In his editorial titled “50 years after the reunification of Vietnam: Prosperity and harmony”, Dr Uch Leang, acting director of the Department of Asian, African, and Middle-East Studies under the International Relations Institute of Cambodia at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), and president of the Cambodian Alumni in Vietnam Association, praised the remarkable progress in all fields that Vietnam has made over the past five decades.

The article clarified that in terms of politics, Vietnam maintains independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and socialist orientation; maintains the leadership and ruling role of the Party, ensures the effective management role of the State, strongly promotes the people’s mastery; and ensures the highest national interests based on the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, equality, cooperation and mutual benefit.

"Continuing to build and perfect the Vietnamese socialist rule of law State of the people, by the people and for the people, led by the Party is the central task of the political reform," the article said.

In terms of economy, it said, the socialist-oriented market economy is developing strongly. The country’s economic scale in 2023 reached US$433.7 billion, ranking 35th in the world, 5th in ASEAN, GDP per capita reached US$4,323, and the poverty rate decreased from 58% in 1993 to 2.93% in 2023.

In 2024, the whole year’s growth reached 7.09%; the macro economy remained stable, inflation was controlled below 4%, total GDP reached US$476.3 billion, and GDP per capita stood at US$4,700. The country's total import-export turnover was US$786.29 billion, up 15.4% with a trade surplus of US$24.77 billion. Total registered FDI in Vietnam hit US$38.23 billion, while international visitors to Vietnam reached 17.6 million, up 39.5% compared to 2023.

The article also highlighted that Vietnam has made notable progress in building national, cultural, family, and human value systems. The country’s scientific and technological capabilities have advanced, with improvements in social security, welfare, and policies concerning ethnic and religious groups, veterans, and overseas Vietnamese. Healthcare services increasingly adopt global medical techniques, and education quality at all levels has improved. Efforts in child protection, youth education, gender equality, women’s empowerment, and communication have been strengthened. In 2024, Vietnam ranked 54th out of 166 countries in the Sustainable Development Goals Index, it noted.

Meanwhile, Vietnam continues to firmly safeguard its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, the article said. Economic, cultural, and social development is closely integrated with strengthening national defence and security. The country is reinforcing its defence capacity and actively maintaining a posture of all-people defence and public security. Measures are in place to respond promptly and effectively to emerging challenges, ensuring a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Vietnam's international integration has become deeper and more effective, contributing strategically to national development and enhancing the country’s global standing. Its foreign policy fosters peace, stability, and the mobilisation of international resources. Vietnam maintains diplomatic ties with 194 countries and territories, 12 comprehensive strategic partnerships, eight strategic partnerships, and 14 comprehensive partnerships. It plays an active and constructive role in ASEAN, the United Nations, and other international bodies.

The article also provides an insightful overview of Vietnam–Cambodia relations since 1975. Dr Uch underscored that the close partnership between the two nations not only drives their progress but also strengthens regional stability and prosperity, as well as ASEAN solidarity amid a complex global landscape.

He expressed confidence that Vietnam’s achievements over the past 50 years will serve as a solid foundation for its next chapter - a transformative era as the country eyes upper-income status by 2045. Vietnam, he notes, is well-positioned to play a greater role in fostering global peace, development, and regional cooperation, including increasingly close ties with Cambodia.

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