Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 9 welcomed a delegation of leaders from 18 major Chinese enterprises of the Zhang and Yan clans led by Yan Jiehe, founder and Chairman of the China Pacific Construction Group and Susun Construction Group - both among the world’s top 500 companies, who are visiting Vietnam to explore cooperation and investment opportunities.

Speaking at the meeting, Chinh praised Chinese firms’ activities to promote cooperation and investment in Vietnam, which help to deepen the Vietnam - China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and contribute to building the Vietnam - China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, as well as the growth of both countries. Read full story

- Vietnam's Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi and Cuba's Minister of Agriculture Ydael Jesus Perez Brito discussed strengthening collaboration in rice production at a meeting in Hanoi on December 9.

Nghi emphasised that as the agency in charge of the Vietnamese subcommittee of the Vietnam - Cuba Intergovernmental Committee, the Ministry of Construction (MoC) has made consistent efforts to facilitate economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two nations, with agriculture being a key priority. Read full story

- The Embassy and Defence Attaché Office of Vietnam in Australia held a ceremony in Canberra on December 9 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) (December 22, 1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All People’s Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2024).

Australian officials at the event included First Assistant Secretary for International Policy at the Department of Defence Bernard Philip, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Southeast Asia at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Caroline Linke, Deputy Chief of Protocol at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Adeel Khan, and First Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Pablo Kang. Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City pledges to develop an equal and transparent business climate for foreign firms, including those from Japan, to aid in business development plans in the southern economic hub, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan said on December 9.

At a roundtable jointly held by the city Trade and Investment Promotion Centre (ITPC) and the Japanese Business Association of Ho Chi Minh City (JCCH), Hoan stressed that Japan is now the third largest investor among 127 countries and territories landing investment in the city, pouring over 5.88 billion USD into 1,767 valid projects. Read full story

- Vietnam exported 235,335 tonnes of pepper, including 207,498 tonnes of black pepper and 27,837 tonnes of white pepper, in January - November to earn 1.22 billion USD, with the US being the biggest importer, according to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA).

This represented a 3.5% decrease in export volume but a 46.9% jump in value compared to the same period last year. Read full story

- To meet the increasing travel demand during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet), Vietnam Airlines has received three new aircraft in December, which will provide over 100,000 seats for the peak travel period in the largest festival in a year of the Vietnamese people.

Specifically, the carrier received an Airbus A320neo on December 7, and a Boeing 787-10 on December 8, and is expected to receive another Airbus A320neo by the end of this month. Read full story

- Vietnam's real estate sector recorded the establishment of 4,241 new companies in the first 11 months of this year, marking a 2.6% annual dip, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO).

This trend mirrored the broader business environment where new enterprise registrations across all sectors fell by 0.5%, totalling 147,200. Read full story./.