According to a report from the Vietnamese news agency in Singapore, citing CAN, Secretary General and President To Lam arrived in China on April 14 for his first foreign visit as head of state, signaling the priorities of Vietnamese foreign policy.
Secretary General and President To Lam’s visit to China is the first in a series of foreign visits he will make in his capacity as head of state.
Thanks to his solid leadership as Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Republic, analysts believe that Secretary General and President To Lam is well positioned to effectively utilize international cooperation frameworks to serve the country’s development goals.
This visit comes at a time when Vietnam aspires to a more significant geopolitical role, a major shift defined during the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in January.
Vietnam is increasingly asserting itself as a positive actor on the international stage. In 2024, it launched the ASEAN Future Forum, which has become an annual event attracting global leaders, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Last March, Hanoi hosted the very first “3+3” ministerial strategic dialogue between Vietnam and China on public security, defense, and foreign affairs.
Vietnam is also preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in 2027 and will soon assume the chairmanship of ASEAN. These initiatives reflect Vietnam’s growing diplomatic influence.
Observers believe that Vietnam’s geopolitical role is evolving. Vietnam has two main objectives: to maintain its economic growth and strengthen its national defense and security.
Mr. Le Hong Hiep, Senior Research Fellow and Coordinator of the Vietnam Research Program at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, noted that in the current context, where many geopolitical disruptions threaten regional peace and stability, the task of national defense in the short and long term has become more important from the perspective of the Vietnamese Communist Party.
Mr. Le Hong Hiep also highlighted that’s why the Vietnamese Communist Party has elevated the role of foreign affairs to a crucial and permanent position.
Sharing this view, Lye Liang Fook, Senior Research Fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak, stated that with its relatively large population in Southeast Asia and dynamic economy, Vietnam aspires to play a more significant role in the geopolitical arena. Faced with global challenges, Vietnam, like other countries, must further engage in diversifying its development, exploring new markets, and cooperating with close partners to sustain its growth and ensure stability.
According to analysts based in Singapore, Vietnam’s increasing participation in international activities will enhance its image as an “emerging middle power,” willing to contribute more actively to international peace efforts. Vietnam’s involvement in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa over the past decade is a clear example, demonstrating its willingness to assume greater responsibility on a global scale.
Mr. Le Hong Hiep stated: “Vietnam will be able to play a more active role in the future if it can maintain its economic development and have more resources for its international contributions and engagements.”
Source: Vietnam Plus
