Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang said that 2026 is a time of strategic significance for the nation, the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress and the 2026-2030 socio-economic development plan, initially establishing the development model and long-term growth trajectory of the country towards implementing 2 100-year strategic goals.
New context, new potential, new expectations set out new tasks and requirements, requiring economic diplomacy to constantly innovate in thinking, be sensitive and drastic in implementation; be creative and breakthrough in ways of doing things and consistent with the motto of putting national and ethnic interests first, first of all, taking businesses and people as the center of service.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that the action motto of economic diplomacy in 2026 needs to create a new development space; connect strategic resources and verify by implementation efficiency.
First, creating a new development space, both in terms of market, technology, capital, energy and supply chains. Creating is also positioning Vietnam in future value chains, on the world's technology map in key areas (AI, semiconductors, data, green technology, new energy...).
Second, connect strategic resources for development, including connecting partners and projects; connecting the Central Government with localities and businesses; connecting knowledge and resources of Vietnamese people abroad.
Third, verify and measure results, stick to, and urge implementation. This is the "measure of effectiveness" of economic diplomacy. Verify with progress commitments, verify documents with projects, and verify statements with actions.
With that approach, economic diplomacy in 2026 and the next period will focus on key areas that are both strategic and have specific products, closely following 5 priorities.
First, prioritize promoting new growth drivers, in which science and technology diplomacy, semiconductor diplomacy, and digital economic diplomacy are central drivers and breakthroughs of economic diplomacy in the new era.
Second, prioritize creating breakthroughs in expanding markets and supply chains with potential partners in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, in parallel with consolidating and expanding cooperation with large, traditional partners, and taking advantage of new cooperation frameworks to expand development space.
Third, prioritize supporting localities and businesses (especially small and medium-sized enterprises) to improve the efficiency of international economic integration, taking advantage of commitments.
Fourth, further improve the quality and practicality of research work, associated with the breath of life, closely following the actual situation, and promptly advising on "targeted" and "correct" policies.
Fifth, prioritize promoting and raising the level of multilateral diplomacy and international economic integration, proactively participate in shaping new laws and standards; prioritize completing all-round preparations for APEC Year 2027.
Vietnam has an open foreign affairs platform with a network of 17 free trade agreements, has diplomatic relations with 194 countries, including establishing a comprehensive partnership framework with 42 or more countries, and has comprehensive strategic partnerships with all 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. But that platform is only meaningful when it is transformed into specific values, high-quality investment projects, sustainable export markets, improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses and the country's international position.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang believes that economic diplomacy in 2026 will create new impetus for Vietnam to accelerate, break through, move quickly, move strongly, and move firmly in the era of reaching out, contributing to realizing the nation's aspiration for strength and prosperity.
