Speaking at the 2025 year-end review and 2026 orientation conference for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Hanoi on December 29, the Prime Minister praised the ministry for achieving significant results despite a volatile global environment influenced by lingering COVID-19 effects, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and other uncertainties.

Vietnam has so far established diplomatic ties with 194 countries and territories worldwide. In 2025 alone, it upgraded diplomatic relations with 17 additional countries, bringing the total number of partners with comprehensive or higher-level ties to 42. High-ranking Vietnamese leaders conducted 75 diplomatic activities, nearly 1.5 times the previous year, strengthening strategic partnerships and fostering trust with international counterparts.

The PM highlighted the role of diplomacy in supporting national development and economic growth. The MOFA implemented economic diplomacy guided by the principle of putting citizens, localities, and businesses at the center, producing tangible socio-economic benefits. Key milestones included hosting major multilateral forums such as the ASEAN Future Forum and the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, as well as facilitating the signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, thus reinforcing Vietnam’s engagement in multilateral cooperation.

The Prime Minister stressed that Vietnam’s diplomacy must remain flexible and responsive to rapidly evolving international policies and regional dynamics, including developments in the East Sea, and continue to assert Vietnam’s central role in ASEAN. He urged consolidation of the nation’s security-development belt to maintain strategic initiative amid complex or unforeseen global developments.

The Government leader also noted that the Party and State place high expectations on foreign affairs and international integration, regarding them as “pioneering, essential, and continuous” and as tools to advance a comprehensive foreign strategy at a higher level. Diplomacy, he said, remains a critical pillar in Vietnam’s efforts to build and safeguard the nation, consistent with the spirit of the Political Bureau’s Resolution 59 on international integration.

Looking ahead in 2026, the Government leader outlined a vision for comprehensive, modern, and professional diplomacy, fully leveraging the three pillars of Party, state, and people-to-people diplomacy. He urged the sector to deepen ties with strategic partners, neighbouring countries, major powers, traditional allies, and other key international partners, while actively exploring opportunities for development and harnessing external resources to promote rapid and sustainable growth.

The Prime Minister emphasised the human dimension in diplomacy, encouraging Vietnamese diplomats to embody the guiding principles of loyalty and dedication, confidence and creativity, resilience and flexibility, persuasive negotiation, top-level effectiveness, and putting the country first. Recognising the challenges inherent in foreign affairs work, he expressed confidence that the diplomatic sector would enhance Vietnam’s global influence, foster peace, advance multilateral cooperation, and contribute to the country’s socio-economic progress.

Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister highlighted Vietnam’s ambition to make positive contributions to international peace, development, and multilateralism, while creating breakthrough growth opportunities and promoting a fair, rules-based international order grounded in international law. He expected that Vietnam’s diplomatic sector would continue to achieve even greater successes, contributing to the country’s growing prosperity, modernity, development, and wealth, and ensuring that the well-being and happiness of the Vietnamese people continue to improve.

Vietnam adapts multilateral diplomacy amid rapid global changes

VOV.VN - Amid fast-evolving geopolitical, economic, technological, and environmental challenges, Vietnam is working to adapt its multilateral diplomacy to strengthen its international position and actively participate in shaping multilateral institutions for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.