Vietnam urges stronger OECD-Southeast Asia ties at Bangkok forum
The foreign officials hailed Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and development strategy and congratulated the country on excellently fulfilling its role as Co-Chair of the SEARP during a period when the global and regional economies faced numerous challenges.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang speaks at the 2025 OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum in Bangkok. (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Min🌌h Hang called for a deeper partnership between the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Developmentও (OECD) and Southeast Asia during the 2025 OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum in Bangkok, Thailand on May 2.
Speaking as Co-Chair of the OECD’s Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) for 2022–2025, Hang stressed the need for collaboration amid global uncertainties, with SEARP playing a key role in supporting economic reform, regional integration, inclusive and sustainable development.
She outlined three proposals for future cooperation, including bolstering support for regional countries' economic reform and new growth engines like digital transformation, green transition, innovation, and sci-tech; elevating Southeast Asia’s role in shaping a global governance system that is fair, transparent, efficient, and future-ready; and fostering mutual engagement to bring Southeast Asia closer to the OECD and vice versa in order to reinforce mutual trust and understanding.
Delegates engaged in vibrant discussions on ways to deepen the bilateral partnership, with a key focus on amplifying the region’s voice in OECD policy-making and agenda-setting.
Within the framework of the forum, Hang held bilateral meetings with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, Australia's First Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Robyn Mudie, and Ambassador Jun Shimmi, Japan's Permanent Representative to the OECD.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang (R) during a meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann (Photo: VNA)
The foreign officials hailed Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and development strategy and congratulated the country on excellently fulfilling its role as Co-Chair of the SEARP during a period when the global and regional economies faced numerous challenges. Vietnam successfully advanced the programme's three priorities, namely supporting Southeast Asian countries in post-COVID-19 economic recovery, promoting policy and legal reforms, and bringing regional countries closer to the OECD.
Hang expressed gratitude for the valuable support and partnership from the OECD Secretariat, Australia, Japan, and other OECD member countries. She affirmed Vietnam's commitment to making further contributions to the programme and the partnership between the OECD and Southeast Asia, as well as further elevating the Vietnam – OECD relations.
On this occasion, she requested the OECD Secretariat and other member countries to continue support for Vietnam in its new strategic development phase, particularly in improving institutions and policy and investment climate to attract high-quality investment, promoting innovation and science-technology, and developing the private economic sector.
Earlier, consultations on the OECD Economic Surveys Vietnam 2025 were held at the OECD headquarters in Paris from April 29 to May 1, during which Hang shared Vietnam's development directions and priorities for the coming period. She stressed that the survey should outline an appropriate roadmap aligned with Vietnam's development conditions and fully reflect its strategic directions.
OECD member countries appreciated Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements, its development potential and investment attraction prospects, while offering substantive recommendations closely aligned with Vietnam's development realities amidst profound global economic transformation.
The economic survey is periodically developed by the OECD for member countries and important partners. The 2025 edition aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of Vietnam's economy and offer specific recommendations on promoting macro-economic foundations for growth, inclusive development, unlocking low-carbon economic growth, and leveraging trade and investment flows to boost productivity. The report is highly regarded by many countries and considered a valuable reference for guiding and developing socio-economic policies./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann in Davos, Switzerland on January 22 (local time) as part of his participation in the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) here.
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) on September 27 expressed his hope for closer coordination with the Representative Office of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in the issues of mutual concerns at the UN forums.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has suggested the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) coordinate with Vietnam to implement their cooperation focuses.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
