 laws and resolutions, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man said on July 8. The National Assembly (NA) will convene an extraordinary session in August, according to NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man. The drafting agency proposed eliminating 38 administrative procedures and 40 business conditions, and simplifying another 13 procedures. The reforms are expected to slash total processing time by 904 days and trim an estimated 189.9 billion VND (7.3 million USD) in compliance costs. Vietnam distinguishes itself with rapid growth, a favourable geostrategic position and extensive global integration, allowing it to act as a bridge between mainland and maritime Southeast Asia. Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung bilaterally met with his counterparts from Panama, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Qatar in Manila, the Philippines, on July 24. The jury unanimously voted on July 24 to confer the prestigious award on the Vietnamese leader, citing his role in "strengthening peace and cooperation among nations." According to Dr Arisman, Vietnam's greatest strength lies in its ability to bridge diverse interests, promote meaningful cooperation and preserve ASEAN solidarity while adapting to emerging challenges. In a discussion on enhancing maritime security and cooperation, the Vietnamese delegation underscored that the TAC's principles serve as a "foundational code of conduct" guiding relations among countries amid profound global changes, rising geopolitical tensions, mounting challenges to international law and the erosion of multilateralism. High-level political trust and close people-to-people connections have provided a firm foundation for Vietnam–Thailand relations over the past 50 years, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Urawadee Sriphiromya has said in a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on July 24. Every decision must clearly identify the lead agency, responsible focal point, authority, conditions for implementation, timeline and expected outputs, the General Secretary and President stressed. The Party Central Committee called on the entire Party, people and armed forces to uphold patriotism, strengthen unity, promote self-reliance, innovation and creativity, overcome challenges, and work together to successfully implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress. The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. Amid growing geopolitical shifts that pose increasing challenges to intra-ASEAN consensus, Vietnam’s capacity to build workable common platforms has become more important than ever, particularly as Vietnam serves as a bridge among members at different levels of development and countries with differing strategic relationships with major powers, said Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, security and strategy analyst at the University of Malaya. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn has described Vietnam as an important and constructive member of ASEAN over the past three decades, highlighting its significant contributions to the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars. He expressed confidence that Vietnam will continue playing an active role in advancing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Khuon Sudary will pay an official visit to Vietnam from July 27 - 29. Under the leadership of the Party and the unified management of the State, people-to-people diplomacy will continue to be a sustainable bridge of friendship, an important channel for converging resources, spreading soft power, and protecting national interests, contributing to building the overall strength of Vietnamese diplomacy in the new era of development. More than a year after Vietnam embarked on its sweeping administrative restructuring, the country's governance system has undergone significant changes. The administrative apparatus at all levels has been streamlined, intermediate layers reduced, and the functions, responsibilities and authority of state agencies gradually clarified. Greater decentralisation has also strengthened the role of grassroots authorities. Vietnam is commited to responsible natural resource governance and stands ready to work closely with international partners to ensure natural resources become a driver of peace, prosperity and sustainable development. Science and technology are playing an increasingly important role in identifying fallen soldiers' remains. In particular, next-generation gene sequencing technologies have opened new possibilities by significantly improving the ability to identify severely degraded DNA samples. The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency. Hang affirmed Vietnam regards the US as one of its leading important partners, noting that bilateral relations are built on a solid foundation and hold significant potential for further development. Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung held separate bilateral meetings with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, Vice-President of the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings in the Philippines on July 23. At ASED 14, the ASEAN Education Work Plan 2026–2030 was launched, setting out the region’s shared priorities for building inclusive, comprehensive and transformative education systems. The plan focuses on nurturing resilient and well-rounded individuals, developing a highly skilled and competitive workforce, and strengthening a common ASEAN identity rooted in shared values. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.