Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung stated that remittances reached a record high of over USD 16 billion, representing a significant material resource that makes a practical contribution to national development.
Joining the collective efforts of the entire Party, people, and armed forces, Vietnam’s external affairs sector in 2025 demonstrated the highest level of responsibility in carrying out strategic tasks, as emphasized by General Secretary To Lam:
“Maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; achieving rapid and sustainable socio-economic development; improving people’s living standards—everything for the people,” thereby strengthening the country’s position and capabilities as it enters a new era.
At noon on September 2, 2025, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and the Lao delegation on their visit to Vietnam to attend the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (1945–2025). Photo: Doan Tan – VNA.
According to Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, bilateral foreign affairs activities were vibrant, particularly those involving key leaders, helping establish important political frameworks and strategic visions for relationships, while advancing shared interests and contributing to the realization of national strategic goals. In 2025, there were 75 high-level leadership activities, a 1.5-fold increase compared to the previous year.
Vietnam upgraded relations with 17 partners, bringing the total number of countries with Comprehensive Partnership or higher to 42. Through this network, Vietnam has established Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and 18 out of 21 G20 members.
“A highlight of the past year is the increased substance and effectiveness of high-level visits, reflected in nearly 350 cooperation agreements signed—2.5 times higher than in 2024. We also combined the organization of major national celebrations with participation in partners’ key commemorative events to promote bilateral cooperation,” the Foreign Minister noted.
Relations with neighboring countries stood out as a bright spot, enhancing mutual understanding, political trust, and strengthening defense-security cooperation, while achieving breakthroughs in economic, trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Relations with major powers, key partners, and regional countries have deepened and become more effective, with strengthened strategic trust, particularly in areas such as economy, trade, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, energy, education, healthcare, and responses to non-traditional security challenges.
Relations with traditional friends as well as countries in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East–Africa, and the Global South have continued to develop across multiple dimensions, deepening friendship and practical cooperation.
On the multilateral front, Vietnam has continued to demonstrate strong commitment to multilateralism and international law, actively participating in key pillars of multilateral institutions, especially ASEAN, the United Nations, APEC, and subregional mechanisms, while contributing responsibly to global efforts in addressing shared challenges.
The results of multilateral diplomacy were also reflected in Vietnam’s successful hosting of major events such as the ASEAN Future Forum, the P4G Summit, and the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, thereby affirming Vietnam’s role, reputation, and leadership capacity.
In 2025, economic diplomacy effectively fulfilled its central role in foreign affairs, aligning closely with development goals set by the Party and Government, including achieving over 8% growth and improving the quality of growth in a rapid and sustainable direction.
According to Minister Le Hoai Trung, economic and science-technology diplomacy promptly implemented major policies of the Politburo, including Resolutions 57, 59, 66, 68, and 70.
Economic diplomacy was effectively integrated into high-level foreign activities, achieving record numbers of cooperation commitments in areas of national interest such as market diversification, investment attraction, strategic connectivity, and deeper integration into regional and global supply chains.
Efforts also focused on strengthening connections between localities and businesses, expanding markets and partnerships to support sectoral and regional development goals.
Science and technology diplomacy has emerged as a new spearhead, focusing on innovation, digital transformation, and green transition, contributing to the development of 11 strategic technologies and the implementation of Resolution 57.
Vietnam’s total import-export turnover in 2025 exceeded USD 900 billion, reinforcing its position among the world’s top 15 trading economies. Advancing new FTA negotiations, expanding Halal markets, and diversifying supply chains have enhanced economic resilience and capacity.
Through diverse and innovative external economic activities, international investment inflows into Vietnam continued to reach new record levels.
The number of units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reduced by 42.5%
The Foreign Minister emphasized that foreign affairs in 2025 contributed to strengthening the country’s overall power by promoting soft power, cultural values, and humanitarian spirit, while serving the practical interests of the people.
The Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030 has been implemented professionally with diverse activities, including the successful organization of the UN Vesak Day celebrations and various “Vietnam Weeks” abroad.
External communications have become increasingly proactive, not only promoting the national image but also safeguarding the Party’s ideological foundation and national interests in a complex information environment.
Citizen protection efforts were carried out promptly and effectively in hotspots such as Israel, Iran, and complex situations in Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, safely bringing thousands of citizens home.
Work related to overseas Vietnamese achieved significant progress, strongly fostering patriotism and connection to the homeland. Remittances reached a record high of over USD 16 billion, serving as a major material resource contributing to national development.
In 2025, the foreign affairs sector also implemented reforms to streamline its organizational structure for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Through mergers and restructuring, the number of units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reduced by 42.5%. At the same time, Party external relations and part of the National Assembly’s external functions were consolidated under the Ministry to ensure unified management and coordinated implementation of foreign affairs activities.
Source: VietNamNet (https://vietnamnet.vn/)
