Vietnamese PM Bolsters Multilateral, Bilateral Ties at BRICS Summit

Vietnamese Prime Minister Hung met with leaders of various countries and international organizations on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, reaffirming Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, and promoting multilateral and diversified external relations. During the meetings, Hung highlighted Vietnam's unique development model, centered on its people, institutional reform, modern governance, and the importance of science and technology, while striving for harmony among economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection. He expressed Vietnam's readiness to cooperate with BRICS nations in a spirit of responsibility, goodwill, and substantive cooperation to build a peaceful, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive future for all. Regarding Saudi Arabia, Hung affirmed it as a key partner in the Middle East, expressing pleasure at the positive development of bilateral relations and a desire to further enhance them for the benefit of both peoples. With Burundi, he thanked the government for supporting Lumitel, a telecommunications joint venture by Vietnam's Viettel, and proposed facilitating Lumitel's participation in e-government and digital transformation projects, while enabling its expansion, making it a symbol of bilateral cooperation. Vietnam views Ethiopia as an important partner in Africa and called for stronger political trust and increased exchanges among ministries, sectors, and businesses to explore trade, investment, and business opportunities. With India, Hung noted the countries are among the world's fastest-growing economies with complementary strengths, agreeing to step up measures to achieve the target of $25 billion in bilateral trade and facilitate market access for products, especially pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, fisheries, and livestock. Furthermore, Vietnam expressed a desire to strengthen its long-term partnership with the Asian Development Bank (AIIB), particularly in strategic infrastructure development, green transition, and climate change adaptation. A common feature of recent high-level visits is the shift in focus beyond consolidating political relations to areas directly serving development. These engagements aim to enhance Vietnam's international role and standing, broadening avenues for cooperation within regional and global multilateral mechanisms.