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

- President To Lam hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 17 for Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo who came to say goodbye to the State leader at the end of his tenure.

The President asked the ambassador to convey regards from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and other key leaders of Vietnam to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other key leaders of China. Read full story

- The UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will give new motives for trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the UK, President To Lam told Ambassador Iain Frew at their meeting in Hanoi on July 17.

Lam noted with pleasure the effective, intensive and extensive development of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, and affirmed the importance Vietnam attaches to enhancing the bilateral relationship. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Thomas Vallely, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Fulbright University Vietnam, and other experts from the university in Hanoi on July 17.

The Government leader thanked Vallely, who is also former Director of the Vietnam Programme at Harvard University, for his significant contributions, especially in the fields of education and policy dialogue, which have supported Vietnam’s economic governance improvement and strengthened the Vietnam-US relationship. Read full story

- Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man asked the northern port city of Hai Phong to further improve its business environment, reform administrative procedures and raise its competitiveness during his working session with the municipal Party Committee on July 17.

At the meeting, the top legislator highlighted the city’s strategic geopolitical - economic - military position, with the two island districts of Cat Hai and Bach Long Vi. Read full story

- The Steering Committee for External Information Service on July 17 held a conference to review activities in the first half of the year and outline tasks for the last six months.

Presiding over the conference, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the committee’s Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia commended the achievements and highlighted the positive changes in one year since the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 57-KL/TW which focuses on continuously improving the quality and effectiveness of the external information work in the new context. Read full story

- Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairwoman of its Commission for Mass Mobilisation, has been appointed Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

Politburo member Luong Cuong, who is also Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, handed over the Politburo’s appointment decision to Hoai at a ceremony held by the municipal Party Committee on July 17. Read full story

- Vietnam has scored higher overall than China and Bangladesh in the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)’s recent survey comparing the competitive advantages of textile-exporting countries to the US.

The survey shows that Vietnam is having better competitive edge thanks to its ability to produce a diverse range of high-value products. Read full story

- Vietnam is joining 30 other countries and territories worldwide in the ongoing 34th Hong Kong Book Fair, whose theme spotlights literature in film and television.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the annual fair runs at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 17-23, featuring over 600 cultural activities. Read full story./.