Vietnamese State President hosts banquet in honour of visiting Bhutanese King
President Cuong believed that this historic visit by the King and Queen of Bhutan will create new momentum for the two countries to cooperate substantially, effectively, and for mutual benefit, for the happiness of the people, the prosperity of the two nations, contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.
State President Luong Cuong (second, left) and his spouse host a solemn banquet in Hanoi on August 19 evening in honour of Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and the high-ranking delegation of Bhutan. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)♏ – State President Luong Cuong and his spouse hosted a solemn banquet in Hanoi on August 19 evening in honour of Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and the high-ranking delegation of Bhutan who are on a state visit to Vietnam.
Welcoming the Bhutanese guests to Vietnam on the occasion of Vietnam's 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, President Cuong emphasised that the success of this visit will open up a new chapter in the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Bhutan.
Appreciating the pride-worth achievements that Bhutan has made in national development, he stated that Bhutan is one of the few countries that has achieved negative carbon levels, with forests covering more than 70% of its territory, and is an inspiring story of a sustainable and harmonious development model, where people promote humility, community ethics and harmony between humans and nature.
The President affirmed that his talks with the Bhutanese King took place in a sincere, profound and positive atmosphere, discussing directions and measures to promote effective and substantive cooperation between the two countries in the coming time, especially in the fields of economy, trade, investment, culture, tourism, people-to-people exchange, connectivity and issues of mutual concern.
At the banquet in Hanoi on August 19. (Photo: VNA)
He believed that this historic visit by the King and Queen of Bhutan will create new momentum for the two countries to cooperate substantially, effectively, and for mutual benefit, for the happiness of the people, the prosperity of the two nations, contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.
For his part, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck expressed his appreciation for the warm and respectful welcome that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam have given to the delegation.
The King said that Vietnam is especially admired by international friends for its strong will, solidarity, and courage, for its dedication to preserving heritages, and for its steadfast belief in the future. He affirmed that after 80 years, the sacrifices of previous generations of Vietnamese people are not only remembered in memory, but also honoured in the extraordinary achievements that the Vietnamese people have built.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck also expressed his admiration and respect for President Ho Chi Minh when visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at a time when the Vietnamese people are jubilantly celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the country. He said that President Ho Chi Minh’s vision continues to inspire not only the Vietnamese people, but also humanity around the world.
The King affirmed that despite being a small and distant nation, Bhutan has always shared the same spirit with Vietnamese friends, stressing his belief that historical heritage serves as a compass guiding both peoples toward a better future.
Emphasising that Bhutan is also known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon", while Vietnam is often known as the "Land of the Flying Dragon - Thang Long", the King hoped that the dragons of the two countries will fly high together, being strong, confident, and eternal./.
The two sides agreed to urge agencies, ministries, and businesses from both countries to step up collaboration, facilitate market access for each other’s key goods, diversify supply chains, and work toward multiplying bilateral trade in the coming years.
Building on their strong friendship, the state visit to Vietnam by the King and the Queen from August 18 to 22 reflects Bhutan’s high regard for its friendship and cooperation with Vietnam, as well as Vietnam’s growing role and position in the region.
Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck underlined that while Bhutan and Vietnam are geographically distant and culturally different, both countries share a strong commitment to Buddhist values of peace, wisdom, compassion, and tolerance. She expressed her honour at visiting the ancient pagoda and her hope for future exchanges, including visits by Vietnamese monks to Bhutan.
The Party chief described the bills as major, complex issues demanding brainpower to address real-world obstacles and ensure legal consistency, with the goal of unlocking resources and turning institutions and laws into a competitive edge for economic growth.
The head of the European Parliament delelegation at AIPA-46 highlighted the effective implementation of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), describing it as a model for the EU’s negotiations with other partners.
Da Nang's GRDP is projected to grow at an average of 11% per year during 2026–2030, with per capita GRDP reaching 8,500 USD. State budget revenue is expected to rise by at least 10% annually; the private sector is projected to grow 11.5–12% per year; and the digital economy is anticipated to account for 35–40% of GRDP.
In a context where traditional and non-traditional security challenges are increasingly intertwined, multilateralism is not merely an option but an inevitable path to maintain peace and stability, according to Defence Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang.
NA Chairman Man’s official visit to Malaysia and attendance at AIPA-46 highlight Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy priority of valuing friendly neighborliness and comprehensive strategic partnership with Malaysia.
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with relevant bodies, will submit a proposal to designate April 7 annually as "Public Health Day," with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2026.
On September 16, at talks with First Vice President of the Belgian Senate Andries Gryffoy, NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to developing friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belgium. She noted that bilateral ties have grown positively in various fields over the past five decades, especially since the establishment of their strategic partnership in agriculture in 2018.
Upon learning of the passing of Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, on behalf of the leaders of the Vietnamese Party and Government, on September 17 sent a message of condolences to his Cuban counterpart Manuel Marrero, the Government of Cuba, and the family of the late official.
Petronas has partnered with the state-owned Vietnam National Industry – Energy Group (Petrovietnam) in a wide range of joint projects, and the two sides are now expanding into new fields such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable energy.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man welcomed the support of member parliaments for draft resolutions initiated by Vietnam and submitted for adoption at AIPA-46.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Tran Quoc Khanh on September 16 had a working session with Abdelkader Toumi, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Batna province, which is twinned with Dien Bien province of Vietnam, and representatives of Algerian enterprises to seek ways to expand cooperation in various fields.
The third nationwide conference on public investment promotion, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man's meetings with the Cambodian National Assembly President and the Timor-Leste National Parliament Speaker, and Vietnam ranking 44th among the 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2025 are among news highlights on September 17.
According to Decision No. 2346-QD/TW, dated September 15, 2025, the Da Nang Party Committee for the new term consists of 75 members, including 73 re-elected members. The Secretary of the municipal Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term was appointed as the Secretary of the municipal Party Committee for the 2025-2030 term.
The first Congress of the Party Organisation of the Central Party Agencies will focus on two main tasks: reviewing the implementation of the Resolutions for the 2020-2025 term, and setting the directions, goals, tasks, and solutions for the new term; and delivering feedback on the draft documents to be submited to the 14th National Party Congress.
With a journey from post-war reconstruction to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, Vietnam has proven that anything is possible with vision, unity, and determination.
