Vietnam's diplomatic highlights in 2025
WVR - Staying steadfast in implementing the independent and self-reliant foreign policy for peace, cooperation, and development, with comprehensive and deep international integration as outlined in the 13th National Party Congress, Vietnam's diplomacy continues to make significant marks on the international stage, thanks to the concerted efforts of all diplomatic pillars.
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| Vietnam's Diplomatic Highlights in 2025. (Photo: Anh Tuan) |
Reality has affirmed the pioneering role of diplomacy in firmly safeguarding a peaceful, secure, and stable environment, attracting international resources, and creating new drivers for development, while further enhancing the country's international role and position.
| 1.High-level diplomacy is a highlight, actively and effectively implemented across all Party, State, Government, and National Assembly channels. Under the direct, close, and timely guidance of Party and State leaders, 75 diplomatic activities of key leaders were carried out, nearly 1.5 times more than in 2024. High-level visits have contributed to increasing political trust and deepening Vietnam's relations with other countries, especially neighbouring countries, countries with special relationships, and major partners. Taking advantage of the special nature of 2025—a year marking many significant anniversaries globally and nationally—Vietnam has initiated numerous engagements, meetings, and receptions for high-level delegations from various countries and international organizations, including some countries with limited opportunities for interaction due to geographical distances. During the anniversaries of the 50th Reunification Day (April 30), the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19), and National Day (September 2), dozens of high-level delegations, political parties, and defense ministries from various countries visited, affirming the importance of Vietnam's international role and position. In response, Vietnam sent high-level delegations and military personnel to participate in major celebrations in Laos, the Russian Federation, and China. |
| 2.The network of partnerships continues to expand and elevate, bringing cooperation with countries to deeper and more substantial levels. Vietnam has upgraded relations with 17 countries, bringing the total number of countries with comprehensive partnership frameworks to 42, including comprehensive strategic partnerships with all five permanent members of the UN Security Council; established diplomatic relations with Tuvalu, increasing the total number of countries with which Vietnam has diplomatic relations to 194. These frameworks not only strengthen bilateral cooperation in traditional fields but also create new growth drivers for both Vietnam and its partners, including cooperation in science and technology and setting strategic directions for relations with partners. Vietnam signed nearly 350 agreements and commitments with partners during these activities, 2.5 times more than in 2025, achieving substantial results in implementation. This year marks the first time Vietnam has established a strategic partnership framework with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, creating new momentum for traditional friendships and cooperation founded by President Ho Chi Minh and the leaders of these countries in the 1950s, continuously nurtured by generations of our Party, State, and people and their partners. The special solidarity with Laos has been elevated with the addition of the term "strategic linkage" to the relationship framework. The partnership frameworks, along with 17 signed and implemented free trade agreements, have contributed to intertwining the interests of Vietnam and its partners, providing a more solid footing for the country to pursue an independent and self-reliant foreign policy in a global security and development environment that is more risky and uncertain than before. The issuance of Resolution No. 59 NQ-TW on January 24, 2025, by the Politburo on international integration in the new context is a crucial decision, marking a historic turning point in the country's international integration process, identifying integration as a strategic driver for Vietnam to confidently step into a new era. |
| 3. Economic diplomacy and science-technology diplomacy continue to attract more resources, practically serving the industrialization, modernization, and development of the country. Despite the rise of global trade and investment protectionism, thanks to the efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities, Vietnam remains a bright spot for exports and foreign investment attraction. With an export turnover of over 920 billion USD in 2025, Vietnam has become one of the world's top 15 trading powers, maintaining a trade surplus for 10 consecutive years. Regarding foreign investment attraction, as of November 30, there were 3,695 new investment projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital reaching 33.69 billion USD, a 21.7% increase in the number of projects compared to the same period last year. Many leading global corporations, such as Apple, Qualcomm, Foxconn, Luxshare, LEGO, SYRE, are interested in expanding production and investment in Vietnam, contributing to job creation and local economic development. Efforts to promote negotiations, upgrades, and expansion of FTA memberships, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), open up many opportunities to diversify markets, export-import partners, and enhance the economy's resilience. |
| 4. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Fatherland continue to be firmly maintained. By flexibly and skillfully employing peaceful measures such as dialogue, negotiation, international legal tools, and external communication, the diplomatic sector continues to affirm the nation's legitimacy on territorial sovereignty issues, linking sovereignty protection with maintaining a peaceful and stable environment to promote cooperation and development. On land, peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and sustainable development borders with Laos, Cambodia, and China are maintained; close coordination with partners ensures effective and smooth operation of border management cooperation mechanisms and good management of borders based on signed legal documents and agreements; proactively handling arising situations satisfactorily. Infrastructure development along border lines is prioritized, contributing to promoting economic, trade, investment, tourism cooperation, cross-border people-to-people exchanges, and ensuring national defense and security in border areas. To firmly protect maritime sovereignty, diplomatic, legal, external communication measures, and on-the-ground struggles are implemented synchronously and effectively. Vietnam continues to assert its consistent stance on resolving disputes through peaceful means, without using or threatening to use force, based on international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982, in both bilateral and multilateral diplomatic channels. Dialogue and cooperation at sea with partners within and outside the region are strengthened, along with promoting negotiations and exchanges to resolve existing issues, aiming to prevent conflicts, build trust, and seek long-term solutions for the South China Sea issue. Together with partners, Vietnam has seriously implemented the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and actively participated in building an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and UNCLOS 1982. On February 21, based on Resolution No. 68/NQ-UBTVQH15 dated February 14, 2025, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued a Declaration on the baseline used to calculate the width of Vietnam's territorial sea in the Gulf of Tonkin. This serves as a basis for determining the boundaries and scope of Vietnam's maritime zones according to UNCLOS and the Gulf of Tonkin Delimitation Agreement between Vietnam and China signed in 2000, providing additional legal grounds to protect and exercise Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, serving economic development, sea management, and promoting international cooperation. |
| 5. Multilateral diplomacy is vigorously implemented, affirming Vietnam's leadership and hosting capabilities and its readiness to contribute to common international concerns. A notable multilateral highlight is General Secretary To Lam's official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters (March 10). ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn stated that the visit is a historic milestone, marking the first time a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam has visited the ASEAN Secretariat. The ASEAN Future Forum 2025 (AFF 2025), held for the second consecutive year in Hanoi at the initiative of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, was highly appreciated by international friends, with a large number of representatives attending. The Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit hosted by Vietnam, with over 1,000 delegates from more than 40 countries and international organizations attending, is of great significance for Vietnam to promote its role as a good friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of P4G and the international community. Hosting the Signing Ceremony and High-Level Conference on the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi (October 25-26) affirms Vietnam's mark in shaping the digital order and global cybersecurity cooperation. Cultural diplomacy on multilateral channels has contributed to spreading Vietnam's soft power, Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic ideology, the spirit of independence, self-reliance, resilience, peace-loving, and Vietnam's diplomacy, mobilizing additional resources for national development. The message of strong support for multilateralism, international solidarity, upholding an international order based on international law, the central role of the United Nations in global governance, as well as respecting the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, conveyed by Vietnam's senior leaders at multilateral forums, is highly appreciated by the international community, considered a model in raising the voice and role of developing countries. |
Reflecting on 2025, we can be proud of Vietnam's significant diplomatic achievements amidst many international challenges. With new strengths and capabilities after nearly 40 years of Renewal and resilience forged through 80 years of building and development, Vietnam's diplomacy is ready to "rise to new heights to fulfill new glorious responsibilities, worthy of being the pioneering force, the combined arm of the Vietnamese revolution," as stated by General Secretary To Lam.
