Hanoi, May 12 (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko hosted a welcome ceremony for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam, his spouse, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation at the Independence Palace in Minsk on May 12 morning (local time).

Following the ceremony, the two leaders held talks, witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements, and addressed the press to announce the outcomes of their discussions. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged the northern province of Thai Binh to identify strategic “levers” and “launch pads” that can help it accelerate and make breakthroughs in the next phase of development.

Working with the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board on May 12, the PM praised the province’s socio-economic achievements so far, which have greatly contributed to the country’s overall growth. Read full story

- National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh presented a proposal on shortening the tenure of the 15th NA and People's Councils at all levels for 2021-2026 during a plenary meeting at the hall on May 12 morning as part of the ongoing 9th session of the legislature.

Lawmakers also heard a proposal on the national election day for the 16th-tenure NA and all-level People's Councils for 2026–2030. Read full story

- As Vietnam is commemorating the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, a little-known but remarkable historical chapter emerges from the shadows of time – a chance meeting in Paris between the Vietnamese revolutionary leader and David Ben-Gurion, the founder and the first Prime Minister of Israel.

While researching the life of Ben-Gurion, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondent in Israel unexpectedly found a special connection between the two leaders in 1946 when both were in Paris, seeking international support for their nations’ struggle for independence. President Ho Chi Minh and Israeli PM Ben-Gurion, drawn together by their countries’ shared history and indomitable spirit in the fight for freedom, engaged in conversations for around two weeks. Read full story

- The Vietnam Airlines Corporation and Russia’s state-owned VTB Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation.

The signing took place in Moscow on May 10 (local time) within the official visit to Russia by Party General Secretary To Lam, with the Vietnamese top leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin witnessing. Read full story

- The third and final session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 3) for the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York from April 28 to May 10, during which participants unanimously nominated Vietnam as chair of the 11th NPT Review Conference in 2026.

The nomination, followed a proposal from the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), reflects the international community’s recognition of Vietnam’s active contributions to nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy — as well as their expectations of Vietnam’s leadership capacity to steer one of the most critical global political-security processes under the UN framework. Read full story

- Russian experts and scholars have expressed their confidence that the visit to Russia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam for an official visit and attendance at the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War will usher in a new chapter in bilateral relations, with 20 agreements signed.

Professor Vladimir Kolotov, head of the Department of History of the Far East Countries and Director of the Ho Chi Minh Institute at Saint Petersburg University, noted that the trip highlighted Vietnam's consistent policy of independence and sovereignty - the result of decades of struggle for independence, freedom, and self-determination. Read full story

- The research vessel Professor Gagarinsky was transferred to the Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre (VRTC) at a ceremony held on May 11 in Vladivostok city, Russia.

Designed for oceanographic research, the vessel is equipped to operate in deep and offshore waters. It is expected to mark a new chapter in marine research, enabling scientists from both countries to explore previously uncharted areas, deepen their understanding of marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and resources, and propose strategies for conservation, restoration, and sustainable use./. Read full story