“Vietnam’s strength has long resided in its ability to preserve its strategic autonomy. Vietnam maintains comprehensive strategic partnerships with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. This is a diplomatic success that few countries can boast of having. In particular, having comprehensive strategic partnerships with both the United States and China constitutes perhaps the most remarkable demonstration of Vietnam’s diplomatic capabilities. HAS”
This is the assessment of Professor Carl Thayer of the Australian Defense College at the University of New South Wales, in an interview with a VNA journalist in Australia.
Professor Carl Thayer noted that Secretary-General and President To Lam is still seen as “a man with a mission,” saying strengthening national defense and security, coupled with promoting foreign relations and international integration is a crucial and ongoing task.
According to the observations of Professor Carl Thayer, the instability of the global security context, while posing many challenges, also offers Vietnam a considerable opportunity. With the fundamental pillars of its foreign policy – diversification and multilateralism – already firmly established, the refocusing of the priorities of Secretary General and President To Lam on economic development, Defense and foreign relations require closer international cooperation to achieve the goal of an independent and self-sufficient economy.
Furthermore, the fluctuations and instability of the current global order reinforce the need to promote deeper and more diversified international integration, highlighting the structural risks linked to excessive dependence on a single partner.
Professor Carl Thayer pointed out that, along with its growing economic influence, Vietnam has strengthened its position in favor of international law and its fundamental belief in the sovereign equality of nations. These values are widely shared in the region and are reflected in the Indo-Pacific Vision of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In his capacity as Secretary General and President, To Lam proactively translated these general principles into concrete partnerships, while overseeing the establishment or strengthening of new comprehensive strategic partnerships, including with Malaysia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) – all of which support the principles of the ASEAN Vision on the Indo-Pacific as well as similar frameworks.
Professor Carl Thayer said Vietnam has the opportunity to further strengthen its leadership position within ASEAN, cooperate with its partners and demonstrate that the country is and will remain “a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community.”
Source : https://www.vietnamplus.vn/hoc-gia-australia-viet-nam-ap-dung-chinh-sach-doi-ngoai-chu-dong-trong-thoi-diem-then-chot-post1113732.vnp
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