Economic diplomacy drives breakthroughs in economic and trade relations with global partners

On the evening of January 10, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an online conference with ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative missions abroad to review the performance of economic diplomacy in 2025 and outline tasks for 2026.

Attending the conference were Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son; ministers and heads of ministerial-level and government-affiliated agencies; leaders of ministries and sectors; ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative missions abroad; and leaders of localities, associations and businesses.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a keynote address at the conference

At the online point of presence in Dong Nai province, the conference was chaired by Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Truong Son, with the participation of leaders of provincial departments and agencies.

Le Truong Son, Member of the provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, and leaders of provincial departments and agencies, attend the online conference in Dong Nai. Photo: Ngoc Lien

According to a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, economic diplomacy work in 2025 closely followed the directions of the Party and the State and achieved notable results. Economic diplomacy generated strong momentum in advancing Vietnam's economic relations, trade, science, and technology with partners worldwide. Specifically, Vietnam conducted 75 external activities at the senior leadership level, upgraded relations with 17 countries, and signed 350 cooperation agreements, 2.5 times higher than in 2024. Economic, trade, investment, and science and technology cooperation were identified as key priorities and actively promoted with major and important partners, including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States, the European Union, ASEAN countries, and several Middle Eastern and African nations. These achievements laid an essential foundation for advancing and creating breakthroughs in economic and trade relations, particularly with markets of strategic importance to Vietnam.

Online conference held with ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative missions abroad

In addition, the diplomatic sector strengthened connectivity and mobilised external resources to support the implementation of socio-economic development goals and enhance adaptability to fluctuations in the global economic and trade environment. It proactively and actively implemented Resolution 57-NQ/TW and Resolution 71-NQ/CP on the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation.

Alongside its achievements, the diplomatic sector also identified limitations and shortcomings, thereby proposing timely and effective solutions.

Reaffirming the importance of economic diplomacy and the determination to promote double-digit growth across sectors in 2026 and subsequent years, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the results achieved by the economic sector. He emphasised that economic diplomacy has achieved important outcomes with transformative impact, summarised as follows: "Proactive and active action – Expanded markets – Improved quality – Clear effectiveness – Economic growth – People benefit".

At the same time, the Prime Minister stressed that the economic diplomacy sector must draw lessons, including closely monitoring and accurately reflecting real situations; proactively advancing economic diplomacy based on assigned functions, tasks and authority without dependence; promptly addressing obstacles and difficulties; ensuring commitments are implemented with tangible results; harmonising benefits and sharing risks in the spirit of sincere economic diplomacy; and strengthening unity to build strength, cooperation for mutual benefit, and dialogue to enhance trust.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed ministries, sectors, localities, agencies, enterprises, and Vietnamese representative missions abroad to resolutely and effectively implement Party and State guidelines and policies, particularly the upcoming resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the strategic resolutions of the Politburo that have been and will be issued.

In Dong Nai, foreign affairs and economic diplomacy activities in 2025 recorded many positive results. In terms of international cooperation, the province actively expanded cooperative relations with partners, localities and territories worldwide. Dong Nai signed 88 provincial-level international agreements with 17 countries and territories, including China, the Republic of Korea, the United States, France, Japan, Thailand, Germany, Portugal, India, the Netherlands and Singapore, of which 27 remain in effect.

In 2025, the province successfully signed a new memorandum of understanding with the administration of Vila Nova de Gaia city, Portugal, on May 12, 2025. The memorandum covers cooperation in cultural exchange, tourism promotion, economic and trade exchange, urban regeneration and heritage preservation.

In addition, Dong Nai received 28 foreign delegations for visits, exchanges of experience, and exploration of investment and business cooperation opportunities. Overall, in 2025, the province's foreign affairs programmes and plans received close attention and direction from the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, achieving notable results across Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy. These outcomes contributed to promoting socio-economic development and deepening the locality's international integration more effectively and sustainably.

By Ngoc Lien – Translated by My Le, Thu Ha