Vietnam Pushes Sustainable Finance and International Cooperation

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang has urged ASEAN to fully leverage existing mechanisms to enhance dialogue, build trust, and prevent risks and conflicts. This includes strengthening the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), alongside cooperation based on international law. A survey of approximately 150 European business leaders indicated heightened expectations for trade and investment across the ASEAN region. This aligns with Vietnam's position as one of Asia's most dynamic economies and an emerging regional hub for manufacturing, trade, and investment. The Vietnam-EFTA Free Trade Agreement further complements this, linking economies strong in technology, innovation, finance, clean energy, and sustainable development with Vietnam's growing economic dynamism. Domestically, accelerating the disbursement of public investment is a top priority for the year-end push, aiming for 100% execution of allocated plans. The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 25,607 VND/USD on September 14, an increase of 11 VND from the previous week's close. Banks remain relatively optimistic about economic growth and the management of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), with the index slightly above the neutral threshold of 50. In terms of international cooperation, Vietnam is Canada's largest trading partner in ASEAN. Building on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), bilateral economic ties are expanding into higher value-added areas such as clean energy, critical minerals, advanced technology, manufacturing, and value-chain linkages. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has also called on India's ACME Group and GMR Group to expand investment and cooperation in Vietnam, particularly in clean energy, green industry, high technology, and infrastructure. In the tourism sector, a 2026 survey found that nearly 90% of tourism businesses planned to recruit, with recruitment difficulties being particularly acute in Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, exports from Vietnam's leather and footwear sector exceeded 2.45 billion USD in August, showing a year-on-year increase despite a month-on-month dip. Vietnam actively participates in the WTO's agenda, supporting its coordinating role in promoting inclusive and balanced global trade for peace, cooperation, and development, while effectively responding to global challenges. Additionally, insights suggest Vietnam can draw valuable lessons from South Korea's smart agriculture development model. Source: VietnamPlus English