Hanoi (VNA)- After its COVID-19 successes, Vietnam is well positioned to playa more energetic role on the global stage, according to the international online news magazine The Diplomat.

In an article published on March 30, The Diplomat said as anemergent and rising power in international affairs, Vietnam is potentially wellpositioned to help rebuild the global governance system that has been paralysedby increasing superpower tensions and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is imperative that Vietnam play a stronger role in global governance in theyears to come, for several reasons, it stated.

Engaging in global governance activities dovetails with Vietnam’s avowedforeign policy goals, it said, noting that the political report presented at the 13th National Congress of the CommunistParty of Vietnam (CPV) in January asserts that Vietnam will remain a responsible and proactive member of the international community, as well as atrustworthy partner for other countries.

According to the article, Vietnam stands to gain from being moreproactive in global governance.

The existing global governance system has deteriorated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasingstrategic tension between China and the US, and this offers Vietnam a chance tocontribute to the reform of the international system. 

The article said thanks to its impressive response to the pandemic, Vietnam ranked second among 98 countries in terms of performance in managingCOVID-19. More importantly, the country has also witnessed a relatively high growth rate compared to its neighbours, and is forecast to recover quickly from the pandemic. Tothis extent, Vietnam has become the role model in terms of governance.

These achievements have laid a solid foundation for Vietnam to contribute moreto the governance of the post-pandemic world, and if the country takes thischance, it will be able to both enhance its international image and play a moreactive role in world affairs, the article said.

Being proactive in global governance will also help Vietnamsoften the impact of key global challenges, including human security, watersecurity, climate change, and future pandemics.

On December 27 last year, Vietnam proposed an International Day of Epidemic Preparedness during its non-permanent membership of the UNSecurity Council. This is a good example of how the country can graduallycontribute to the revival of global governance, turning it into a “responsiblemember” of the international community, as it desires to become.

Vietnam’s proliferationof free-trade agreements (FTAs) that the country has signed in recent yearstestifies to its desire to integrate itself further into the global economy. Tofully reap the benefits from these FTAs, it is crucial for Vietnam to be moreproactive on governance issues, both domestic and global, the article said.

It noted that in recent years, Vietnam has performed well in a number ofinternational and regional organisations, especially the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UN, thus consolidating itsinternational position. The country’s active engagement with the UN, especiallyin the realm of peacekeeping, is also evident for Vietnam’s emergence.

If Vietnam can foster its recent successes, it will be moreinstitutionally capable, paving the way for the country to contribute moresubstantively to global governance.

Given what its government has achieved so far, Vietnam has thepotential to become a more confident and respected actor on the world stage,the article  stressed./.