Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's participation in 18th BRICS Summit in India: Connecting major spaces for cooperation and development
WVR - Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's participation in the 18th BRICS Summit and bilateral activities in India from September 12-13 not only enhances another channel for multilateral cooperation but also enables Vietnam to proactively engage in processes shaping the international economic and political structure.
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| Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will attend the 18th BRICS Summit and conduct bilateral activities in India from September 12-13. (Source: VNA) |
Simultaneously, the trip contributes to adding momentum to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India, deepening cooperation between the two countries in a more substantive, effective manner.
Notably, the visit occurs as Vietnam-India relations have just been elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, creating a meaningful convergence between an expanding multilateral framework and a bilateral relationship grounded in deep political trust. This provides a favorable foundation for both countries to explore new cooperation spaces, while enabling Vietnam to better play its role as a connector between BRICS and ASEAN.
Proactive integration, expanding development spaces
BRICS is increasingly becoming a significant force and multilateral cooperation mechanism with substantial scale, stature, and influence in international life. Amid profound global shifts, the role of emerging economies and developing countries is growing. With 11 members, BRICS currently accounts for nearly half of the world's population, about 39% of global GDP based on purchasing power parity (PPP), and approximately a quarter of international trade.
Thus, Vietnam's increasingly proactive participation in BRICS reflects its rising international stature and growing ability to contribute to multilateral mechanisms; it also consistently demonstrates Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, resilience, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development ; multilateralizing and diversifying external relations, and proactively, actively integrating into the international community in a comprehensive, deep, and effective manner.
Notably, India has chosen the theme “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development” for its BRICS Chairmanship in 2026. According to Vietnamese Ambassador to India Trinh Minh Manh, these four elements closely align with Vietnam's development orientation in the new phase. Vietnam is prioritizing science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key development drivers; while focusing on enhancing the economy's autonomy and resilience, promoting green transformation, sustainable development, and deep, effective international integration.
Therefore, from participating in BRICS activities to becoming a partner country, Vietnam now has an important forum to share perspectives, experiences, and contribute initiatives on regional and global issues. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to assert its role as an active, responsible member of the international community, while conveying the legitimate voices and concerns of developing countries.
Particularly, participation in this Summit is also expected to open up new, practical, and effective cooperation spaces for Vietnam. BRICS brings together many large and emerging economies, dynamic markets with significant potential in capital, technology, energy, resources, and human resources. The key is to leverage these cooperation opportunities to harness additional resources directly serving the country's development goals.
In terms of economy and trade, Ambassador Trinh Minh Manh believes this is an opportunity for Vietnam to continue diversifying markets, partners, and supply chains, expanding access to new markets, attracting more investment resources, and enhancing connectivity between Vietnamese businesses and the BRICS business community. Amid global economic uncertainties, this also contributes to enhancing the economy's autonomy and resilience.
Regarding science, technology, and innovation, there is vast cooperation potential. Many BRICS countries have strengths in digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, and green technology. Vietnam can leverage these cooperation networks to access technology and knowledge, train high-quality human resources, enhance enterprise capabilities, and engage more deeply in global value chains. Areas such as green transformation, clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and climate change response also hold significant potential.
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| With the theme “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development”, the 18th BRICS Summit will take place from September 12-13 in New Delhi, India. (Source: IANS) |
Elevating the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
While BRICS expands multilateral spaces, Vietnam-India relations create an important anchor for Vietnam to effectively leverage these opportunities.
Discussing Vietnam's role as a partner country in BRICS and new cooperation spaces, Professor Sonu Trivedi from Delhi University, a senior fellow at the India Foundation, and founding director of the Vietnam Studies Center, noted that Vietnam begins its first year as a BRICS partner country precisely when India assumes the BRICS Chairmanship. This is particularly significant as in May 2026, the two countries upgraded their relationship to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
This also carries important strategic significance. Given Vietnam's geographical position and the geopolitical context in the Indo-Pacific region, the increasing Vietnam-India relationship, along with Vietnam's participation in BRICS, sends a noteworthy signal about enhanced connectivity and cooperation in the region.
Another important point is the similarity in the development aspirations of the two countries. India aims to become a developed nation with the vision of “Developed India” by 2047, while Vietnam aims for a similar goal of becoming a developed country by 2045.
If this advantage is well-leveraged, Vietnam can both contribute to linking BRICS with one of the world's most dynamic regions and deepen ASEAN-India relations, adding new dimensions to Vietnam-India relations.
Enhancing the ASEAN-BRICS bridge role
Notably, Vietnam is both an active ASEAN member and a BRICS partner country, with extensive partnerships with many members of this mechanism. This will promote substantial intersections between BRICS and ASEAN.
Specifically, both sides are interested in supply chain connectivity, digital economy, innovation, energy transition, infrastructure development, food security, human resource development, and sustainable growth. Vietnam can help bring ASEAN's needs and experiences into BRICS discussions, while connecting the resources, initiatives, and strengths of BRICS countries with the development needs of Southeast Asia. Additionally, with its diverse composition, from major powers to middle powers to emerging economies, BRICS can help Vietnam expand cooperation spaces with many regions worldwide.
Particularly, Vietnam's participation is also expected to open opportunities for BRICS member countries to better understand and access the Vietnamese market. Conversely, BRICS offers Vietnam opportunities to enhance cooperation and access large markets beyond Asia.
Furthermore, strengthening cooperation with ASEAN countries will create additional opportunities for BRICS members to tap into the region's potential, especially in manufacturing. The ongoing economic reforms in the region also create attractive markets for BRICS countries to explore, expand cooperation, and invest.
Thus, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's mission carries multiple layers of significance. It is a consistent continuation of an independent, self-reliant, multilateralizing, and diversifying foreign policy; an opportunity to expand markets, partners, and development resources; and a chance to add new dimensions to Vietnam-India relations and enhance the connecting role between two important cooperation spaces: BRICS and ASEAN.
