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

- Party General Secretary To Lam on April 3 led a high-ranking Vietnamese Party and State delegation to pay their final respects to Gen. Khamtay Siphandone, former Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), former President and former Prime Minister of Laos, who passed away a day earlier.

On the occasion, Lam also held meetings with Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, and PM Sonexay Siphandone. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presided over the first meeting of the Steering Committee for Regional and International Financial Centres in Vietnam on April 3, emphasising the need for independent, specific, exceptional, and competitive policy frameworks to develop the establishments.

The Government leader, also head of the committee, acknowledged that establishing international financial centres represents a new challenge for Vietnam, asking competent sides to adhere to the Politburo’s conclusion and Party General Secretary To Lam’s direction on the issue. Read full story

- Vietnam always values the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Armenia, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man told Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan during a meeting in Yerevan on April 3 (local time).

Chairman Man said the Vietnamese people always remember the invaluable support extended by the Armenian people during Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and its ongoing journey of national construction and development. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son underlined the pivotal role of legislative cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in advancing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during a meeting with Speaker of the Federation Council (Upper House) of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko in Moscow on April 3.

Son expressed gratitude to the Federation Council, particularly Speaker Matviyenko, for their special affection toward Vietnam and their steadfast support for enhancing bilateral relations across diverse sectors. He highlighted the close and effective coordination between the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) and the Federation Council, both bilateral and multilateral frameworks. Read full story

- King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium visited the War Remnants Museum and met with children affected by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3, as part of their ongoing state visit to Vietnam.

At the museum in District 3, the King and the Queen toured an exhibition on the consequences of AO/dioxin. They also attended "Agent Orange: From Past to Future", an event organised by the museum, where they learned about the latest technologies and achievements in cleaning up AO-contaminated areas in Vietnam, by Haemers Technologies, a Belgian company. Read full story

- Vietnam’s role as chair of the Ikebana International Fair 2024 provided a valuable opportunity to foster cultural exchange and strengthen the friendship between Vietnam and Japan, a diplomat has said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu made the remark at a ceremony held on April 3 to celebrate the success of the Ikebana International Fair 2024. The gathering was attended by Princess Takamado, Honorary President of Ikebana International; Ishiba Yoshiko, wife of the Japanese Prime Minister; spouses of senior Japanese officials; spouses of many countries' ambassadors to Japan; and over 30 leading Ikebana artists of Japan. Read full story

- Twelve Vietnamese enterprises are making their marks at Hannover Messe 2025, one of the world’s largest industrial and technology trade fairs, running from March 31 to April 4 in Lower Saxony, Germany.

With over 4,000 exhibitors from 150 countries, the event provides a vital platform for Vietnam to explore global markets and expand partnerships, especially in Europe. This year’s edition spotlights advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, mechanical engineering, and fluid energy production. Read full story./.