Outstanding domestic and international events on April 3

DOMESTIC

On April 3, in Hanoi, General Secretary To Lam received Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki. At the meeting, General Secretary To Lam expressed his joy and satisfaction at witnessing the Vietnam-Japan relationship continuing to develop substantially and comprehensively in all areas after more than a year of upgrading the relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in which political trust continues to be consolidated, economic cooperation continues to be the main pillar, Japan continues to be Vietnam's leading important economic partner, cooperation in new areas such as green transformation and digital transformation has progressed with many specific projects.In the picture:General Secretary To Lam received Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki.Photo: Thong Nhat – VNA

On April 3, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting with ministries and sectors after the United States announced new tariffs on goods imported from Vietnam. According to the Prime Minister, the US tariffs are not in line with the good relations between the two countries, the wishes of the people of both sides and Vietnam's efforts in recent times. The Prime Minister requested the immediate establishment of a rapid response team on this issue headed by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son; assigned Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc to chair and direct ministries and sectors to listen to opinions from businesses, including large export enterprises.In the picture:Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting on the new US tax rate on goods imported from Vietnam.Photo: Duong Giang-VNA

On April 3, at the Armenian Parliament Building in the capital Yerevan, Chairman of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan chaired the welcoming ceremony and held talks with Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man. Before the talks, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man had a private meeting with Chairman of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan. After the talks, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and Chairman of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries' parliaments. Also on the morning of April 3, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man received Head of the Armenian-Vietnamese Friendship Parliamentarians' Group Hasmik Hakobyan.In the picture:National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man holds talks with Armenian Parliament Chairman Alen Simonyan.Photo: Doan Tan – VNA

From April 2 to 9, the Lang Son Provincial Red Cross Society and the Lang Son Provincial Post Office organized a ceremony to present 3.5 billion VND to restore livelihoods for 1,142 households in Trang Dinh, Chi Lang, and Van Quan districts of Lang Son province under the project "International emergency aid to support people to overcome the consequences of storm No. 3 (storm Yagi) and post-storm circulation" of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.In the picture:Cash distribution to beneficiaries in Quan Son commune, Chi Lang district.Photo: Anh Tuan – VNA

On April 3, the opening ceremony and competition of stages 1 and 2 of the 37th National Cycling Race for the Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup in 2025 “Non song lien mot doi” was held at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square, Tuyen Quang City, Tuyen Quang Province. This year's race has 105 athletes from 15 cycling clubs nationwide and foreign athletes participating in the competition.In the picture:Racers enter stage 1 in Tuyen Quang city.Photo: Quang Cuong – VNA

On April 3 (March 6 of the lunar calendar), at Thai Lac Pagoda, the People's Committee of Lac Hong Commune, Van Lam District (Hung Yen) held the opening ceremony of the 2025 Rain Praying Festival. The rain praying festival has long been associated with the worship of the Four Dharmas: Phap Van, Phap Vu, Phap Loi, Phap Dien of wet rice farmers. Thereby expressing the desire to conquer nature, pray for favorable weather and good crops.In the picture:The procession of the Four Dharma deities in the Rain Praying Festival.HERReporter: Manh Khanh-TTXVN

On April 3, Hanoi City Police said that the police agency is investigating and clarifying the cause of the fire that occurred at house number 14, lane 40 Dang Tran Duc, Thanh Tri ward (Hoang Mai) that resulted in 1 death.In the picture:Authorities rescued Ms. DTB (born in 1953) trapped in the fire and brought her to a safe location.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced a 10% basic tariff on imports from all countries and territories around the world. The Washington administration also imposed new reciprocal tariffs on other countries that the White House considers to have a trade imbalance with the US. This tariff is half the rate those countries apply to US exports.In the picture:US President Donald Trump announced new reciprocal tariffs at the White House.Photo: Reuters/VNA

Myanmar’s military government has declared a temporary ceasefire in its campaign against armed opposition forces following a devastating earthquake on March 28 that killed about 3,000 people, state broadcaster MRTV reported. The ceasefire will take effect from April 2 to 22 to allow the country to recover from the disaster, MRTV said.In the picture:Damage after earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar.Photo: THX/TTXVN

On April 2, an Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Jamnagar, Gujarat, western India. Local police confirmed that there were two pilots on board at the time of the accident, one of whom was rescued and taken to hospital. Authorities are currently searching for the remaining pilot.In the picture:The scene of the crash of an Indian Air Force Jaguar fighter jet in Jamnagar city, Gujarat state, India.Photo: ANI/VNA