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

- The Government has proposed the National Assembly (NA) allow the use of 18.22 trillion VND (715.6 million USD) sourced from the increased sum of the 2023 central budget collection for 14 public investment projects.

As part of its ongoing seventh session, the parliament on June 27 deliberated the use of the general reserve of the central budget-funded medium-term public investment plan 2021 - 2025 for public investment projects. The reserve under discussion is equivalent to the increased revenue of the 2023 central budget collection. Read full story

- President To Lam commended Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski’s contributions to Vietnam-Australia ties during a reception in Hanoi for the ambassador on June 27.

Expressing delight at the recent elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March 2024, President Lam suggested that based on this upgraded framework, both countries should continue proposing specific cooperation programmes and plans, maintaining the exchange of all-level delegations, enhancing the sharing of information on global and regional issues of mutual concern, deepening collaboration in national defence-security, economy-trade and in emerging areas such as climate change adaptation, clean energy, digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Read full story

- Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's recent trip to China is a success.

The PM made the trip to attend the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Dalian and pay a working visit to China from June 24-27. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang sought the EU and ASEAN businesses’ assistance in training a high-quality workforce for Vietnam during a reception in Hanoi on June 27 for a delegation led by Chairman of the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) Jens Rübbert.

Quang lauded the activities of European businesses in general and the EU-ASEAN Business Council, which he said, have made contributions to Vietnam's economic growth and comprehensive partnership and cooperation between Vietnam and the EU. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on June 27 received visiting Group Chairman José Viñals of the UK-based Standard Chartered PLC.

Telling his guest that Vietnam values and wants to step up the strategic partnership with the UK, Khai said the Vietnamese Government hopes UK banks, including the Standard Chartered, will continue to make significant contributions to the sound bilateral friendship and cooperation via their presence in Vietnam. Read full story

- Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Thanh received in Hanoi on June 27 a delegation from the Thailand-Vietnam Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group, led by its Chairman Sakchai Tanaboonchai.

Congratulating Thailand on the successful organisation of its Senate election, the vice chairwoman stated that the NA will continue to closely cooperate with the country’s House of Representatives and Senate. Read full story

- The 2024 Vietnam Energy Transition Forum was held on June 27 within the framework of the International Exhibition on Environment and Energy Tech (ENTECH) in Hanoi.

Speaking at the event, Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Department of Technology Development and Innovation Nguyen Mai Duong said that Vietnam's electricity consumption is forecast to increase by about 15% in 2024, and electricity demand to grow about 8-10% a year in the coming years. Read full story

- The inaugural Bonjour Vietnam Festival took place in Paris on June 25-26, aiming to showcase the Vietnamese culture, people and agricultural products to French consumers.

Organised by the Vietnamese Trade Office and the Vietnam Cultural Centre in France, alongside Vietnamese associations and businesses, the festival successfully introduced a slice of Vietnamese life to Parisians. Read full story./.