Hanoi, August 02, 2026 – The Europe Today: Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm has outlined six key priorities for the country’s diplomatic sector, calling for a more proactive, forward-looking, and results-oriented foreign policy to support national development and strengthen Vietnam’s international standing.
Addressing the opening session of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference in Hà Nội, Tô Lâm said the event comes at a pivotal moment as Vietnam embarks on a new phase of development after more than 80 years of nation-building and four decades of economic reforms. He noted that, for the first time, the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress has identified foreign affairs as a “crucial and regular” task of the country, elevating diplomacy to a central pillar of national strategy.
Held under the theme “Promoting the pioneering role and fulfilling the crucial and regular task of Việt Nam’s external affairs in the new era,” the conference brings together leaders from the diplomatic sector and across the political system to discuss Vietnam’s foreign policy direction through August 7.
Highlighting Vietnam’s diplomatic achievements since the previous conference in 2023, Tô Lâm said the country has successfully expanded its global partnerships by establishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with nine countries, Strategic Partnerships with eleven nations, and Comprehensive Partnerships with five others. Relations with neighboring countries, major powers, ASEAN members, and traditional partners have continued to deepen, while coordination among diplomatic channels has become increasingly effective.
He also pointed to notable successes in multilateral diplomacy, including Vietnam’s hosting of the ASEAN Future Forum, the P4G Summit, and the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime. Vietnam’s re-election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term with the highest number of votes among Asia-Pacific candidates further reflected the country’s growing international credibility.
On the economic front, Tô Lâm said diplomacy has played a significant role in supporting national growth. Vietnam has signed 17 free trade agreements with more than 60 countries and territories, while the nation’s total import-export turnover reached approximately US$930 billion by 2025, placing it among the world’s top 20 trading economies.
Despite these achievements, the Vietnamese leader stressed that diplomacy must now move beyond policy formulation toward more effective implementation. He noted that research and forecasting have not always kept pace with rapidly evolving global developments, while some diplomatic engagements have focused more on meetings and agreements than on delivering concrete benefits for citizens, businesses, technology transfer, and investment.
Calling for diplomacy to play a pioneering role in the country’s next stage of development, Tô Lâm urged diplomats to anticipate emerging challenges, provide timely strategic advice, mobilize international resources, and strengthen cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and high-quality investment.
“We cannot simply stand by and react after events occur,” he said. “The more complex the international environment becomes, the more we must remain calm, proactive, and determined. Now is the time for foreign affairs to lead the way by protecting the nation from an early stage, expanding international connections, and securing resources for sustainable national development.”
