Lao Dong respectfully introduces an article by Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: "Economic diplomacy transforms strongly for the strong development of the nation".
In the joyful atmosphere of the whole country towards the 14th Party Congress, under the leadership of the Party, the Government and levels, sectors, and localities are actively preparing to drastically, synchronously, and effectively implement orientations, tasks, and solutions in all fields according to the Congress Resolution; in which economic diplomacy is of particular importance, contributing to "leading the way, opening the way", attracting resources, creating opportunities, and opening up new development spaces to bring our country to develop quickly and sustainably in the new era.
2025 is a momentous moment, marking 80 years of our nation regaining independence, our people gaining freedom, 50 years of our country being unified.
Under the leadership of the Party and beloved President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese nation has made historical miracles. From a country with an unclear name on the world map, Vietnam today has a foundation, potential, position and increasingly high international prestige.
Entering a new era of development, with resilient bravery, wisdom, kindness and aspiration to rise up, the entire Vietnamese nation is striving to "raise the sail" big, stealing firmly to bring the Vietnamese boat to reach out to the big sea.
Throughout the flow of time, on every step of the country's path, Vietnamese Diplomacy has made great contributions, of important significance.
From the early days of protecting the young independence, fighting for the integrity of the country, national reunification, to the journey of breaking the encirclement, embargo and promoting deep and comprehensive international integration, Vietnamese diplomacy has always been deeply imprinted, making important contributions to contributing to "turning danger into opportunity", "turning difficulty into easy", "shifting the situation", "changing state", creating an optimal favorable foreign situation for the country's development.
In the mid-1970s, after the country was unified and peace was restored, with a strategic vision, sharp thinking, and accurate assessment of the world situation and domestic conditions, our Party soon determined that economic diplomacy to serve the country's post-war recovery was necessary and a new direction that needed to be focused on. From there, economic diplomacy has made a strong mark in many milestones of development and strategic integration of the country.
In which, the highlights are: Researching models and development trends of the world to advise the Party and State to plan guidelines and policies for economic development and national renewal (1980s); breaking the encirclement and embargo, normalizing relations with major financial institutions, gradually integrating with the international community, attracting foreign investment and aid from partners (1990s); "exploring and paving the way" for the process of international economic integration with many particularly important milestones, of strategic significance, changing the face of the country [1] (from 1995 to present). These are milestones of strategic significance, opening up great development opportunities, connecting and affirming Vietnam's important role and contribution to the regional and world economy.
The thinking and awareness of the Party and State about economic diplomacy are constantly being innovated and improved to catch up with the rapid changes of the times, meeting the new development requirements of the country.
In which, economic diplomacy is always identified as a key and regular task in foreign affairs activities, basically, the center of Vietnamese diplomacy, an important driving force for rapid and sustainable national development.
From the beginning of the term to now, in the past 5 years, the world context has been more unstable, uncertain and many disadvantages than the previous period; in which difficulties, challenges and opportunities, advantages are intertwined, but difficulties and challenges are more numerous.
However, with high determination, great efforts, and drastic actions of the entire Party, people and army, our country has achieved many important and proud development achievements of historical significance in all fields.
The economy is increasingly affirming its better resilience to external shocks; in 2025, GDP growth rate reached 8.02%, belonging to the group of high-growth countries in the region and the world [2], especially the macroeconomy was maintained stably, inflation was controlled, and major balances of the economy were ensured.
The economic scale in 2025 reached about 514 billion USD, GDP per capita is estimated at 5,026 USD, putting Vietnam in the group of high middle-income countries.
Traditional growth drivers are all effective; Vietnam belongs to the group of 15 leading developing countries in the world in attracting foreign investment and the group of 20 leading countries in the world in terms of trade scale [3].
New growth drivers have achieved many important steps forward; in which the growth rate of the digital economy and ICT industry is faster than GDP; global innovation ranking of our country leads the group of countries with the same income level [4]; initially achieving important, strategic, and breakthrough steps in some key technology fields such as artificial intelligence, high-speed railways, semiconductors, nuclear energy,... and developing high-quality human resources.
Cultural and social fields are increasingly developing; environmental protection is being concerned; social security is guaranteed; the material and spiritual life of the People is constantly being improved [5].
National defense and security potential is consolidated and strengthened; independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the nation are maintained; social order and safety are ensured.
In particular, foreign affairs and international integration are bright spots in the context of a difficult world situation; in which economic diplomacy achieved many impressive results.
Technology diplomacy has been promoted, contributing to creating breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation and building an independent and self-reliant economy associated with deep, substantive and effective international integration.
Vietnam's international prestige and position are increasingly enhanced in the world economy, global politics and human civilization.
To date, Vietnam has signed and participated in 17 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs); has diplomatic relations with 194 countries, including all members of the United Nations; has established a comprehensive partnership framework or more with 42 countries, including 17 G20 members, and has comprehensive strategic partnerships with all 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Vietnam undertakes many important multilateral responsibilities such as re-electing the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2026 - 2028, hosting the ASEAN Future Forum, the 4th P4G Summit of the Green Growth Partnership Forum and Global Goals 2030, the Opening Ceremony of the Convention against Cybercrime...
To achieve the above achievements, the diplomatic sector in general and economic diplomacy in particular have made extremely important, practical and effective contributions.
First, diplomacy has contributed to maintaining a stable and favorable environment, and expanding the space for national development, deepening economic cooperation, and increasing the linkage of interests with partners, especially neighboring countries, major countries, and traditional friends.
Second, attracting external resources to serve national development, expand and diversify markets, attract investment, transfer knowledge and technology, and promote the strength of the Vietnamese community abroad.
In particular, the drastic and rapid deployment of "vaccine diplomacy" has made a direct and important contribution to the prevention, control and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating favorable conditions for socio-economic recovery and development.
Third, promote the pioneering role in promoting international economic integration and linkage, especially promoting and raising Vietnam's participation and contribution to multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms, proactively participating in building new international laws and regulations; at the same time, effectively utilizing the free trade agreement network, making Vietnam a connecting center of the region.
At the same time, economic diplomacy has accompanied and supported localities and businesses in implementing foreign economic relations and international economic integration; bringing important and practical benefits and results.
Stepping into a new stage of development, in the context that the world situation is forecast to continue to be complex and unpredictable, in general difficulties and challenges are greater than opportunities and advantages; economic diplomacy faces the requirement of strong transformation to go hand in hand with the determination to successfully implement the country's two 100-year strategic goals.
The draft document of the 14th Congress emphasized "promoting comprehensive diplomacy to serve development, focusing on economic diplomacy and technology diplomacy". In which, innovating economic diplomacy is no longer an option, but has become an objective requirement of practice, an urgent requirement, a strategic choice and one of the top priorities to contribute to realizing the aspiration for strong and prosperous development of the nation.
Accordingly, economic diplomacy in the coming time faces 3 major responsibilities:
First, contributing to creating a strategic space for the country to enter an era of rich, strong, civilized, and prosperous development.
Second, promote the important driving role in contributing to attracting resources, removing bottlenecks and solving major problems to create breakthroughs in the country's growth and development, especially promoting science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transformation.
Third, build an independent and self-reliant economy, while actively and proactively integrating internationally.
With the motto "Resources originate from thinking and vision; motivation originates from innovation and creativity; strength originates from people and businesses", economic diplomacy and technology diplomacy in the coming period need to thoroughly grasp "3 important lessons", and at the same time strongly innovate thinking; update goals, content, objects and implementation methods, closely following the "5 more" motto [6].
In which, "3 important lessons" are:
First, it is necessary to persistently adhere to the path of national independence and socialism; persistently adhere to the path of independent, self-reliant, multilateralized, diversified foreign affairs, proactively and actively integrating internationally, being friends, reliable partners and responsible members of the international community.
Second, resolute but flexible, protecting the interests of the nation - people but also very flexible in implementation to achieve the goal.
Third, grasp the situation firmly and deeply; advise on timely, flexible, appropriate, and effective policy responses.
The "5-More" motto is:
First, strategy, being more sensitive in thinking to promptly identify new trends, proactively seize opportunities, contributing to improving the adaptability of the economy.
Second, focus more on building goals and solutions, on the basis of closely following the country's development goals in each period.
Third, expand and deepen the overall relationship with partners as well as in each field of cooperation, especially science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
Fourth, be more drastic and creative in implementation, ensuring clear assignment of tasks, achieving substantive efficiency in the spirit of "6 clears: clear people, clear tasks, clear responsibilities, clear authority, clear time, clear results".
Fifth, be more active and responsible in participating and contributing to cooperation mechanisms, international economic forums and international and regional issues of strategic importance, in accordance with our requirements, capabilities and conditions, especially in global economic governance.
And above all, foreign affairs work, especially in the field of economic diplomacy, must maximize the spirit of "Loyalty, dedication", "Confidence, creativity", "Solitude, flexibility", "Negotiation, persuasion", "Top efficiency" and "Fatherland above all"; with the motto of looking far, looking wide, thinking deeply, doing big, valuing time, intelligence and decisiveness at the right time, continuing to be a pioneering force, the core bringing new opportunities, new motivation, new resources from outside to serve the rapid and sustainable development of the country, enhancing Vietnam's prestige and position in the international arena.
Entering a new stage of development, foreign affairs in general and economic diplomacy in particular need to focus on thoroughly grasping and synchronously, drastically, and effectively implementing the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress, the Resolutions of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, especially Resolution 59 of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation.
In which, focus on promoting economic, trade, investment, science and technology, digital transformation, green transformation, energy transformation, education and training, health, culture, labor, tourism, environmental protection, climate change response...
Promote technology transfer in key sectors of the economy such as nuclear energy, high-speed railways, and semiconductors (by the end of 2027, complete the construction of a semiconductor chip manufacturing plant).
Deploy synchronously solutions to diversify markets, diversify products, diversify supply chains; focus on exploiting and taking advantage of potential markets; promote and promote Vietnamese brand products abroad; urgently negotiate and sign Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries and regions in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Latin America...
Prioritize supporting localities, the business community, especially small and medium-sized enterprises in economic integration, cooperation, and international linkages; actively support businesses to expand investment and business to reach international markets, participate more deeply in the global value chain; strongly attract investment from large technology corporations and Vietnamese experts abroad.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all levels, sectors, and localities need to continue to closely coordinate, advise, and propose to competent authorities mechanisms, policies, and solutions to create breakthroughs in development in foreign relations, especially strongly promoting economic diplomacy and technology diplomacy activities, contributing to the successful implementation of the double-digit growth target in 2026 and the coming time.
In that general picture, we need to be correctly aware, act decisively, and make unremitting efforts to create breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and strongly promote green transformation in the digital age.
This is the key driving force and the "golden key" for Vietnam to catch up, move forward together and surpass, develop quickly and sustainably, successfully implement 2 100-year strategic goals, striving to become a developed country with high income by 2045.
In that process, we continue to strive to comprehensively promote the renovation process, always creating, accompanying, focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles in all fields, promoting administrative reform, removing all bottlenecks in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, so that science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transformation truly become new driving forces and resources, encouraging the whole nation to move forward in the new era.
The achievements of the country after 80 years of construction and development lay an important foundation and are a good starting point for the nation's new journey.
Under the leadership of the Party, with the spirit of solidarity, joint efforts, and consensus of the whole nation, on the basis of thoroughly grasping and closely following the motto "creating and preserving a peaceful and stable environment, pioneering cooperation connection, opening up and attracting development resources, constantly enhancing the country's position" as directed by General Secretary To Lam [7], we have firm belief that foreign affairs in general and economic diplomacy in particular in the coming period will further promote good traditions and important results achieved; with the spirit of "taking localities, businesses and people as the center of service; taking national and ethnic interests as guiding principles"; continuing to strive to overcome difficulties and challenges; excellently completing the mission and tasks assigned by the Party and State, contributing to building a solid foundation to bring the country to rapid and sustainable development, bringing a prosperous and happy life to the People.
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[1] Vietnam officially became a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (1995), co-founded the Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM, 1996), participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC, 1998), signed the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (2000), became the 150th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO, 2007); built a network of free trade agreements with most of the world's key economies.
[2] GDP in 2025 grew by 8.02%; average in the period 2021 - 2025 increased by 6.3%, higher than the previous term (6.2%) (in 2021 growth reached 2.55%; in the 4-year period 2022 - 2025 average growth of 7.2%/year, exceeding the target of 6.5 - 7%). The IMF assesses Vietnam as in the top 10 fastest growing countries in the world. Standard Chartered forecasts Vietnam to be in the top 5 fastest growing countries in Asia.
[3] Total FDI capital reached 185 billion USD, belonging to the group of 15 developing countries attracting the largest FDI in the world. Trade scale increased sharply, from 545.4 billion USD in 2020 to a record level of about 930 billion USD in 2025, belonging to the group of 20 leading countries in the world; in 2025, the trade balance surplus was over 20 billion USD, continuously having a trade surplus for 10 years.
[4] Vietnam ranks 44/139 countries and territories, leading the low-middle income group in the Global Innovation Index. Digital economy grew by 8.6%, ICT industry revenue increased by 26%.
[5] The poverty rate decreased to about 1.3%; Average income of workers increased from 5.5 million VND/month in 2020 to 8.3 million VND/month in 2025. Vietnam has a Human Development Index (HDI) that increased by 18 places, ranking 93/193 countries and territories; is considered a successful model in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), completing the poverty reduction target 10 years ahead of schedule.
[6] Including: (i) More strategic, more sensitive; (ii) more focused, more focused; (iii) more expanded, more profound; (iv) more drastic, more creative; (v) more active, more responsible.
[7] General Secretary To Lam speaks at the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, August 25, 2025.
