New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon could not hide his excitement at the press conference following his meeting with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, where the two countries elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
| New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the press conference in Hanoi on February 26. Photo: VGP |
Prior to his official visit to Vietnam on February 25-28, Luxon spoke highly of Vietnam’s impressive growth and potential and expressed his expectations for the relations which hit the 50th year in 2025.
“Vietnam is the rising star of Asia, and the opportunities to work together on common goals are enormous,” Luxon told New Zealand’s media.
“This significant upgrade in the relationship is a major milestone and demonstrates the high level of trust, ambition, and strategic alignment between our countries.”
He said in Hanoi on February 26: “Strengthening our relationship with Vietnam is incredibly important to New Zealand’s economic future, with more opportunities for businesses at home to access this crucial market.”
The New Zealand Prime Minister emphasized his country’s commitment to strengthening close ties with Vietnam, building on 50 years of cooperation and shared commitments. He affirmed that New Zealand is closer than ever to Vietnam and ASEAN and aims to strengthen people-to-people connections, as well as cooperation in education, tourism, and scholarship opportunities.
| Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during Luxon's official visit to Hanoi where the two countries declared to elevate the relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Photo: VGP |
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at the press conference that the two sides had a highly successful meeting. He emphasized that this new framework will enhance political trust and expand collaboration across various sectors, aligning with the mutual aspirations of both nations with “five enhancements”, namely political trust, cooperation in defense and security, economic ties, science – technology, and people-to-people links.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister believes that upgrading the relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership marks a new chapter in Vietnam-New Zealand ties with concrete and feasible cooperation initiatives. He highlighted both nations’ commitment to the “Five Enhancements” to strengthen ties.
As the coordinator of ASEAN-New Zealand relations, Vietnam will work to elevate ASEAN-New Zealand relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the near future.
Vietnam-New Zealand relations have been upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership after 50 years of diplomatic ties, 16 years as Comprehensive Partners, and 5 years as Strategic Partners.
Vietnam’s diplomacy through CSP
| Leaders of economic powers visit Vietnam within a year. Photo design: Minh Chau/The Hanoi Times |
New Zealand is the newest partner of Vietnam’s CSP – the highest level cooperation in the country’s diplomatic relations.
The CSP reflects deep engagement across various fields, including politics, economy, defense, security, education, and culture.
As of now, Vietnam has established Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with nine countries, including China in 2008, Russia in 2012, India in 2016, South Korea in 2022, the United States in September 2023, Japan in November 2023, Australia in March 2024, France in October 2024, Malaysia in November 2024, and New Zealand in February 2025.
According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the CSP with each country demonstrates the two countries’ commitment to long-term strategies. Of these, the upgrading of relations with China marks a key milestone in bilateral relations, with Russia enhancing cooperation in various sectors while with India reflects the deepening strategic ties between the two nations.
The status with South Korea is intended to open up new opportunities for collaboration and that with the United States marks a new era in bilateral cooperation.
The relations with Australia, meanwhile, support the deepening of ties across all areas of the bilateral relationship while the upgrade to CSP with France broadens cooperation across various sectors.
The CSP with Malaysia, the only country in Southeast Asia, helps reinforce bilateral collaboration, especially in the areas of defense, security, and marine cooperation.
And the relations with New Zealand help deepen cooperation in defense, education, and trade.
Vietnam’s consistent efforts in establishing and upgrading Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships underscore its proactive and adaptive foreign policy. This approach enhances Vietnam’s global influence while promoting its economic growth, security, and broad-based cooperation.
| Vietnam's "Bamboo diplomacy" introduced in 2016 by late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo design: Minh Chau/The Hanoi Times |
Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy has been affirmed over the decades through the country’s leadership, including the incumbent leaders. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam in a press conference in August 2024 affirmed that Vietnam will continue to uphold its independent, self-reliant foreign policy, promoting diversification and multilateralism while serving as a reliable partner and an active member of the international community.
The five key foreign policy priorities in the coming period include: maintaining independence and self-reliance with national interests as the top priority; strengthening relations with neighboring countries, strategic partners, and key partners; contributing to regional and global peace and stability; enhancing multilateral diplomacy and advancing modern diplomacy based on Vietnam’s traditions; and leveraging foreign relations to safeguard the nation and achieve strategic development goals.
Vietnam will build a modern diplomatic framework that closely integrates Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy, with Party diplomacy playing a guiding role.
Vietnam’s flexible diplomacy
| General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam in a press conference in August 2024. Photo: VNA |
Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with more than 190 countries and territories. The CSP is the highest level of foreign policy, along with Strategic Partnership, and Comprehensive Partnership.
All three tiers adhere to the principles of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development while pursuing diversification and multilateralization of international relations. Vietnam strives to be a friend and a reliable partner to all countries worldwide, actively engaging in international integration across various fields.
Vietnam’s foreign policy is implemented through three key pillars, namely bilateral diplomacy as it establishes and maintains relations with other countries while enhancing cooperation across various fields; multilateral diplomacy when it actively participates in international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), ASEAN, APEC, ASEM, WTO, to strengthen its global position and contribute to global issues; and economic diplomacy, when it promotes international economic integration through participation in and signing several free trade agreements (FTAs) such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and RCEP.
Over the past years, its diplomacy has resulted in proactive global integration as it has successfully assumed roles such as host of the APEC Summit (2017), ASEAN Chair (2020), Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council (2020-2021), and a key member of ASEAN-led mechanisms like ASEAN, ASEM, APEC, and Mekong Sub-regional Cooperation.
Meanwhile, the country’s economic diplomacy has helped it leverage FTAs to attract investment and expand export markets.
Despite the challenges posed by geopolitical tensions, great power competition, rising protectionism, and climate change, the country maintains an independent and proactive foreign policy, expanding international cooperation, and enhancing its global standing.
However, the country is famous for its flexible diplomacy, dubbed “bamboo diplomacy” which was introduced in 2016 by the late General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.
“Bamboo diplomacy” is a foreign policy approach characterized by flexibility and resilience, akin to the bamboo plant that bends without breaking. This strategy allows Vietnam to maintain its sovereignty while deftly navigating complex international dynamics.
Accordingly, the country has emphasized balancing relationships with major global powers, such as China and the United States, to safeguard national interests without becoming entangled in their rivalries. The policy underscores Vietnam’s strategic importance in global supply chains and reflects its commitment to diversifying international partnerships.
Another example reflecting its flexible diplomacy is the hosting of an annual defense expo that featured more than 200 companies from nearly 40 countries, including geopolitical rivals such as Iran and Israel, demonstrating its pragmatic engagement with a wide range of international actors.
The event supports Vietnam’s objective of diversifying military suppliers and enhancing defense capabilities through global partnerships.
US President Joe Biden, during his visit to Vietnam in 2023, praised Vietnam’s ability to balance great power relations while strengthening its strategic partnership with the US. He highlighted Vietnam’s role as a trusted global partner, in line with its bamboo diplomacy principles.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed admiration for Vietnam’s diplomatic strategy, recognizing its effectiveness in fostering cooperation across diverse geopolitical landscapes, particularly in ASEAN and Indo-Pacific affairs.
European Union leaders have recognized Vietnam’s approach, especially in economic diplomacy and trade agreements, considering it a model for small and medium-sized nations navigating complex international dynamics.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also acknowledged Vietnam’s independent and balanced foreign policy, appreciating its efforts to preserve historical ties while expanding engagement with new global partners.
It’s obvious that by leveraging bamboo diplomacy, Vietnam continues to elevate its international profile through balanced and multifaceted relations.
