Contentious contents in the draft law on the special administrative-economic units of Van Don, Bac Van Phong and Phu Quoc were the centre of discussions among National Assembly deputies on May 23 morning.

 Voters in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong said the recent trial of several major corruption cases has strengthened the public’s trust in the Communist Party of Vietnam. 

Three naval ships of India anchored at Tien Sa Port in Da Nang on May 21, beginning a five-day courtesy visit to the central city.

 Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has raised objections to China’s militarisation of the East Sea after reports that a Chinese bomber capable of carrying a nuclear warhead had landed in the Paracel archipelago.

 Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera has voiced deep concern about reports that Chinese bombers had landed for the first time at an airport on the East Sea. 

 Vietnam strongly condemns and opposes all acts of violence or abuses committed against civilians and excessive use of lethal weapons to strike civilian facilities, including schools, hospitals, residential and public areas.

 The Vietnam-Australia cooperation is witnessing an increasingly strong development  and the enhancement of relations is one of the focuses of both sides, said  Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick.

 Many National Assembly deputies have urged strengthening the fight against wastefulness when discussing in groups a report on the outcomes of the work in 2017 on May 22.

 Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse will pay a state visit to Japan from May 29 to June 2 at the invitation of the State of Japan.

 Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his spouse will pay a State visit to Vietnam from May 23-26 at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang.

 The draft law on Vietnamese coast guard force and the draft revised law on national defence were among issues National Assembly deputies discussed on May 22.

 PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 22 discussed socio-economic development issues in 2017 and tasks set for 2018 at a discussion within the framework of the 14th National Assembly's 5th working session. 

 Three naval ships of India anchored at Tien Sa Port in Da Nang on May 21, beginning a five-day courtesy visit to the central city.

 Seven officers from the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre will be dispatched to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic and South Sudan in 2018. 

Vietnam requests China to immediately stop sending bombers to conduct drills in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, said the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. 

 The 11th round of negotiations of the working group on partnership in less sensitive sea-related fields between Vietnam and China took place in Hanoi from May 14 to 18.

 The 14th National Assembly opened its fifth session in Hanoi on May 21, which was televised nationwide. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a decision to appoint EVN general director Dang Hoang An to the position of deputy minister of industry and trade.

 The Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) will focus its efforts on reforms, striving towards a “contingency of officials with competence, virtue, and reputation befitting their duties.”

Vietnam actively joined in discussions of the second Meeting of the Asia-Europe Political Forum and the 30th Meeting of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties Standing Committee, which took place in London, the UK.