Economic diplomacy: Key to achieving growth targets

Addressing the teleconference on July 22 with 94 overseas Vietnamese missions and 34 provincial and municipal People's Committees, Prime Minister Pham emphasized that diplomacy must play a more proactive role in supporting the country's socio-economic development strategy.

Although acknowledging that the 8.3–8.5 percent growth target for 2025 poses a significant challenge, the Prime Minister said that it is achievable. 

Pham instructed diplomats to closely monitor international developments, provide timely strategic advices, and help maintain a stable, cooperative external environment, crucial to reaching the 2025 GDP growth target of 8.3–8.5 percent.

The Government leader also called for enhanced economic resilience through proactive restructuring, market diversification, and stronger participation in global supply chains. He underscored the importance of promoting international connectivity, expanding free trade agreements (FTAs), and attracting skilled talent while improving the quality of human resources.

The diplomatic missions were tasked to engage overseas Vietnamese experts, particularly in science, technology, and innovation, to contribute to the country's modernization efforts. 

The Prime Minister also called for deepening relations with neighboring countries, major powers, and strategic partners on the basis of trust, stability, and mutual benefit. 

He called for innovative approaches to manage bilateral issues and ensure the effective coordination of high-level diplomatic engagements.

To sustain growth momentum, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to revitalize traditional growth drivers while aggressively developing new ones, especially digital transformation, high-tech industries, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT). He also highlighted the need to promote two-way investment and technological collaboration.

Expanding export markets and leveraging existing FTAs remain key priorities, along with concluding new trade deals with regions such as the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, India, and Brazil. 

"The government will support enterprises in key sectors like electronics, automotive, textiles, and machinery to deepen integration into global value chains," he added.

The Prime Minister called for the swift implementation of National Assembly Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 on establishing an international financial center in Viet Nam, citing strong interest from the UAE and Kazakhstan in sharing experience and expertise.

He also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to draft a National Assembly resolution enabling special mechanisms for the implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 59 on proactive and comprehensive international integration.

Further priorities include considering the establishment of thematic research centers and stepping up efforts to lift the EC's "yellow card" warning on Vietnamese seafood exports. He also urged faster progress in FTA negotiations with MERCOSUR and in cross-border railway connectivity projects with China.

According to a report presented at the event, in the first six months of 2025, Viet Nam upgraded ties with 10 countries, and signed 253 cooperation agreements, with the majority of them relating to economic, trade, investment, and science-technology cooperation.

Meanwhile, nearly 300 economic diplomacy events, including trade, investment, and tourism promotion activities were hosted by Viet Nam's overseas diplomatic missions, which also supported localities in organizing over 150 promotion activities both at home and abroad, and helped facilitate 30 agreements between Vietnamese localities and international partners./.