Party General Secretary To Lam on April 3 led a high-ranking Vietnamese Party and State delegation to pay their final respects to Gen. Khamtay Siphandone, former Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), former President and former Prime Minister of Laos, who passed away a day earlier.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on the two countries' parliamentary friendship groups to actively promote exchanges and experience sharing, particularly among parliamentarians, female legislators, and young lawmakers.

As an active member of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Vietnam stands ready to act as a bridge to help Armenia expand ties with ASEAN, AIPA, and other member parliaments.

It is expected that Vietnam's current 63 provinces and cities will be merged into 34, district-level administrative operations will be eliminated, and about 5,000 commune/ward-level administrative units will be established.

Vietnam hopes that the US will adopt a tariff policy that is conformable to the good relationship between the two countries, meeting the desires of their people, and the efforts that Vietnam has made in recent years, PM Chinh said, stressing that this policy should take into account the conditions and circumstances of Vietnam as a developing country still recovering from the heavy and prolonged consequences of the wars.

Party General Secretary To Lam has written an article highlighting Vietnam’s rise to prominence in international integration.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam will lead a high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam to Vientiane on April 3 to pay respects to former President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and former President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone, who passed away on April 2.

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, the President, the Government, the National Assembly, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee on April 2 sent a message of condolences to their Lao counterparts over the passing of General Khamtay Siphandone, former President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, and former President of Laos.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged promoting breakthroughs in scientific and technological development, innovation, and digital transformation for rapid and sustainable growth, noting that attention should be placed on green economy, digital economy, knowledge-based economy, circular economy, and sharing economy, particularly in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things.

The continuing re-organisation of the local military structure and the border guard force aims to enhance efficiency, reduce intermediary levels, strengthening their role as the core force in implementing the strategy of people's defence and people's war, ensuring the firm protection of national sovereignty and border security, Party General Secretary To Lam said.

In the past over five decades, Vietnam and Belgium have emerged as key partners across multiple fields, including politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, education, health care, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Both nations have also worked closely together at multilateral forums, particularly as members of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure.

Belgian King Philippe's visit, accompanied by senior officials, business leaders, representatives of universities and research institutes, would create new momentum to deepen and enhance the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium in a practical and effective way, meeting the benefits of their people and contributing responsibly to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.

To further strengthen Vietnam-Belgium relations, especially parliamentary cooperation, both sides agreed to enhance delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly between parliamentary committees and friendship groups. They also pledged to share legislative and supervisory experience, coordinate positions in international organisations, support each other’s candidacies for UN bodies, and effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

President Cuong warmly welcomed King Philippe and a high-ranking delegation of the Kingdom of Belgium on their first state visit to Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973, affirming that the trip is an important historical milestone, opening up a new page for the friendly relations between the two countries.

The first state visit in over 50 years between the two countries serves as an important milestone for bilateral ties to enter a new development stage with stronger political trust and more substantive and effective cooperation.

During the reception, the Vietnamese Party chief highly valued the progress in bilateral relations across all field, notably, the steady growth of economic, trade, and investment ties.

The visit underscores Vietnam's steadfast foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and proactive international integration. It also reaffirms Vietnam's commitment to strengthening ties with Belgium, a key partner within the European Union.

NA Secretary-General Le Quang Tung said the 9th session will address a broad agenda, including constitutional amendments, 44 legislative items, and 12 key issues tied to socio-economic development, State budget, oversight, and other key matters.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered dealing with all projects with problems within 2025. Ministries and localities reported that about 1,500 projects across the country are currently facing difficulties, spanning about 20 different issue groups.

PM Pham Minh Chinh thanked President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the Brazilian Government for recognising Vietnam’s market economy status, which will facilitate the access of their countries’ businesses to each other’s markets in a fair and mutually beneficial manner.