Economic diplomacy delivers nearly 350 agreements for Vietnam in 2025

Assessing developments in 2025 in particular and the 2021-25 period more broadly, the prime minister noted that the world has undergone epoch-making changes.

Against that backdrop, Vietnam’s diplomacy delivered important and wide-ranging results.

He summarized the sector’s achievements with six key phrases, including ‘streamlined apparatus,’ ‘timely adaptation,’ ‘effective innovation,’ ‘expanded cooperation, ‘enhanced stature,’ and ‘fostering development.’

The foreign affairs sector has decisively and effectively implemented organizational restructuring, cutting the number of internal units by 42.5 percent.

Besides, Vietnam’s external relations adapted promptly to fluctuations in the international environment and shifts in other countries’ policies, helping maintain stability amid conflicts and instability in many regions.

Cooperation initiatives were aligned closely with national strategic priorities, particularly in specialized fields such as technology diplomacy and climate diplomacy.

Vietnam has continued to expand its network of partnerships, now maintaining comprehensive partnership-level relations or higher with 42 partners.

Vietnam’s international standing has been further elevated in the global economy, global politics, and human civilization.

The country successfully hosted and organized a series of major multilateral events, including the ASEAN Future Forum, the P4G Summit, and the opening ceremony for the signing of the Convention against Cybercrime.

Looking ahead, PM Chinh said the global situation in 2026 is expected to continue evolving rapidly with many unpredictable impacts on Vietnam.

As such, the Party and state place high expectations on foreign affairs and international integration to carry out ‘key and regular’ tasks and to ‘accelerate the implementation of a comprehensive foreign policy strategy at a new, higher level,’ as emphasized by Party General Secretary To Lam at the closing session of the 15th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee on December 23.

The prime minister called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to thoroughly grasp a 24-word guiding principle: ‘accuracy advisory,’ ‘flexible adaptation,’ ‘timely maneuvering,’ ‘effective transformation,’ ‘community responsibility,’ and ‘stable development.’

Key tasks ahead

The government leader instructed the ministry to ensure strategic proactiveness in responding to complex and unforeseen situations, especially in hotspots close to Vietnam.

He also urged continued efforts to deepen, stabilize, and sustain relations with priority and key partners, while tapping into their strengths to serve Vietnam’s development goals.

Vietnam should further elevate its ‘international mission,’ contributing more actively to peace, development, and the resolution of shared regional and global challenges.

Also, the nation should fulfill international responsibilities effectively, enhance its capacity to propose initiatives, successfully organize multilateral events, and prepare thoroughly for APEC 2027.

The prime minister directed efforts to expand development space and create breakthrough opportunities by combining greater localization with market expansion.

Foreign direct investment should be repositioned in a more selective manner, prioritizing high technology and strengthening technology cooperation, particularly across 11 strategic industry groups.

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of continuing to leverage national soft power, spreading an image of Vietnam commensurate with its stature, position, and strength in the new era, and viewing culture as an endogenous strength and a driver of development.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said the prime minister’s directives provide important and comprehensive guidance, offering new ideas for the sector’s work in the coming period.

They also serve as strong encouragement and motivation for the diplomatic service to rise to the responsibilities entrusted by the Party and state, particularly in carrying out ‘key and regular’ tasks.

Vietnam’s diplomatic sector will implement foreign affairs in a synchronized, comprehensive, creative, and effective manner across the three pillars of Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy.