The 14th National Congress of the Party: Solid domestic foundation, broad foreign policy.

Against the backdrop of deep geopolitical polarization in recent times, Vietnam's foreign policy has proven effective and has been recognized internationally.

All the major powers of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations and the United Nations Security Council consider Vietnam a very active member and a valuable partner.

The above statement was made by Professor Vu Minh Khuong of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in an interview with a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reporter in Singapore to assess the achievements of the 2020-2025 term as well as the challenges and opportunities in the 2026-2030 term.

According to Professor Vu Minh Khuong, over the past five years, Vietnam has continuously upgraded its relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with leading powers, including the United States, Japan, and Australia.

Vietnam's economic strength, political standing, political stability, and proactive vision of its leadership clearly make it a highly influential partner capable of solving the world's challenges.

Vietnam has done well in signing agreements establishing comprehensive strategic partnerships with many countries, especially Southeast Asian countries and major powers.

Beyond economic integration, Vietnam is also deeply involved in United Nations peacekeeping and international humanitarian relief. This shift in mindset from "participation" to "active contribution" demonstrates Vietnam's responsibility as a member state.

Mr. Vu Minh Khuong suggested that in the coming period, the focus should be on creating value, that is, solving the world's challenging problems. He emphasized that Vietnam has the potential to become a pillar of the digital economy for Southeast Asia and the region, thanks to its strong artificial intelligence (AI) and digital economy workforce. He also recommended that Vietnam should organize workshops or participate in writing reports to shape its future.

In addition, there is a need to delve deeper into the fields of renewable energy, energy security, especially green energy. He noted that data centers also require green energy, so Vietnam must be more proactive...

Professor Vu Minh Khuong asserted that with such a grand vision, Vietnam would not only contribute to peacekeeping when requested, but would also be a key player in leading Southeast Asia and Vietnam to new heights.

Defining itself as a developed industrial nation means not only increasing GDP, but also contributing to a more prosperous and peaceful region. He recommended including this in the values ​​proposition of the upcoming 14th Party Congress Resolution.

Regarding culture, Mr. Vu Minh Khuong noted a significant shift, particularly at the micro level, in leveraging the "soft power" of Vietnamese culture during the past term.

Regarding films, in the past people only watched Korean and Chinese films, but now Vietnamese films have a place, and the atmosphere in the cultural scene is very vibrant.

The Vietnamese entertainment industry utilizes the digital economy more than any other country in the region. This shows that the younger generation is being respected.

Secondly, he emphasized that the Resolution on Culture shows that Vietnam also values ​​investment in the cultural industry, breathing life into it so that the thousand-year-old strength of the nation can rise again. These are very positive points.

Over the past five years, despite budgetary constraints due to the pandemic, social welfare policies and sustainable poverty reduction have been ensured. Not only has poverty been reduced, but access to electricity, information, and infrastructure has also improved significantly. This is a bright spot demonstrating the responsibility of a socialist country, and is highly commendable.

Professor Vu Minh Khuong recommended that better shaping should be done to create villages that are more civilized and in harmony with the environment, as this is the foundation of sustainable development, going beyond simply eradicating hunger and poverty.

Building on the achievements of the 2020-2025 term, he expressed strong confidence that Vietnam can go very far.

Although 2025 presents many challenges, with a two-tiered government structure and recent mergers, it is clear that Vietnam has moved beyond the equilibrium point of the old model – a crucial step towards significant evolution.

The professor emphasized that if Vietnam works together to address these issues, it can achieve many great things in the future.

He predicted that after the 14th Party Congress, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City would have enormous scale and potential. Ho Chi Minh City, comparable to Shanghai in 2000 in both population and GDP per capita, could be the "epicenter" of development, driving other regions to develop even more strongly.

He expects Vietnam to make decisions that will amaze the world, such as special economic zones and free trade zones that are interconnected with Singapore and other developed countries in the region.

Even the Mekong Delta could allocate tens of thousands of hectares to connect with Singapore, ensuring their food security.

He emphasized that foreign investment has three very important characteristics. Firstly, it serves as a learning ground for gaining experience and achieving rapid progress. Secondly, it helps create new values ​​to move quickly towards the future. Thirdly, it ensures national resilience and security. Therefore, great attention needs to be paid, especially to data centers.

Recalling Singapore's experience, Mr. Vu Minh Khuong recommended that Vietnam should have a special mindset to mobilize global strength as its productive force. He also particularly emphasized the participation of resources from overseas Vietnamese.

Professor Vu Minh Khuong expressed his belief that Vietnam can achieve a miracle that will be recorded in the nation's history as a brilliant chapter that people will still be proud of hundreds and thousands of years from now.