Looking back at the history of the Vietnamese revolution, the nation’s destiny has always been intertwined with the changes of the times. Immediately after gaining independence, President Ho Chi Minh stated: “After the issue of defense, diplomacy is an essential issue for an independent country,” strongly affirming the role and responsibility of foreign relations for the nation and its people.

The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam is a historic milestone, opening the door to a new era for the nation. In the light of the 14th National Congress, foreign relations, a crucial and ongoing task will be comprehensively implemented at a new level, with Vietnam’s heartbeat aligning with that of the world , breathing the breath of the times, building peace, fostering prosperity, and establishing a higher and more solid position for the country and the nation.

Vietnam on the threshold of a new era

The world is witnessing rapid, intense, far-reaching, and epochal shifts. These trends are intertwined and contradictory, simultaneously fostering deeper interconnectedness and interdependence, while also leading to greater division and competition.

Humanity is entering a period fraught with risks but also opening up many new opportunities for development. No country, large or small, developed or developing, can remain outside the dynamics of the times.

On the one hand, the multilateral international relations system and international law are eroding, and sovereignty disputes and territorial conflicts are increasing. Political and economic competition goes hand in hand with the struggle for control of technology, energy, and strategic infrastructure.

Traditional and non-traditional security challenges are becoming increasingly severe in both scale and nature.

On the other hand, contemporary trends and movements regarding peace, cooperation and development, sustainable and inclusive growth, and globalization continue to unfold.

The majority of the international community desires to create a democratic, just, and equitable world order based on international law. The scientific and technological revolution is opening up endless opportunities for development based on human knowledge and potential.

The 14th National Congress marks a new era for the Vietnamese nation after 96 years under the Party’s leadership, 80 years of independence, and 40 years of implementing the Doi moi (Renovation) process.

Following the era of independence, freedom, socialist construction, and the era of reform, the country began to enter an era of prosperous, civilized, and happy development, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world’s leading powers.

The period of implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Congress (2026-2031) is a pivotal period, decisive in achieving a breakthrough to become a developed, high-income, and advanced country.

Or we will repeat the lesson of being trapped in the middle-income trap as many structural bottlenecks in the national development and governance model gradually become apparent.

History shows that during the transitional period between the old and the new, if we fail to keep pace with the world and the trends of the times, the risk of falling behind will be more real than ever.

Enhancing comprehensive foreign relations to a new level

“Combining” the demands of the times and the needs of the nation, the realization of the two 100-year strategic goals is the Party’s political and historical commitment to the people and the international community.

Human history has proven that nations that take strategic initiative and seize the opportunities of the times to strengthen their internal capabilities will succeed.

Throughout human history, world practice has shown a consistent rule: no powerful nation has ever developed without building a strong foreign policy.

In today’s world, the security and development of each nation cannot be isolated, standing outside the impacts of the world and the times, of current events and circumstances.

Facing historical moments, the nation needs historical decisions. The new era demands the implementation of “comprehensive foreign policy at a new level”: ensuring the highest national and ethnic interests; taking peace, independence, self-reliance, and self-strength as the foundation; placing the people at the center of all policies; and considering contributing to the international community as a responsibility.

At this new level, foreign policy will be implemented with greater confidence, autonomy, self-reliance, and self-strength; contributing more effectively to the country’s strategic goals; and demonstrating greater responsibility towards world peace and development.

This is a comprehensive foreign policy at a new level in terms of objectives . All foreign policy activities are directed towards ensuring the highest national interests, for a strong Party, for a prosperous Vietnam, and for the well-being and happiness of the people; deep integration and an important position and role in world politics, the global economy, and human civilization; contributing to peace, stability, justice, social progress, and the prosperous development of nations in the region and around the world.

It is a comprehensive foreign policy at a new level in terms of scope. Foreign policy is not a separate field, but closely integrating foreign policy with national defense, security, economy, science, technology, culture, and society creates a synergistic strength to serve the cause of national construction and defense.

The comprehensive foreign policy places socio-economic development at its center, considering diplomacy serving development and international integration as a crucial and ongoing task.

This represents a comprehensive foreign policy at a new level in terms of its subject matter. Comprehensive foreign policy is the undertaking of the entire Party and the entire people, leveraging the role of all three channels of foreign policy: Party foreign policy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy, while also mobilizing the participation of the National Assembly’s foreign policy, ministries, departments, and localities; bridging foreign policy with defense and security; and integrating political diplomacy with economic, cultural, scientific, and technological diplomacy…

Implementing the “key, on-going” tasks of foreign policy

Comprehensive foreign policy at a new level is a combination of inheritance and development. Foreign policy continues to steadfastly adhere to the path of independence, self-reliance, self-strength, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralism, and diversification of foreign relations; being a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community.

At the same time, Vietnam’s foreign policy continues to develop, absorbing the best aspects, knowledge, and methods of modern diplomacy, imbued with the spirit of “adapting to changing circumstances while maintaining core principles.”

The path to peace, independence, self-reliance, and self-strength is not only about building a prosperous and strong nation for our people, but also about making a responsible contribution to regional peace and stability and a rules-based world order.

That serves as a guiding principle, a moral foundation, and a fundamental rule for building sustainable foreign relations.

At the same time, comprehensive foreign relations have developed to a new level, in which foreign relations and international integration must be a “crucial and ongoing” task.

This represents a significant development in thinking, recognizing that foreign policy and international integration are among the primary and most important tasks; they must be conducted regularly, requiring proactiveness, sensitivity, timeliness, and high effectiveness.

This ideology places foreign policy at the center, with a higher responsibility and role in the security and development of the country: Maintaining peace for stability, stability for development, and development to enhance the overall strength of the country . Accordingly, comprehensive foreign policy at a new level will implement key and regular tasks in the following directions:

Firstly, foreign policy plays a pioneering role, fulfilling crucial and ongoing tasks in creating a favorable international environment for the country .

The more volatile the world becomes, the more crucial and vital the role of consolidating peace and stability for the country becomes. Foreign policy must have a “strategic proactive” approach in all situations, maintaining “internal stability and external harmony”: preserving stability and development domestically, while maintaining peace and cooperation with the outside world.

Along with national defense, security, and foreign affairs, we are resolute and persistent in firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland; protecting the Party, the State, the People, and the socialist regime; protecting the cause of reform, industrialization, and modernization; protecting national and ethnic interests; protecting political security, social order and safety, and the culture; maintaining political stability and a peaceful environment for building and developing the country according to the socialist orientation.

At the same time, we promote the resolution of differences through peaceful means, based on international law and the United Nations Charter.

Secondly, foreign relations are the driving force behind creating favorable conditions, leveraging external resources, and opening up new avenues for national development.

The world is shaped by new trends, and successful nations are those that proactively seize opportunities, stay ahead, and position themselves within the flow of the times. The task of foreign policy is to identify and capitalize on opportunities arising from current trends shaping the global economy, such as innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and automation; to translate positive political relations into concrete economic results that can be measured and directly impact the people through economic agreements, trade and investment agreements; and to support Vietnamese businesses in expanding globally and participating more deeply in regional and global supply chains.

Thirdly, foreign policy demonstrates a high sense of responsibility towards the international community, contributing to the building and protection of a fair and equitable international order based on international law.

In a globalized world, the interests of the Vietnamese nation, its citizens, and its businesses extend beyond territorial borders. Protecting the national interests of Vietnam is closely linked to protecting a fair and equitable world order based on international law.

Our new position and strength allow us to make positive and responsible contributions to the world’s common issues. As President Ho Chi Minh once said, “ If we have benefited from others’ good things, we must share them with others,” Vietnam will continue its commitments to sustainable development, food security, climate change, and net emission reduction; while also participating more deeply in peacekeeping, search and rescue, humanitarian aid, mediation, and conciliation. To play a core and leading role in important and appropriate issues and mechanisms.

Fourth, leverage the nation’s “soft power” in a manner commensurate with the country’s historical and cultural stature, political and economic position.

A country’s position and prestige lie not only in its material strength but also in its “soft power.” This includes its glorious history, its rich national culture, the great and historically significant achievements of the reform process, its peaceful and harmonious foreign policy, its handling of international issues in a balanced, reasonable, and compassionate manner, its respect for international law, and the support and approval of the world’s people.

At a new level, foreign policy must contribute to increasing the country’s position and influence in world politics, the global economy, and human civilization.

Fifth, to build a comprehensive, modern, and professional foreign policy and diplomacy .

The new era demands the development of a foreign policy that is on par with the regional level and reaches international standards. Foreign affairs and diplomatic officials must dare to think, dare to act, dare to innovate, dare to be pioneers and breakthroughs for the benefit of the nation; they must be sensitive to the times, profound in strategy, disciplined, and possess skills and qualifications on par with international standards.

Comprehensive foreign policy is not just the responsibility of one ministry or sector, but a cause for the entire nation and the entire political system to create synergistic strength.

In the face of changing times, comprehensive foreign policy at a new level must be guided by courage and wisdom; trust and responsibility as bridges for cooperation; and harmony and the rule of law as anchors for values.

We believe that Vietnam’s foreign policy will continue to build and maintain peace and stability, expand the space for development, and elevate the country’s position, contributing to fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh’s sacred wish: “My last wish is: that the entire Party and all the people of Vietnam unite and strive to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic, and prosperous Vietnam, and make a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause.”