PM talks Vietnam’s policy in changing global landscape at Poland University

Changing global landscape

Sharing about the current global and regional situation, Chinh stated that the world is experiencing deep, rapid, and unpredictable changes. Although peace, cooperation, and development remain the dominant trends and the burning aspiration of all nations worldwide, instability, unpredictability, and uncertainty in the global security and development environment are increasing. Multilateralism and international law are, at times and in some places, being seriously challenged. Strategic competition between major powers is becoming more intense.

The world is being significantly impacted by the explosive development of science and technology, innovation, especially digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI); non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, food security, water security, cyber security, aging populations, and transnational crime; and the increasing trends of division, polarization, and fragmentation in various areas, driven by global geopolitical and geo-economic competition.

In this context, he said, there are three major emerging areas that are leading and shapping the world. They are the development of the digital economy, green economy, circular economy, creative economy, and sharing economy; innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation, driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution; and the development of high-quality human resources connected with AI development, cloud computing, the Internet of Things.

These issues are of significant importance that have profound and comprehensive impacts on every country and citizen globally. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive, global, and people-centered approach to address these challenges, he stressed.

In his views, all these challenges require all countries to persist in dialogue and cooperation, prioritize multilateralism and international law, and work towards a world order built on rules. Efforts should be made to find effective, systemic, and inclusive solutions, in which people are placed at the center.

More than ever, contributing to shaping such a global order is both a benefit and an urgent responsibility for all countries, he said.

Vietnam’s development orientations

Talking about Vietnam, Chinh said the country is moving towards a new era - the era of national advancement, development, prosperity, and civilization. It aims to transform into a developing country with a modern industry and high middle income by 2030 and a developed socialist state with high income by 2045.

Vietnam strives to maintain political-social stability, with people as the center, the driving force, and the most crucial resource for development. It emphasizes balanced growth, and ensures social progress, equality, welfare, and environmental protection without compromising economic growth.

The country remains committed to an independent, self-reliant, diversified, and multi-lateral foreign policy. It consistently pursues the “4 Nos” defense policy, focuses on economic development, actively integrates into the global economy, and cultivates culture as the spiritual foundation of society.

Furthermore, it prioritizes social progress to ensure that no one is left behind, protects the environment, and combats corruption and waste effectively.

According to the PM, after nearly 40 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renovation) process, Vietnam, once isolated and under sanctions, has now established diplomatic relations with 194 countries and territories worldwide. It has comprehensive strategic partnerships with 8 countries, strategic partnerships with 10 countries, and comprehensive partnerships with 14 countries. Vietnam is an active member of over 70 regional and international organizations.

From a war-torn, underdeveloped country, Vietnam has emerged as a developing economy with a middle-income status. The average income per capita is around US$4,700, placing Vietnam among the top 33 largest economies in the world and within the top 20 for global trade volume. The country has signed 17 free trade agreements and ranks 44th out of 132 countries on the Global Innovation Index.

Amid global economic challenges, instability, and declining global growth and investment, its economy has shown strong recovery. In 2024 alone, it recorded 7.09% GDP growth, and attracted nearly US$40 billion in foreign direct investment, with disbursed capital exceeding US$25 billion.

Currently, he said Vietnam is prioritizing growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, and ensuring key economic balances. Efforts are being made to revitalize traditional growth drivers (investment, consumption, and exports), and to strongly promote new growth drivers (science - technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, sharing economy, artificial intelligence, semiconductors).

Among other things, it is accelerating industrialization and modernization, making substantive progress in strategic breakthroughs, and restructuring the economy. It is trying to tap into all resources, ensure social welfare, protect the environment, and address climate change.

Vietnam – Poland relationship toward strategic partnership

The PM affirmed that Vietnam highly values and desires to further deepen its comprehensive cooperation with countries in Central and Eastern Europe, especially with its traditional friends like Poland.

The traditional relationship and multi-faceted cooperation over the past seven decades have developed positively, yielding numerous achievements, and it is time to elevate their ties to new heights.

This this end, he said the two countries should create breakthroughs in political relations; economic cooperation; cooperation in establishing modern production methods; people-to-people exchanges; defense-security cooperation, and close coordination and mutual support at multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

He said the two PMs, during talks on January 16, agreed to soon upgrade Vietnam – Poland relations to a level of strategic partnership, that would open up a new chapter in bilateral relations. The two sides also agreed to work hard to soon raise bilateral trade value to US$5 billion per year, by removing obstacles and leveraging FTAs.

Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge for Polish businesses and investors to access the ASEAN market of more than 660 million consumers, he assured.

The PM expressed his hope that Polish research institutes, universities, and businesses would allocate more resources to collaboration with Vietnam in areas such as technology and innovation, particularly green technology, clean energy, and new technologies.

He also announced Vietnam’s decision to unilaterally exempt visas for Polish citizens holding ordinary passports starting from March 1, 2025.

Looking to the future, the PM was confident that Vietnam and Poland stand at a pivotal moment to elevate their relationship to new heights, serving as a model of cooperation and friendship between Southeast Asia and Central Eastern Europe, for the benefit of the people of both countries, and in the pursuit of peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress in both regions and around the world.