Outstanding domestic and international events on March 13

DOMESTIC

During his official visit to the Republic of Singapore, on the morning of March 13, General Secretary To Lam attended the Vietnam - Singapore Business Forum with the theme "Vietnam - the destination of the era of science, technology and financial cooperation". In the afternoon, General Secretary To Lam and his wife, along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, left Singapore for Vietnam, successfully concluding the official visit to the Republic of Singapore at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Secretary General of the Singapore People's Action Party (PAP) Lawrence Wong.In the picture:General Secretary To Lam witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between businesses of the two countries.Photo: Thong Nhat – VNA

On the morning of March 13, at the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the President and relevant units on a number of key tasks in the coming time. At the meeting, the President pointed out that the workload in the coming time is very large, especially the preparation for important events of the Party and the country, as well as the dissemination and implementation of resolutions and conclusions of the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee on the arrangement and streamlining of the organizational apparatus, ensuring effective and efficient operations. Therefore, tasks and work need to be closely and smoothly coordinated; once a decision has been made, it is necessary to work urgently, accurately, promptly, in accordance with regulations with higher quality requirements.In the picture:President Luong Cuong works with the Office of the President on national defense and security.Photo: Lam Khanh – VNA

On the morning of March 13, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Economic and Social Subcommittee of the 14th National Congress of the Party, chaired the fourth meeting of the subcommittee. Concluding the fourth meeting of the Economic and Social Subcommittee of the 14th National Congress of the Party, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that the draft Socio-Economic Report must have a long-term vision, think deeply, do big things, surpass its own limits; be linked with the Political Report and other documents; and fully absorb the direction of General Secretary To Lam in the meetings with the subcommittees.In the picture:Fourth meeting of the Economic and Social Subcommittee.Photo: Duong Giang - VNA

On the morning of March 13, in Binh Dinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man led Inspection Delegation No. 1910 of the Politburo to work with the Standing Committee of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee to announce the draft report on inspection results to the Standing Committee of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee. In the afternoon, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man led Inspection Delegation No. 1910 of the Politburo to work with the Standing Committee of the Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee to announce the draft report on inspection results to the Standing Committee of the Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee.In the picture:National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks.Photo: Doan Tan - VNA

On March 13, Hai Phong City held a ceremony to receive the certificate of recognition of President Ton Duc Thang Memorial House as a national relic and commemorate the 45th anniversary of President Ton Duc Thang's death in Tien Cuong Commune, Tien Lang District. At the ceremony, delegates respectfully expressed their gratitude to President Ton Duc Thang - a communist soldier who devoted his whole life to the cause of fighting for national independence, freedom and happiness of the people.In the picture:Representatives of Tien Lang district leaders received the certificate of national monument ranking of President Ton Duc Thang Memorial House.Photo: VNA

On March 13, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, Nam Dinh Provincial Police arrested 3 subjects: Luong Dinh An (born in 1983, residing in Vi Luong Residential Area, Nam Phong Ward), Nguyen Trung Kien (born in 1977, residing at 9/703 Truong Chinh, Quang Trung Ward) and Tran Van Duong (born in 1979, residing in Bao Long Village, My Ha Commune) for the crime of illegal drug trafficking on the Internet, seizing 1.4 kg of heroin, 2 kg of ketamine, 1 kg of crystal meth, 500 synthetic drug pills, 100 pink pills, 5 mobile phones and some other related evidence.In the picture:Objects and evidence of the case.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

On March 12, two sources familiar with the matter revealed that Russia has sent the US a list of demands for an agreement to end the conflict with Ukraine and improve relations with Washington. According to the sources, Russian and US officials have discussed these terms in direct and online exchanges over the past three weeks. The terms that Moscow has put forward are relatively broad and similar to the demands it has previously sent to Ukraine, the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including the clause that NATO will not admit Ukraine and will not deploy foreign troops in Ukraine.In the photo (excerpt from video):Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a visit to an outpost in Kursk province, March 12, 2025.Photo: Reuters/VNA

On March 12, the defense ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland met in Paris, France, pledging to take concrete steps to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities and provide security guarantees to Ukraine. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was invited to the first meeting to discuss aid to the Eastern European country.In the picture:French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, German counterpart Boris Pistorius and Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto attend the 5-nation Defense Ministers' Conference on Ukraine, in Paris (France) on May 12, 2025.Photo: REUTERS/TTXVN

Talks aimed at breaking the deadlock between Hamas and Israel have gotten off to a positive start. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) newspaper The National News reported on March 12 that the talks in Doha were positive and different from previous rounds. US mediators gained a deeper understanding of Hamas after unprecedented meetings between Washington representatives and the Palestinian militant group.In the picture:Buildings destroyed by conflict in the Gaza Strip.Photo: THX/TTXVN

On March 12, Canada officially responded to the tariffs on imported aluminum and steel by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Accordingly, Ottawa imposed taxes on imported goods from the US worth about 20.6 billion USD. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced that Canada will impose a reciprocal tax of 25% from 00:01 on March 13 local time.In the picture:Vehicles move across the Canada-US border crossing in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.Photo: THX/TTXVN