Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- The National Assembly (NA)'s Standing Committee convened its 34th session in Hanoi on June 11, expected to touch upon various matters.

In his opening remarks, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man said during the three-day meeting, full-time legislators will opine on eight draft laws and three draft resolutions to be submitted and approved at the second phase of the legislature’s seventh meeting from June 17-27. Read full story

൩ - Vietnam considers developing friendship and cooperative ties with China as a strategic choice and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, President To Lam told Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo at a reception in Hanoi on June 11.

Having appreciated Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulations on his election as the State leader of Vietnam, President Lam affirmed his readiness to work with his Chinese counterpart to maintain the tradition of regular exchanges and meetings between senior leaders of the two Parties and the two countries. Read full story

- Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) has projected the economic growth rate of Vietnam at 6% in the second quarter of 2024 and for the full year on increasing chip-making demand, the recovery of Chinese and regional economies, as well as ongoing supply chain shifts.

The economic growth in the second quarter will edge up to 6% from 5.66% in the first quarter. For the full year, UOB maintained the previous forecast at 6%. Inflation will be controlled at 3.8%. Read full story

- Vietnam's exports to key markets in the first five months of 2024 increased by 15% over the same period last year, in which fashion, furniture and household appliances led the recovery.

Ta Hoang Linh, Director of the European-American Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said that export turnover of Vietnam's textile and garment sector since the beginning of the year has reached 12.8 billion USD, up 7.4% over the same period. Read full story

- Vietnam ran a trade deficit in May as the import of major materials rebounded, signaling that green shoots are sprouting in domestic production, experts have said.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) reported that imports turnover in the month was estimated at 33.81 billion USD, up 12.8% year-on-year, while exports stood at 32.81 billion USD, up 5.7%, resulting in a trade deficit of about 1 billion USD. Read full story

- To have the “yellow card” that the European Commission (EC) has imposed on Vietnamese seafood regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing lifted has been considered an urgent task of the fishery sector. This is not only the matter of strictly implementing the 2017 Fisheries Law but also protecting coastal security and safety of marine ecosystem. Over the past seven years since being imposed the warning, Vietnam has been working hard to step by step fulfil the European Union's standards and hopefully have the "yellow card" removed in the upcoming examination.

Recently, 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities of Vietnam have strictly complied with the Government’s directions on thoroughly handle violations on IUU fishing prevention and control regulations, and geared up for the last examination.

- Vietnamese athletes won eight gold medals, four silvers, and five bronzes, ranking first at the 9th Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championship, which concluded at Quan Ngua Sports Complex in Hanoi on June 10 evening.

Phan Thuy Linh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Gymnastics Federation, said Vietnamese athletes' performance demonstrated their outstanding progress and thorough preparations. The host has risen to the first place from its previous position in the top five in Asia. Read full story

- Head coach of the Vietnamese national football team Kim Sang-sik appreciated Iraq but believed Vietnam still have the chance despite playing on away ground at the 2026 World Cup qualification match on June 12 in Basra.

It is said an un-balanced game as Iraq are world No 58 while Vietnam place No 115. The host side have won all five matches at the tournament to top Group F and qualified for the next stage while Vietnam secured only two wins for a third place and need great efforts and luck to reach the third qualification./.Read full story