Vietnam Classified as Upper-Middle-Income Country by WB

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. A ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Saigon - Gia Dinh city being officially named after President Ho Chi Minh, conferences reviewing the performance of military and public security tasks in H1, and Vietnam classified as an upper-middle-income country by the WB are among news highlights on July 2. 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. The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency. 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. 2026 marked the first time the Pacific Partnership programme and the Pacific Friendship programme have been held simultaneously in Quang Tri, demonstrating the increasingly substantive and effective cooperation between Vietnam and the US, while reaffirming the province's active role in promoting international cooperation for community welfare and sustainable development. Noting that Ghana became Vietnam's fourth-largest trading partner in Africa and that two-way trade exceeded 1 billion USD for the first time in 2025, Tuan proposed broadening and diversifying traded goods, establishing information-sharing mechanisms on markets, policies and business opportunities, and accelerating negotiations on key economic agreements, including those on double taxation avoidance and investment promotion and protection. Giang praised officers and professional soldiers deployed to Venezuela in the aftermath of the powerful twin earthquakes that struck the Latin American country on June 24 night, causing heavy casualties and widespread devastation. The draft revised Land Law has been added to the 2026 legislative programme and will be submitted to the NA for consideration at its second session this October. A Quang Tri official described the PP – PF programme as a practical initiative that enhances mutual understanding, builds trust and expands cooperation in humanitarian assistance, disaster response and community support. The Vietnamese diplomat proposed the ACT Chief Minister consider signing a friendship and cooperation agreement with Hanoi, laying an important foundation for expanding ties across a wide range of areas between the two capitals in the future. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.