Vietnam is both a bridge and a focal point of regional and world geopolitics.

SGGP 09/10/2023 05:56

Not only the United States, but many other countries now share the desire to upgrade their diplomatic relations with Vietnam. This shows that Vietnam is not only attractive to international friends by asserting its role but is also becoming an important focal point of regional and world geopolitics .

Special relationship with “dual interests”

The visit of US President Joe Biden to Vietnam (from September 10 to 11) is receiving special attention and interest from the public. It is special not only because this is a visit by the head of the world's leading power, but also because the Vietnam - US relationship is very special: The two countries were former enemies, then normalized relations, then became partners, comprehensive partners and moved towards a new level of relationship.

Talking about Vietnam - US relations should not be limited to bilateral relations between the two countries, but in the general context of the region and the world today, it can be seen that it is of special importance. Vietnam has proactively innovated, integrated, and promoted its position. This is also a factor to promote relations with other countries, including the United States.

In international integration, Vietnam has deeply participated in international and regional economic institutions such as WTO, CPTPP, RCEP, FTAs... This has created a special role for Vietnam in the global supply chain, giving Vietnam - a country with an important geostrategic position, now a much higher position in the region as well as in the world.

During his official visit to the United States on July 7, 2015, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended a reception hosted by the US Government by US Vice President Joe Biden.

Any country that is interested in and wants to connect with the Asia-Pacific region cannot ignore Vietnam as both a bridge and a center. When placing the United States in relation to Vietnam's recent international relations, this also shows. Through Vietnam, the United States has deeper participation and more effective connections with ASEAN and other countries. Therefore, in recent times, not only the United States but also countries in the Asian region, ASEAN countries, and other European countries have also wanted to upgrade their diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Therefore, when placing the Vietnam-US relationship in a new context, based on the interests of both sides, upgrading the relationship between the two countries to a new level is completely suitable and harmonious for both sides.

Raise the bar to new heights

From the current Vietnam - US relationship and from Vietnam's increasingly elevated position, it can be seen that the issue of expanding cooperative relations between Vietnam and other countries; especially large countries and countries close to Vietnam (such as neighboring and regional countries) needs to meet a number of conditions.

First, it is that the parties really need each other.

Second, it is a story that must have specific cooperation frameworks and guiding principles for relationships. The basic and consistent foundation is mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation, even when the two sides have different political and social systems, they must respect those differences.

Third, the two sides share the same momentum in developing relations and have room to continue expanding cooperation with each other.

For example, in the Vietnam-US relationship, within the framework of comprehensive partnership cooperation, the annual trade growth rate between the two countries is always high (from 17%-19%), which shows that the two sides still have a lot of room to expand trade.

Behind that is the story that the two economies can complement each other when Vietnam has the products that the US needs (electronics, footwear, textiles, agricultural products), while the US also has the things that Vietnam needs (technology, services, finance).

Now is also the time when "putting all your eggs in one basket" will be risky, so diversifying the supply chain and market is what the United States really needs, and Vietnam is chosen as their destination.

On the Vietnamese side, when dealing with the “giant” the United States, the Vietnamese economy must also develop and “grow up” on its own. Only then can Vietnamese goods compete with American goods, and it is also the driving force for Vietnam to continue perfecting its economic institutions.

It can be said that the world has never been as strongly divided as it is now since the Cold War. This division is very diverse and multidimensional, and is placed in mutual dependence so it is not divided into clear lines.

However, besides the challenges, there are also opportunities for Vietnam: Although major countries compete strategically, the general trend in the Asian region is still peace, stability and cooperation; Asia - Pacific is a dynamically developing region, the growth engine of the world economy; ASEAN is increasingly demonstrating an important role in cooperation in the Asia - Pacific region.

In that general context, Vietnam's viewpoint is to choose to cooperate with countries without choosing sides, promoting relations based on mutual respect and cooperation and strengthening national capacity, along with an independent, self-reliant, diversified foreign policy, making friends with countries. This not only helps international friends trust Vietnam, but also through that, Vietnam gradually improves and builds "soft power", raising its own position in the international arena.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/viet-nam-vua-la-cau-noi-vua-la-tam-diem-cua-dia-chinh-tri-khu-vuc-va-the-gioi-post704987.html