Outstanding domestic and international events on March 20

DOMESTIC

On March 20, General Secretary To Lam attended the program Meeting with Vietnamese and Chinese students of all periods, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Vietnam Television and Vietnam News Agency, organized at the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace (Hanoi). Speaking at the program, General Secretary To Lam highly appreciated the significance of the Program Meeting with Vietnamese and Chinese students of all periods, which is an opportunity to share about the Vietnam-China friendship relationship, especially conveying the message about the role and determination of students of the two countries through the periods in promoting the vision for the new era of development of each Party, each country and the relationship between the two brotherly peoples...In the picture:General Secretary To Lam and delegates attended the program Meeting with Vietnamese and Chinese students of all periods.Photo: Thong Nhat – VNA

On March 20, at the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Dominican Republic Jaime Francisco Rodriguez to bid farewell on the occasion of the end of his term. The President congratulated the Ambassador on his excellent performance in his term of office, making active contributions to strengthening and developing the cooperative and friendly relationship between Vietnam and the Dominican Republic. On behalf of the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam, the President acknowledged and highly appreciated the Ambassador's contributions to promoting bilateral relations during his term through delegation exchanges at all levels, organizing cultural promotion events, and coordinating and supporting each other at international organizations and multilateral forums.In the picture:President Luong Cuong received Dominican Ambassador to Vietnam Jaime Francisco Rodriguez.Photo: Lam Khanh – VNA

On March 20, in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Comrade Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member, Prime Minister, Secretary of the Government Party Committee, Head of Inspection Delegation 1908 of the Politburo, Secretariat and Comrade Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee chaired a conference to approve the draft report of Inspection Delegation 1908 for the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Binh Duong Provincial Party Committee and the Standing Committee of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Party Committee. On the same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received a number of large enterprises investing in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.In the picture:Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded the conference.Photo: Duong Giang-VNA

On March 20, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received US Senator Steve Daines. At the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man welcomed the Senator, his wife and members of the delegation to Vietnam; pointed out that he was the first US Senator to visit Vietnam in 2025, a special year when Vietnam and the United States celebrate the 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations; expressed his belief that the visit would be a favorable start for more US congressmen to visit Vietnam this year. Sincerely thanking National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man for the warm welcome of the delegation, US Senator Steve David Daines said that this was his first time coming to Vietnam; shared his very good impressions of Vietnam's dynamic development and especially the hospitality of the Vietnamese people.In the picture:National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received US Senator Steve Daines.Photo: Doan Tan – VNA

On March 20, in Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh and the working delegation worked with An Giang, Dong Thap, and Ca Mau provinces on promoting production and business, public investment, import and export, infrastructure construction, social housing, emulation movement to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses, national target programs, and removing difficulties and obstacles for the provinces, thereby striving to achieve and exceed the growth rate in 2025.In the picture:Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh spoke at the meeting.Photo: Cong Mao-VNA

On March 20, about 120,000 11th graders across Hanoi began taking the quality assessment test in two subjects: literature and math. The assessment, organized by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, is considered a trial test - a large-scale rehearsal, helping students get acquainted with the high school graduation exam under the new curriculum.In the picture:The survey is organized as a real graduation exam on a city scale.Photo: Nguyen Cuc-VNA

At around 7:00 a.m. on March 20, at km 837+400 of National Highway 1A in the North-South direction, passing through Hai Phu commune (Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province), a car with license plate 51D-124xx pulling a trailer crashed into the median strip, causing a long traffic jam. After the accident, the container truck was severely damaged, the front of the vehicle blocked the road in the South-North direction, causing a traffic jam on National Highway 1A for nearly 10 km in the South-North direction, from Hoan Lao town to Ly Hoa pass (Bo Trach district). At 11:00 a.m. the same day, traffic congestion on National Highway 1A in the South-North direction was still occurring, with vehicles moving very slowly.In the picture:The scene of the accident where a container truck crashed into the median strip.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

According to Yonhap news agency, on March 20, the South Korean and US armies conducted a joint river crossing exercise near the border with North Korea to enhance the two countries' joint combat capabilities. Information from the South Korean army said the exercise began on March 15 and lasted for 5 days on the Imjin River, in Yeoncheon County, about 50 km north of Seoul. About 600 soldiers from units, including the South Korean Army's 5th Engineer Brigade, the Multi-Purpose Bridge Company, and the Stryker Brigade of the US 2nd Infantry Division/Korea-US Combined Division, participated in the training.In the picture:US and South Korean soldiers participate in joint military exercises in Paju city.Photo: Yonhap/VNA

Japan on March 20 marked the 30th anniversary of the sarin nerve agent attack on the Tokyo subway that killed 14 people and injured more than 5,800. Tokyo subway workers held a solemn and emotional ceremony at Kasumigaseki Station, one of several locations targeted in the March 1995 terrorist attack. Back then, five members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult dropped bags of sarin nerve agent onto morning trains, piercing the bags with the sharp end of an umbrella before fleeing. Many passengers were trapped in the gas-filled train cars.In the picture:Japanese Transport Minister Hiromasa Nakano paid tribute to the victims at the ceremony.Photo: Kyodo/VNA

According to the World Happiness Report 2025 released by the Happiness Research Center of Oxford University (UK) on March 20, Finland continues to be honored as the happiest country in the world for the 8th consecutive year. Besides Finland, other Nordic countries, including Denmark, Iceland and Sweden, also maintain high rankings in the top 4 of the annual ranking.In the picture:Actors perform at a festival in Hameenlinna, Finland.Photo: THX/TTXVN