Vietnam to Enhance Global Role by Participating in BRICS Summit

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will lead a high-level delegation to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in India from September 12-13, 2026. This participation is a significant multilateral diplomatic activity for Vietnam, which became a "BRICS partner country" in June 2025. The summit attendance is a key implementation of Vietnam's foreign policy outlined at the 14th Party Congress, emphasizing the promotion of multilateral diplomacy and proactive, responsible contributions to international affairs. Amidst complex global developments, the event offers an opportunity to exchange views and seek solutions on major issues in regional and global governance, particularly concerning economic and development challenges faced by emerging and developing economies. This engagement aims to bolster Vietnam's role in shaping international rules and norms, thereby enhancing its global prestige. As BRICS expands its agenda beyond economics and finance to include new development drivers like science-technology, innovation, AI, and energy, Vietnam's participation will be crucial for understanding development trends and effectively pursuing international cooperation. This insight will aid in formulating development policies for an independent, self-reliant economy that integrates effectively into the global landscape. Furthermore, the visit will serve to deepen ties with India, the 2026 BRICS chair, and other BRICS members and partners. Vietnam seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation in critical areas such as defense, security, trade, investment, science-technology, digital transformation, energy, infrastructure, and innovation. This engagement is expected to expand Vietnam's development space, diversify markets and supply chains, and facilitate access to new technologies and resources. At the session on "Self-reliance, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development: Shaping the Future of Inclusive Global Growth," Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will share Vietnam's vision, assessments, and proposals on international cooperation for peace, economic growth, sustainable development, and addressing global challenges. The message will underscore Vietnam's aspiration to foster new growth drivers, enhance connectivity, and promote the role of emerging and developing economies towards an inclusive and sustainable future where development gains are broadly shared. The Prime Minister's bilateral activities in India are also significant, building on the momentum of high-level exchanges and concretizing the common understandings reached during the state visit of General Secretary and President To Lam in May 2026, which elevated relations to an "Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" under the motto "Shared Vision, Convergent Strategies, Substantive Cooperation."