Although peace, cooperation, and development remain the prevailing trend and a shared aspiration of humankind, in many parts of the world hotspots of conflict have evolved in complex ways, intertwined with intensifying competition among major powers. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has been advancing vigorously, driving the emergence of new productive forces, particularly high technology and artificial intelligence, with unprecedented breakthroughs. Globalisation and economic integration are undergoing major challenges and fluctuations, heavily affected by the rise of protectionism and fierce competition in technology, trade, and investment. The Asia–Pacific and Indian Ocean regions continue to be the world’s most dynamic centres of growth, but they also harbour considerable risks.
This context has created a mix of opportunities and challenges for Viet Nam. On the one hand, the international environment remains relatively stable for development, while the demand for cooperation and economic linkages provides conditions for Viet Nam to step up international integration and move to a new rung of development. On the other hand, the country faces difficulties stemming from the unpredictable evolution of the international situation, rising risks in the global economy and security environment, and the danger of falling behind if it fails to promptly harness advances in science and technology and emerging development trends.
Achievements of historic significance
Against a volatile global backdrop, under the wise leadership of the Party, the management of the state, and the effective governance of the government and the National Assembly, together with the concerted efforts of sectors and authorities at all levels in implementing a foreign policy of peace, cooperation, and development, independence and self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification, Viet Nam can take pride in continuing to stand out as a “bright spot” of peace, stability, and development in the region.
Contributing to the country’s overall achievements, external relations and international integration during the 13th Party Congress term have left historic imprints. As summed up in the draft Political Report to the 14th Party Congress, diplomacy has actively and effectively played its pioneering role, helping to maintain and consolidate a peaceful and stable environment, and opening an entirely new landscape for national development.
The most outstanding achievement of external relations during the 13th Congress tenure has been the expansion and deepening of Viet Nam’s relations with neighbouring countries, major powers and key partners, bringing the number of countries with which Viet Nam has diplomatic relations to 194; and raising the number of countries with which Viet Nam has established the frameworks of a comprehensive strategic partnership, strategic partnership, or comprehensive partnership to 42. Relations with many important partners have been elevated to new levels, generating strong momentum for diplomacy to expand further, deepen substantively, and enhance effectiveness.
Accordingly, for the first time Viet Nam has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and comprehensive partnerships or higher with 18 of the 21 members of the Group of Twenty (G20). The foundation of relations and political trust with many countries, especially neighbouring states, key partners and traditional friends, has continued to be firmly consolidated. Bilateral cooperation between Viet Nam and other countries has achieved impressive breakthroughs across a wide range of fields, including economics, trade, investment, digital transformation, green transition, science and technology, and defence and security.
Economic diplomacy and international integration have made an important contribution to creating breakthrough momentum for growth, asserting their role as a driving force in socio-economic development, realising development goals and improving people’s living standards.
Through the proactive, creative, flexible, and effective conduct of external relations, Viet Nam has mobilised external resources to pursue sustainable national development goals; expanded markets, attracted investment, and gained access to new knowledge and technologies, thereby facilitating a shift to a new growth model; and effectively addressed complex issues in economic and trade cooperation, including tariff-related matters. Specifically, health diplomacy and vaccine diplomacy mobilised large quantities of vaccines and medical equipment from external partners, playing a crucial role in enabling Viet Nam to swiftly contain the COVID-19 pandemic and laying the foundation for a safe adaptation and the recovery of socio-economic development in the post-pandemic period.
External relations have also contributed to safeguarding the Fatherland early and from afar, protecting the country before dangers materialise. In the face of major global upheavals, Viet Nam has handled relations with partners appropriately, consistently upholding the settlement of outstanding issues by peaceful means on the basis of international law. Through this approach, the country has maintained peaceful, stable, and cooperative land borders; achieved progress in negotiations with other countries; established baselines in the Gulf of Tonkin; submitted dossiers on the outer limits of the extended continental shelf in the central area of the East Sea/South China Sea; and promoted the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), among other outcomes.
On the multilateral front, Viet Nam has increasingly affirmed its capacity, role, and sense of responsibility in international affairs. The country has hosted many major international events, including the opening ceremony for the signing of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, the 35th Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS, the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, and the ASEAN Future Forum. It has also performed effectively in key positions within international organisations, notably as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023–2025 term. Viet Nam has actively contributed initiatives at ASEAN, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the Non-Aligned Movement, and Mekong cooperation mechanisms, while expanding its participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. At the same time, Viet Nam has continued to make responsible contributions to addressing common global challenges such as climate change and food security.
With these achievements, it can be affirmed that, during the 13th Party Congress tenure, multilateral diplomacy has become an important driving force helping Viet Nam to consolidate a peaceful and stable environment for development, enhance the nation’s stature and image, and create favourable momentum for the country to move steadily into a new era of the nation’s rise.
At the same time, the country’s standing and strength have been enhanced through the effective synergy of various pillars of external relations, including external communications, cultural diplomacy, work concerning overseas Vietnamese, and citizen protection. Cultural diplomacy has contributed to the successful mobilisation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to inscribe 77 titles and heritage elements, thereby creating new resources for development. Work relating to overseas Vietnamese has effectively implemented the Party and state’s policies of care for some six million compatriots living abroad, while continuing to encourage and facilitate their active and effective contributions to the development of the homeland and the country, as well as to the defence of the Fatherland. In addition, Viet Nam has carried out citizen protection in a timely manner, guided by the principle that the safety and lives of its citizens are paramount and come above all else.
Upholding pioneering role, implementing key and ongoing tasks
In the coming years, the global situation is forecast to continue to evolve in an unpredictable and complex manner. The country stands at a new historical starting point, placing fresh demands on external relations. The draft documents of the 14th Party Congress also affirm that “strengthening national defence and security, and promoting external relations and international integration, are key and ongoing tasks”. Accordingly, to adapt to and align with the country’s new stage of development, the major tasks for external relations in the period ahead are as follows:
First, to promote external relations and international integration as key and ongoing tasks, closely coordinated with national defence and security in the cause of nation-building and defence, forming a firm “three-pillared framework” in service of the two strategic tasks of safeguarding the Fatherland “early and from afar” and achieving rapid, sustainable national development.
Second, to create momentum and open new opportunities for national development by connecting internal strengths with external resources. External relations must identify and seize opportunities arising from new trends, while taking the lead in opening cooperation with leading countries and corporations in breakthrough areas such as the digital economy, green economy, marine economy, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and cloud computing.
Third, to shift thinking from reception to contribution, from learning to leading, from deep integration to full integration, and from a latecomer nation to a pioneering one. Accordingly, Viet Nam should promote a core and leading role in important strategic issues and mechanisms aligned with its interests, while also making practical and responsible contributions to addressing common global challenges.
Fourth, to enhance Viet Nam’s role and position in global politics, the world economy and human civilisation. With the country’s new standing and strength, “soft power” will continue to be brought into play, contributing not only to socio-economic development at home but also to increasing the stature and influence of a nation on the rise.
Finally, to develop external relations in the new era while ensuring that the organisational apparatus and implementation mechanisms are streamlined, compact, and effective; and to allocate resources commensurate with Viet Nam’s standing and strength, on a par with the regional level and the global average, so as to fulfil external relations tasks effectively. We firmly believe that, with its new role and position, under the guiding light of the 14th Party Congress, and under the Party’s comprehensive and absolute leadership, Viet Nam’s foreign affairs nationwide, from the central to the local level, will continue to play a pioneering role in maintaining a peaceful environment, mobilising resources and favourable international conditions for development, and enhancing the country’s standing in the new era.
