Viet Nam maintains 'strategic initiative' amid fast-changing, complex world in 2025

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In 2025, the global landscape continued to evolve rapidly and complicatedly, intertwined with both epochal opportunities and the most turbulences since the Cold War. In Viet Nam, the entire political system forged ahead with the highest determination and efforts to fullfil the goals set out by the 13th National Party Congres, creating a solid foundation and premise for the country to firmly move foward to successfully realizing strategic tasks envisaged by the 14th National Party Congress. Joining the collective effort of the whole Party, people and the army, diplomatic forces demonstrated the highest sense of responsibility to implement the strategic tasks "firmly safeguarding and maintaining the peaceful and stable environment; advancing rapid and sustainable socio-economic development; improving people's living standards, all for the people", as General Secretary To Lam emphasized, contributing to reinforcing the nation's position and strength on the threshold of the new era.

Maintaining strategic initiative

Over the past year, the search, forecasting and advisory work continued to be strengthened and promoted, contributing to grasping the situation, identifying opportunities and challenges, thereby proposing timely and effective guidelines and policies. Given the complex changes in the world, diplomatic forces proactively developed thousands of reports putting forth appropriate responses to the Party Central Committee, the Poliburo, the Secretariat, the Government and the National Assembly for consideration and approval in order to protect and promote national interests on the basis of adhering to the Party's guidelines and the State's policies

The research, forecasting and advisory work of the diplomatic sector made direct contributions to the formulation of policies in new fronts such as digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, development model transformation, and innovation. Early detection of traditional and non-traditional security challenges contributed to guaranteeing the country's strategic initiative and preventing the country from being caught off guard.

Consolidating, expanding and elevating external relations

Strictly adhering to the foreign policy adopted the 13th National Party Congress, the diplomatic sector obtained important and substantive outcomes in both bilateral and multilateral aspects, contributing to consolidating the peaceful and stable environment, luring external resources, and creating favorable conditions for advancing national development and promoting the nation's position.

On bilateral aspect, vibrant diplomatic activities, especially those carried out by top leaders, created a political framework and vision guiding the course of external relations, while promoting the common issues that align with Viet Nam's interests and strategic goals. Through high-level contacts and meetings, policy dialogues, theoretical exchanges, Party diplomacy affirmed its leading role in shaping and consolidating political ground, supporting bilateral relations. For State diplomacy, Viet Nam upgraded relations with 17 countries, raising the total countries with which Viet Nam has comprehensive, strategic and comprehensive strategic partnership frameworks to 42. Diplomatic activities within high-level visits became more effective and substantive, as evidenced by the signing of approximately 350 cooperation agreements, an increase of 2.5 times against 2024. Viet Nam bolstered bilateral cooperation with foreign partners through organizing major national events such as the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification and the 80th anniversary of the National Day, and by attending major commemorative anniversaries hosted by partners.

Relations with neighboring countries was a prominent highlight of the overall diplomatic landscape, contributing to intensifying mutual understanding and political trust, promoting cooperation in the defense-security pillar, and creating breakthrough advancements in economic, trade and investment cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Relations with Laos, Cambodia and China carry significant and strategic importance and remain a top priority in our foreign policy towards neighboring countries. The close coordination between defense, security, diplomacy, localities and other forces contributed to maintaining the shared borderline of peace and friendship, firmly safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and advancing cross-border economic cooperation.

Relations with major countries, major partners and regional countries became increasingly extensive and effective while strategic trust was consolidated, particularly in such fields like economy, trade, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, energy, education, healthcare and response to non-traditional security challenges. Relations with traditional, European, Latin American, Middle East-African, and Global South countries continued to grow across domains, thus deepening the friendship and substantive cooperation between Viet Nam and these countries.

On multilateral aspect, we continued to reap important accomplishments in accordance with the Politburo's Resolution No. 59 on international integration in the new context, the Secretariat's Directive No. 25 on advancing multilateral diplomacy. As multilateral institutions are facing numerous difficulties and challenges, requiring innovation and reform, Viet Nam continued to show trust, responsibility and strong commitment to multilateralism and uphold international law; actively participate in the pillars of multilateral institutions, especially ASEAN, UN, and regional mechanims, as well as common efforts of the international community in peace-keeping, search and rescue, greenhouse gas emission reduction, food security, and energy security; proactively put forward initiatives for the common benefits of the world and the region; join various executive mechanisms of such international organizations as the United Nations Human Rights Council and UNESCO. The outcomes of multilateral diplomacy can be reflected in successful hosting of international events in Viet Nam, such as the ASEAN Future Forum, the P4G Summit, and the Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, thereby demonstrating Viet Nam's role, prestige and leadership capacity.

Promoting growth, development model transformation

In 2025, economic diplomacy well fullfiled its fundamental and central task of the country's overall diplomacy, closely aligned with development goals set by the Party and the Government, including the goals to accelerate GDP growth at least 8 percent, to innovate growth model, to improve growth quality in rapid and sustainable manner. Economic diplomacy helped grasp and predict the evolution trend of the global economy and emerging fields, thereby advising the Government on socio-economic development.

Right after the introduction of the Politburo's Resolutions No. 57, 59, 66, 68, 70, economic diplomacy has been effectively integrated into high-level diplomatic activities while strengthening support for localities and businesses to expand markets and partnerships, contributing to the realization of development goals of sectors, industries and localities.

Science and technology diplomacy has become a new spearhead, with a focus on innovation, digital transforamtion and green transition, contributing to the formulation and introduction of a list of 11 strategic technologies, making practical contribution to the implementation of the Politburo's Resolution No. 57 on breakthrough development in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

As global trade risks loom large and many countries unexpectedly have adjusted policies, economic diplomacy has contributed to settling emerging issues, designing policy responses, improving resilience and strategic autonomy of the economy, and sustaining growth momentum. Total foreign trade surpassed the US$900 billion mark in 2025, which helped consolidate Viet Nam's position as one of the 15 largest trading nations in the world. Accelerating talks on new free trade agreements, expanding Halal market, and diversifying supply chains all contributed to strengthening the country's economic resilience and capability.

Thanks to diverse and innovative economic diplomacy activities, foreign investment continued to break new records. Total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows reached about US$35.2 billion, a year-on-year rise of 15.6 percent, while disbursed volume neared US$23 billion. It is encouraging that investment projects improved in quality and met our priorities for development based on science and technology, innovation, and environmental protection.

Promoting soft power

In 2025, the diplomatic sector contributed to enhancing the nation's aggregate strengths through promoting soft power, cultural values, humanistic spirit. The Cultural Diplomacy Strategy through 2030 has been deployed systematically and professionally through diverse activities, including hosting the UN Vesak, Meet Viet Nam events and Viet Nam Weeks abroad. Thanks to the efforts made by ministries, agencies and localities, notablly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant localities, seven new UNESCO heritages were recognized, raising the total UNESCO heritages to 77 in all 34 localities. UNESCO adopted Viet Nam's initiative "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development" designed to drive linkage between culture and development. Foreign service has become increasingly proactive, not only serving to promote the national image but also protecting the Party's ideology and national interests amid complex information invironment.

Citizen protection work has been deployed timely and effectively in hotspots like Israel and Iran, and following complex situations in Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. Overseas Vietnamese work made significant progress and strongly stimulated patriotic love toward the Fatherland. Remittances reached a new record of more than US$16 billion, making practical contribution to national development.

People-to-people diplomacy played a bridging role in cultivating friendship and mutual understanding, thereby mobilizing valuable support from progressive people around the world and creating a sustainable foundation for Viet Nam's external relations.

Building comprehensive, modern and professional diplomatic sector

Along with the implementation of diplomatic tasks, the work of building the diplomatic sector has been carried out seriously and systemetically in accordance with the Party Central Committee's Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW.

In 2025, the diplomatic sector promptly and seriously reviewed, streamlined, and completed the reorganization of its apparatus to improve its performance efficiency. Through merger, the number of the ministry's units reduced by 42.5 percent. Diplomatic tasks from the Central Commission for External Affairs and from the National Assembly's Committee for Foreign Affairs were transfered to the ministry for unified management and implementation.

The close coordination of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy as well as the close collaboration between defense, security, and diplomacy pillars have become increasingly smooth, comprehensive, and effective, contributing to shaping policies faster and more proactive, with higher quality, especially in urgent situations.

Many improtant legal documents have been finalized and adopted, creating a favorable framework for diplomatic affairs and international integration, from the revised Law on Nationality to the renewed Regulations on unified diplomacy management, and Resolution No. 250/2025/QH15 dated December 12, 2025 of the National Assembly on special mechanisms and policies for improving the effectiveness of international integration.

The training has been comprehensively innovated in both thought, implementation, and funding allocation, toward building a pool of diplomats who uphold innovation, discipline, and professionalism, and stay asolutely loyal to the Party, the Fatherland and the people. The process of modernization and digital transformation in the diplomatic sector has also been accelerated, gradually creating a foundation for building a comprehensive, modern and professional diplomatic sector in the new era.

The above achievements came as a result of the comprehensive, absolute and direct leadership of the Party and the Secretariat led by General Secretary To Lam, the comprehensive and creative implementation of the guidelines and policies of the Party and the State by the entire political system, the diplomatic forces of central commissions, ministries, agencies and localities, businesses and people, as well as the support from international friends and partners.

Promoting pioneering role, vital and regular task of diplomacy

Closely adhering to the14th National Party Congress' spirit on 'strategic autonomy, self-reliance, confidence, advancing strongly in the new era of the nation's rise', the diplomatic and international integration work must see through the requirements for strong innovation and breakthroughs in thoughts and actions, promote its pioneering role and innovation, in collaboration with defense and security pillars, in carrying out the vital and regular task, advancing diplomacy in the new era, commensurate with historical and cultural stature and new position and strength of the country, and promoting the implementation of the comprehensive foreign policy at a new level, making contributions to global economy, global politics, and global civilization.

The immediate task of the entire diplomatic sector and diplomatic forces of central commissions, ministries, agencies and localities is to thoroughly grasp and fruitfully implement the foreign policy of the 14th National Party Congress, promptly formulate action plans to realize the Resolution adopted at the 14th National Party Congress. Major guidelines of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Government and the National Assembly shall guide diplomatic activities from central to local levels. The core motto is to swiftly and vigorously translate the Party's new viewpoints and guidelines and the State's policies as well as strategic orientations into concrete, substantive and measurable results in a highly innovative fashion. The top requirement ahead is to ensure the Party's foreign policy must be deployed effectively from the outset of the next leadership term to generate a strong momentum for the new era of the nation. In pursuit of these tasks, motto and requirement, diplomatic forces should continue to work to ceaselessly improve the quality of research, advisory, coordination, and implementation organization work.

Under the sound leadership of the Party and the State, the diplomatic sector is determined to promote wisdom, responsibility, and the sense of serving the Fatherland and the people, working with other forces to make the most effective contributions to achieving the country's strategic goals in the new era./.