Vietnam’s international integration milestones in 2018

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian Prime Minister Australia Malcolm Turnbull (Photo: VGP)

Vietnam has consistently pursued independence, self-reliance, persification, and multilateralization, moving ahead with global integration, being a friend and a reliable partner, and proactively and responsibly contributing to global issues. Diplomacy has generated favourable conditions for national development.

Bilateral diplomacy

A large number of bilateral high-level meetings since the beginning of the year have set cooperative frameworks and mechanisms between Vietnam and other countries. Vietnam and Australia elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership, bringing the number of countries that have Strategic Partnerships with Vietnam to 16. Vietnam’s Comprehensive Partnerships with 11 countries and Special Strategic Partnerships with Laos and Cambodia have been strengthened.

Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga, Vice Chairwoman of Vietnam’s National Committee on Pacific Economic Cooperation and Vice President of the Post-2020 APEC Vision Group, said “Vietnam has entered a pivotal development period. We share interests with all our partners, particularly our 27 strategic and comprehensive partners, and our 59 FTA partners. We have cooperated with countries at a new status level.”

Hundreds of meetings and exchanges at a ministerial or local level and events to celebrate diplomatic ties anniversaries have deepened Vietnam’s relations with other countries and fostered a common perception of a multi-polar world.

New connections established

Although protectionism has emerged, Vietnam has seen an increase in trade revenue and investment from key partners. Foreign tourists to Vietnam have exceeded 15 million people.

71 countries have recognised Vietnam’s market economy. In 2018 the nation ratified Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and a Free Trade Agreement with the EU.

It has actively engaged in shaping global trade networks. Vietnam was elected to the UN Commission on International Trade Law for the 2019-2025 term.

Vietnam’s status rises internationally

Vietnam sent its first mobile hospital to join a UN Peacekeeping Force. The country attended many multilateral forums, including the G7 Open Summit, the ASEAN Summit, chair the compilation of UN resolutions on climate change and human rights, the Mekong-Japan Cooperation Summit, the Asia-Europe Meeting, the annual Global Green Growth Forum, and UN General Assembly meetings.

Vietnam hosted the 2018 World Economic Forum on ASEAN, themed “ASEAN 4.0 – Entrepreneurship and the 4th Industrial Revolution”

Its successful hosting of the forum affirmed Vietnam’s role and prestige in ASEAN and the wider world. Amid a tumultuous world, Vietnam will uphold its external policies of independence, self-reliance, friendly diplomacy with other countries, and participation in global issues.