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

- Party General Secretary and State President To Lam attended official sessions and delivered an important speech at the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris on October 5.

Addressing a session on reformed multilateralism, the Vietnamese leader affirmed the unreplaceable role of multilateral mechanisms and highlighted contributions by the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) to settling the issues of shared concern of the international community, as well as to building frameworks and principles on emerging issues. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam had a meeting with Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF) Louise Mushikiwabo on October 5 (local time) as part of his trip to France for attendance at the 19th Francophonie Summit and an official visit.

At the event, Lam said she appreciates the sound relations and cooperation between Vietnam and the OIF as well as the contributions by the organisation and Mushikiwabo’s contributions to bolstering the Francophone solidarity and cooperation for peace, stability and development. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam appreciated the contributions made by overseas Vietnamese (OV) intellectuals in the Francophone countries to the homeland while meeting them on October 5 (local time) as part of his trip to France for attendance at the 19th Francophonie Summit and an official visit to the country.

At the event, he said his working trip aims to affirm Vietnam’s role as a key and responsible member of the Francophone community in the Asia – Pacific region as well as the country’s positive engagement in the community’s activities, attributing the achievements that Vietnam has carved out over the past time to the sound leadership of the Party, efforts of the whole political system and people from all walks of life, support from international friends and valuable contributions from the OV intellectuals and experts. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 5 launched a movement themed “Mai am cho dong bao toi” (houses for our compatriots) to build and upgrade houses for the needy across the nation within 450 days.

Addressing the launching ceremony, PM chinh clarified the Party and State's policy of not advocating mere growth at the expense of fairness, social progress, social security and the environment, but ensuring that people can have an increasingly prosperous and happy life. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 5 order specific and special mechanisms be devised for the North - South high-speed railway project so that procedures are streamlined and construction duration shortened.

He made the request while chairing a meeting between permanent Government members and ministries, sectors to discuss investment in the North - South high-speed railway project and the implementation of railway projects connecting with China. Read full story

- Vietnam and France will promote collaboration in railway, sea and inland waterway transport under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang and Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) Phillipe Orliange.

The MoU was inked in the framework of the trip to France by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam for attendance at the 19th Francophonie Summit and an official visit from October 3-7. Read full story

- More than 100 experts, scientists and partners in various fields from 10 countries gathered at the Global Vietnam - La Francophonie 2024 (OGVF 2024) in Paris from October 5-6 to explore the prospects of the Francophonie in today's world, especially the important role of Vietnam in the development of this dynamic partnership after 54 years of being an active member of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Addressing the event, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong, CEO of EMLV Business School and Chairman of the AVSE Global, the organiser of the event, underlined that Vietnam, a member of the Francophonie community, plays an active role in Asia and acts as a bridge for multi-sectoral cooperation activities related to economic diplomacy among the Asian countries and the community. Read full story

- Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by about 7.4% in the third quarter and 6.82% during the first nine months of 2024 compared to the respective periods of last year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported on October 6.

GSO General Director Nguyen Thi Huong said Typhoon Yagi, which hit Vietnam in early September, took a heavy toll on human lives, property, socio-economic development, and agro-forestry-fishery production in the northern region. Facing that fact, the country has exerted efforts to address natural disasters’ consequences, stabilise people’s life, bolster production and business activities, maintain macro-economic stability, and fuel economic growth. Read full story

- Revenue from import-export activities hit 578 billion USD in the first nine months of 2024, a rise of over 16% year on year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

In September alone, the figure reached 65.8 billion USD, down 8% from that of August and up 10.9% year on year, including exports of over 34 billion USD, a decline of 10% month on month. Read full story

- The cultural festival for peace is underway in Hanoi to mark the city's 70th Liberation Day (October 10, 1954-2024) and 25 years since receiving the title “City for Peace”.

The opening ceremony on October 6 drew Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, high-ranking officials from the Party, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, ministries, sectors, agencies and Hanoi, as well as more than 10,000 people. Read full story./.