Adopted on January 24, 2025, the resolution marks a major evolution in the Communist Party of Vietnam’s strategic thinking, positioning international integration as a key driver for national development and security in a new era of development.

Over nearly a century of Party leadership and four decades of economic reform, Vietnam has consistently emphasised the importance of combining national strength with global opportunities. Resolution 59 builds on that foundation, systematising and updating Vietnam’s integration strategy to better align with shifting global dynamics, regional competition and the country’s long-term development and security needs.

Breakthrough orientations to respond to global trends

Addressing a recent conference on the implementation of the resolution, Nguyen Minh Vu, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted Resolution 59 introduces breakthrough orientations to adapt to major global trends and to safeguard national interests. He said the resolution formally elevates diplomacy and international integration, alongside national defence and security, to a “core and permanent task,” reinforcing the role of foreign affairs as a frontline instrument for protecting the country “from early and from afar.”

The resolution calls for the proactive, comprehensive and effective deployment of external relations across all channels, including Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, people-to-people exchanges, defence and security diplomacy, economic and cultural diplomacy, multilateral engagement and subnational diplomacy. The goal is to enhance Vietnam’s international standing, and at the same time to ensure coherence and strategic coordination across the entire foreign policy apparatus.

Vietnam’s leadership has emphasised that international integration is not a one-way process of participation or benefit-sharing, but a balance of cooperation and strategic competition. The resolution stresses that Vietnam must act as a proactive, responsible partner, contributing initiatives, honouring commitments and helping shape international rules and norms, thereby reinforcing its image as a reliable and constructive member of the global community.

A central theme of Resolution 59 is the need to anchor international integration in domestic strength. The document underscores the importance of maximising internal resources while effectively leveraging external ones to build an independent, self-reliant and resilient economy capable of fast and sustainable growth. It also links integration closely with continued efforts to build Vietnam’s socialist rule-of-law state, centred on the people and governed in their interests.

“Resolution reflects a flexible and creative continuation of the achievements and core values of the Party’s foreign policy during the Đổi mới (Renewal) period, as well as its long-term strategic vision,” said Deputy FM Nguyen Minh Vu. “It marks a historic turning point in the Party’s thinking on foreign affairs and international integration, elevating them to a crucial and ongoing task and a strategic driving force for building and defending the country in the new era.”

Toward people- and business-centred approach

Another key innovation of Resolution 59 is its people- and business-centred approach. According to Dr. Nguyen Thu Phuong of the Communist Review, the resolution captures the momentum of the current era by framing international integration as a national endeavour involving the entire political system and society, with citizens and enterprises positioned as central actors, beneficiaries and driving forces.

The resolution calls for a shift in mindset, from passive participation in global mechanisms toward proactive contribution and co-creation. It emphasises that integration must be comprehensive and deep, with economic, political, cultural and security dimensions reinforcing one another within a unified national strategy that is both focused and flexible.

Dang Dinh Quy, a senior scholar at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, said Resolution 59 provides new guiding principles and strategic orientations that address limitations in earlier phases of integration, and respond to emerging global and regional challenges. If implemented effectively, he said, the resolution would strengthen Vietnam’s ability to safeguard national interests and advance development goals in an increasingly complex international environment.

Vietnamese policymakers acknowledge that global conditions remain volatile and that domestic transformation is ongoing. The resolution therefore emphasises adaptability, calling for flexible and pragmatic implementation guided by the principle of maintaining core national interests while responding effectively to changing circumstances, a concept rooted in President Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic thought.

Observers say Resolution 59 represents a strategic policy milestone, reflecting Vietnam’s confidence, resilience and long-term vision as it seeks to deepen international integration, enhance national competitiveness and strengthen its role on the global stage while safeguarding sovereignty and stability in the years ahead.

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