PM Chính Reviews Economic Diplomacy Results, Sets Priorities for 2026
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính chaired an online conference on Saturday evening with Vietnamese ambassadors and heads of overseas representative missions to review the implementation of economic diplomacy in 2025 and outline key tasks for 2026, stressing that economic diplomacy must be carried out with sincerity, harmonious interests, and shared risks.
The Prime Minister said economic diplomacy in 2025 recorded important and transformative results, helping to shift the situation and generate new momentum for national growth. Looking ahead, he underscored that from 2026 onward, Việt Nam must strive to achieve double-digit economic growth, a target that will require stronger efforts and more decisive breakthroughs across all sectors, levels, and localities.
PM Chính called on ministries, agencies, local authorities, businesses, and Vietnamese missions abroad to resolutely implement and concretise the Party’s and State’s guidelines and policies, particularly resolutions of the upcoming 14th National Party Congress and key strategic resolutions of the Politburo.
He emphasised that priority must be given to creating breakthroughs in international cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transition, and sustainable development in the digital era, describing these as both an objective choice and a top national priority. The Prime Minister also highlighted the need to promote sustainable energy, smart urban development, and tourism, while attracting major global technology corporations and overseas Vietnamese scientists, and enabling domestic enterprises to participate more deeply in global value chains.
The government leader urged renewed efforts to revitalise traditional growth drivers alongside accelerating the diversification of markets, products, and supply chains. He called for stronger engagement with emerging and potential markets in the Middle East, Africa, and South America, and encouraged the expansion and early conclusion of new free trade agreements, including with Bangladesh, Pakistan, African partners, and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).
To effectively tap new growth drivers, PM Chính stressed the importance of expanding cooperation with major and traditional partners, as well as potential ones, in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors. At the same time, he reaffirmed that Việt Nam must firmly safeguard its legitimate interests in relations with major partners.
The Prime Minister also directed stronger and more decisive support for businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, to expand investment and access international markets. He called for the development of a comprehensive support ecosystem encompassing banking, logistics, human resources, and legal services, while fostering cooperation with leading global technology groups.
Assigning specific tasks to several ambassadors, PM Chính requested efforts to seek early recognition of Việt Nam’s market economy status by the United States and the country’s removal from the list subject to restrictions on high-tech exports. He also urged the promotion of cross-border railway projects with China, advancement of cooperation on the Ninh Thuận nuclear power project with Russia, and closer coordination with the European Commission and regional partners to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Calling for stronger promotion and branding of Vietnamese products overseas, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to soon finalise a programme to support Vietnamese enterprises in expanding globally. He further urged enhanced connectivity to attract international business communities and investors for long-term cooperation, support the effective operation of the international financial centre and free trade zones as they come into service, and promote cross-border economic activities.
According to the Prime Minister, last year Việt Nam conducted 75 external activities by key leaders, upgraded relations with 17 countries, and signed 350 cooperation agreements—2.5 times higher than in 2024. These outcomes, he said, helped strengthen international connectivity, mobilise external resources for socio-economic development, and enhance Việt Nam’s capacity to adapt to fluctuations in the global economy and trade.
