Vietnam's 14th Party Central Committee Convenes Third Plenum to Discuss Economy, Personnel, National Strategy

The 14th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam convened its third plenum in Hanoi on the morning of July 20, 2026. The meeting is scheduled to consider personnel affairs for State agencies for the 2026–2031 term and provide opinions on the five-year socio-economic development plan, national financial plan and medium-term public investment plan for 2026–2031, along with other key national issues. The session is to discuss important issues in implementing the 14th National Party Congress’s Resolution, along with items covering Party building, political system and national development in the new stage. Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet said hostile forces are increasingly using AI and digital platforms to wage cognitive warfare targeting the ideological foundation, public confidence and internal unity. He stressed that the challenge requires continuous innovation in both methods and capabilities. Instead of merely handling information after an incident already occurred, it is necessary to proactively gauge public sentiment, anticipate trends in public opinion and address at an early stage issues that could undermine public trust. In other words, the focus must shift from “managing information” to proactively “governing public trust”. Recent diplomatic activities demonstrated that the foreign policy set out at the 14th National Party Congress is being translated into concrete action, reaffirming diplomacy as a “vital and regular” task alongside national defence and security. Vietnam looks forward to working closely with fellow ASEAN members to raise the bloc's voice and contribution to international human rights efforts. During a working visit to the US in mid-July, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on major directions for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam highlighted the country's recent socio-economic achievements, recognising the significant contributions by the People's Public Security force. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung sent congratulatory messages to Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Philippines (1976-2026). The third meeting of the 14th Party Central Committee coincides with Standard Chartered sharply raising its forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth in 2026. News highlights also included heavy losses caused by floods and landslides in the northern mountainous region, and six Vietnamese students winning medals at the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad. Source: VietnamPlus English