Vietnam Congratulates Lithuania's New Prime Minister, Eyes Deeper Ties

President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda and Spouse are paying an official visit to Vietnam on June 11 - 12 at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong. This is the first high-level visit by a Lithuanian head of state to Vietnam in many years, marking a highly significant diplomatic event that demonstrates the two countries’ appreciation of their traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. Vietnam and Lithuania officially established diplomatic ties on March 18, 1992. Over the past three decades, grounded in mutual political trust and goodwill, bilateral relations have steadily expanded across multiple sectors. Following the Cabinet's approval, Lithuania will submit its accession request to the current ASEAN Chair, Malaysia, for consideration. A senior official reaffirmed the Vietnamese Party and State's support for expanding comprehensive and substantive cooperation between Chongqing and Vietnamese localities, calling on both sides to continue effectively implementing the common perceptions reached by the two countries' high-ranking leaders. PM Le Minh Hung recommended that the two sides step up all-level exchanges and meetings, especially those at high level, make full use of the existing cooperation mechanisms, expand collaboration in the economy, trade and investment, and effectively implement the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Party General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed that every set of remains recovered represents far more than a technical achievement. It marks the return of a son or daughter to the Fatherland and to his/her family, the restoration of a missing chapter of history, and a reaffirmation of the country's enduring tradition of remembering those who served the nation. The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. Building on the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City has worked closely with the Consulate General of Cuba in Ho Chi Minh City to organise a wide range of activities in recent years, including gatherings marking major national anniversaries, cultural and artistic exchanges, and programmes connecting organisations and localities from the two countries The revised code proposes more progressive procedural rules to enhance adversarial proceedings, tighten power oversight and better protect human and citizens' rights. It will retain effective existing provisions, amend or repeal outdated regulations, and introduce new procedures to expedite case handling, reduce procedural costs and improve efficiency while ensuring fairness, objectivity and greater protection of the lawful rights and interests of organisations and individuals. It also aims to modernise criminal proceedings through the wider application of digital technologies and closer alignment with international practices. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang commended the unity and sense of responsibility shown by the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani and across Thailand, urging them to continue preserving the Vietnamese language and cultural identity while helping build a positive image of Vietnamese people and contributing to bilateral relations. The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency. Vietnam expects Mauritania to act as a bridge for substantive cooperation between Vietnam and the African Union (AU), said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang during a reception in Hanoi on July 16 for Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government Moctar Al Housseynou Lam. 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. The two officials agreed to continue their long-standing coordination at multilateral forums, including the Francophonie, while reinforcing practical collaboration with regional organisations such as ASEAN and the AU, for the benefit of their people and for peace, stability and development in their respective regions and globally. Vietnam and Laos have agreed to step up cooperation in finance, agriculture, natural resources and environmental management, with a focus on sustainable agricultural development, forest protection and green energy. The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in overseas Vietnamese and overseas Lao affairs for the 2026–2030 period, providing a framework for future collaboration. Laos will send a delegation to Vietnam to study preparations for the World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, scheduled for December 2026. The draft law comprises four chapters and 37 articles, setting out the principles, measures, policies and responsibilities of state agencies, organisations and individuals in preventing the proliferation of WMDs. It would apply to Vietnamese organisations and individuals, as well as foreign entities and individuals operating or residing in Vietnam. The Party and State leader urged Son La to clearly define its development model and strategic role in the Northwest, focusing resources on sectors with the greatest potential rather than spreading investment too thinly. According to the diplomat, the strength of the EU-Vietnam relationship is reflected in the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), as well as the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during European Council President António Costa’s visit to Vietnam in January 2026. Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hai Luu stressed that with only four years left to deliver the 2030 Agenda, the international community must take more decisive action to accelerate the realisation of the SDGs. Mayor Kostas Peletidis said Patras is ready to work with the Vietnamese Embassy to promote the country as well as its culture and people through local cultural events and festivals, including the Patras Carnival, one of Greece’s largest annual festivals, the mayor remarked. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.