Lawmakers hold year-end session, examine key development issues

The IOF official recalled that the Francophonie Summit in Hanoi in 1997 marked a turning point for the organisation, with leaders establishing the position of OIF Secretary-General and placing economic cooperation at the centre of its agenda. Nearly three decades later, the Francophonie Summit is returning to Asia, with Phnom Penh hosting the summit under the theme “Reinvesting in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability”.

Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russian Valentina Matviyenko expressed her belief that Russia-Vietnam friendship will grow ever stronger and bring prosperity to their people. The two countries will continue on the right path and achieve new milestones together.

In the morning session, lawmakers will vote on the draft Laws on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on Metrology and the Law on Securities, and the Resolution on the 2025 State budget settlement.

OIF Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo highlighted the significance of the 7th Francophonie Summit in Hanoi in 1997, which she described as a milestone that laid the foundation for the modern Francophone community.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stressed that a key task now is to translate the orientations and agreements reached by the two countries’ senior leaders into effective cooperation programmes and projects.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam will lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from November 14 to 16.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will lead a high-level Vietnamese delegation to attend the 49th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines, from November 14 – 17 at the invitation of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. of the Philippines, the Chair of ASEAN in 2026.

Under the memorandum, the two parties will promote exchanges between their specialised departments to share information and experience in policy-making and governance.

At their talks, General Secretary and President Lam and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae reaffirmed that Vietnam and Japan are each other's leading and long-term important partners, sharing many common interests, with the development of one country creating favourable conditions for the groth of the other. Vietnam is a priority partner in Japan's foreign policy and the implementation of its New Growth Strategy.

To further strengthen the Vietnam-Venezuela Comprehensive Partnership and make it more effective, Giang proposed both sides make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, promptly address difficulties and seize new opportunities to expand cooperation in areas with potential, including oil and gas, telecommunications, agriculture, education and training, and tourism.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako expressed their pleasure at the positive, substantive and comprehensive development of Vietnam-Japan relations, as well as increasingly vibrant exchanges between the two countries’ leaders and people.

The draft law adds provisions on the principles governing its application in cases of legal conflicts between the Law on Food Safety and other laws. It sets out additional obligations for businesses operating through e-commerce, provides for a food safety information and data system, and requires food businesses to meet good hygiene practices and apply advanced food management systems.

At the event, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung presented the certificate recognising Sugi as Vietnam-Japan Special Ambassador for the 2026–2029 term.

Speaking during the visit, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam expressed his impression of Meiko's development history and long-term investment commitment. He acknowledged the company’s contributions to job creation, human resources training, community support and the promotion of Vietnam-Japan friendship.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of its Organisation Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc spoke highly of the effective cooperation between the Organisation Commission and JICA in training and developing Vietnamese officials, particularly those holding leadership and management positions.

The exhibition features more than 30 distinctive works by contemporary artists from Vietnam and Japan, ranging from established sculptors with strong individual styles to young artists born in the 1990s, offering diverse perspectives in an artistic dialogue.

At a meeting with Hironori Kamezawa, President & Group CEO of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), the Vietnamese leader spoke highly of the group’s effective contributions to the development of Vietnam’s finance and banking sector.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam expressed his wish for bilateral financial cooperation to move beyond a traditional provider-recipient relationship towards a development partnership in which the two sides jointly develop financial markets, design effective capital mobilisation solutions and invest in projects and sectors that build long-term competitiveness.

Vietnam stands ready to create the most favourable conditions possible for businesses from Japanese localities to cooperate, invest and operate successfully in the country, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam affirmed.

Vietnam wants deeper ties with Japan and continued cooperation between the two Parties and countries, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam said.