Vietnam, Philippines Mark 50 Years of Naval Cooperation

The ninth friendship exchange between Vietnamese and Philippine navies was held on Song Tu Tay island in the Spratly Islands (Truong Sa) of Vietnam, marking a significant milestone in the 50-year diplomatic relationship between the two nations. This exchange aims to further strengthen friendship, cooperation, mutual trust, and understanding between the armed forces and navies of Vietnam and the Philippines, while effectively implementing bilateral naval cooperation agreements. On June 12, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung sent congratulatory messages to Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr on the occasion of the 128th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of the Philippines (June 12, 1898 – 2026). The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence will continue to create favorable conditions for the armies of both countries to deepen practical and effective defense cooperation in the years to come. Cuba and Vietnam on July 10 commemorated six Cuban military experts who lost their lives 60 years ago while supporting the Vietnamese people's resistance war, reaffirming the enduring solidarity and defence ties forged through the two countries' shared history. Venezuelan officials expressed profound gratitude for Vietnam's timely assistance and selfless solidarity, affirming that the support will always be remembered by the Venezuelan people. 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 Central Committee and State President To Lam hosted separate farewell receptions in Hanoi on July 9 for the outgoing ambassadors of Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands and Brazil. The ambassador said the establishment of Vietnam's first honorary consulate in Phuket reflects both countries' commitment to enhancing cooperation with the Andaman sea economic gateway while meeting growing demand for consular services and better support for Vietnamese citizens and the Vietnamese community in southern Thailand. Ludwig said he was impressed by Vietnam's socio-economic achievements as well as its rich culture and cuisine. He highly appreciated the unity, dynamism and valuable contributions of the Vietnamese community to the development of Vienna and Austria. The station, funded and built by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence as a gift to Laos, is intended to strengthen coordination between border guard forces, reaffirming solidarity between the two countries. Vietnam has signed more than 1,400 international commitments and agreements since the start of the 13th National Party Congress’s term. Over 350 new pacts have been inked since early 2026 alone, driven by high-level diplomatic activities. Speaking at the ministry's regular press briefing, Hang highlighted the significance of the Politburo's recent decision to invest in primary and secondary boarding schools in 248 land border communes nationwide. Vietnam will continue working closely with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states to sign their free trade agreement (FTA) at an early date and effectively implement its commitments. The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. Presenting the Government’s proposal, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang said the draft resolution is intended to institutionalise the Party’s policies and provide legal safeguards for officials who carry out innovation, think big, act bold, and pursue the common good without engaging in corruption, wastefulness or misconduct. The new designation means that alongside the Ho Chi Minh monument and park, Vladivostok now has another public landmark bearing the name of Vietnam's revered leader. At Border Marker No. 460, the two defence ministers jointly took part in the traditional ceremony of repainting the marker. Beyond its symbolic significance, the ceremony reflected the determination of the two Parties, States and armed forces to safeguard every marker of national sovereignty, preserve the achievements of border demarcation and marker planting, and develop the Vietnam–Laos border into a symbol of peace, stability, cooperation and development. Throughout a century of development, the two sides have remained resilient in the face of changing global circumstances, continuously strengthening the Party building to reinforce their leadership and provide the political foundation for socialism building in each country, said Chinese Ambassador He Wei. Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said he hopes the two countries will together open up a new chapter of stable, substantive and effective development in their relationship based on respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regimes, as well as mutual benefit. At a meeting with Martin Briens, Secretary-General of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in Hanoi on July 8, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung highlighted the positive developments in bilateral ties since the two countries elevated their relationship. He noted that Vietnam–France cooperation has generated tangible benefits for both peoples while contributing to peace, stability, dialogue, and cooperation in the world. Russia in general and Saint Petersburg in particular attach great importance to strengthening ties with Vietnam, expressing his hope for more exchanges between high-level parliamentary delegations and broader cooperation with Vietnamese localities to further deepen the bilateral relations. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam cabled his condolences to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping following recent severe rains, flooding, tornadoes and landslides that have caused significant loss of life and property in several localities in China. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.