Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae pose for a photo together after the welcoming ceremony - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH
In 2025, Vietnam also upgraded relations with 17 partners and signed nearly 350 cooperation agreements. Meanwhile, Vietnam's foreign trade exceeded $900 billion for the first time, growing by nearly 20%.
Another impressive statistic: Among the 10 most open economies in the world (according to the World Bank, measured by the ratio of foreign trade value to GDP), Vietnam (ranked 9th, 2023 statistics) is the only economy with a large production scale and population.
All other economies leading this index are transit hubs or small, trade-dependent countries and territories such as Hong Kong, Singapore, San Marino, Malta, etc.
This shows that Vietnam is no longer just a peripheral economy in Asia, but is striving to become a link connecting economic networks at least regionally and continentally.
Researcher Hao Nan wrote in the South Korean newspaper Joong Ang Daily on April 30: "The conventional portrayal of Vietnam as a 'China plus one' destination is now too narrow... Hanoi is building a dense network of trade agreements, strategic partnerships, infrastructure linkages, and domestic reforms to make Vietnam indispensable to multiple centers of power simultaneously."
Vietnam's political neutrality is important, but the basis for any political stance must be practical interests, what Hao Nan calls "functional multilateralism." For Vietnam, the US means export markets and technological opportunities.
China offers supply chains, intermediate goods, and a geographically advantageous partner. The European Union is a place to learn from and meet high standards and discipline in market regulation.
Japan and South Korea provide capital, infrastructure, technology, and production systems. Russia maintains long-standing security ties and potential for nuclear energy cooperation. ASEAN is essential as a close neighbor, providing regional legitimacy and a common voice on diplomacy. At the same time, all these partners see corresponding benefits in Vietnam.
Vietnam's recent diplomatic rhythm speaks volumes. The visit to China was about geography, supply chains, and railways. The South Korean president's visit was about high technology and advanced manufacturing.
The Japanese Prime Minister's visit was about infrastructure, energy cooperation, and efforts to move up the supply chain. Each relationship fulfills a different function in the "functional multilateral" diplomatic equation.
Looking ahead to APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc, Vietnam will have another great opportunity to demonstrate its role as a connecting link in supply chains, green transformation, and digital trade, across many other sectors.
In an era of global geopolitical uncertainty and factionalism, few places can play such a role.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-the-va-vai-role-viet-nam-2026050308404076.htm
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