In the context of a rapidly changing, deeply fragmented, and sharply aligned world, Resolution No. 59 of the Politburo continues to affirm strategic thinking: Deep international integration while firmly maintaining independence and self-reliance. Experts believe that independence and self-reliance serve as the optimal "antibody set" for Vietnam to integrate deeply.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Nghia, Full-time Member of the National Assembly at the Board for Deputy Affairs of the 16th National Assembly, and former Director General of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, emphasized this during an exchange with reporters from the Voice of Vietnam Online Newspaper regarding Resolution No. 59 on international integration in the new context.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Nghia, Full-time Member of the National Assembly at the Board for Deputy Affairs of the 16th National Assembly, former Director General of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee
Reporter: Resolution No. 59 emphasizes the requirement to enhance the effectiveness of deep international integration and build an independent, self-reliant economy. What is the significance of this, sir?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Nghia: In the current global context, independence and self-reliance no longer mean closing oneself off, but building self-resilient national internal strength in technology, supply chains, and cybersecurity to effectively withstand external shocks. At the same time, deep integration is now shifting strongly from "adaptation" to "proactive creation," actively participating in shaping regional and international rules.
In the context of a fragmented world and the geopoliticization of the economy, independence and self-reliance are the law of survival that helps Vietnam stand firm against all external shocks. The documents of our Party's 14th National Congress noted and pointed out clearly: “The global situation is changing rapidly and with unprecedented complexity toward a multipolar, multi-centered, multi-tiered, highly fragmented, and sharply aligned direction.”
Therefore, safeguarding national-ethnic interests and maintaining self-reliance help consolidate self-resilient internal strength—from technology and supply chains to national defense—serving as a solid foundation for political independence and avoiding the trap of "choosing sides." This is the core prerequisite for elevating the country's position from "passive adaptation" to "proactive creation," using unwavering views and positions based on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, the theoretical foundation of our Party's 40 years of Renovation (Doi Moi), and international law as a “filter” to protect national strategic interests.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2026 takes place in Hanoi on June 9–10, 2026. Photo: Nguyen Binh/CAND
Independence and self-reliance mean enhancing the optimal “sickness resistance” or "antibody set" for Vietnam to integrate deeply without becoming “infected” or “dissolved” in the unpredictable whirlpool of the global landscape, reflecting our Party's strategic vision and sharp theoretical thinking in the new development era of the Vietnamese nation.
Self-reliance does not mean "withdrawing" or detaching oneself from the "inevitable development process of history and the era." On the contrary, it is self-reliance grounded in a mindset of substantive capability, participating in shaping international structures and rules of the game through using international law and multilateralism as the most solid self-defense filter and shield; with the core goal of comprehensive strategic autonomy based on self-resilience in technology, supply chains, national defense, security, and foreign affairs based on the principle of “Adapting to all changes through constancy” (a diplomacy steeped in Vietnamese cultural identity, a diplomacy that “uses humanity and justice to overcome brutality, replaces tyranny with supreme benevolence,” upholding the spirit of harmony, humanism, humanity, peace, cooperation, and development) and the “Four No’s” defense policy to avoid falling into the trap of choosing sides, maintaining strategic space for equal dialogue and cooperation with all parties, optimizing national-ethnic interests linked with common interests and common trends of the international community and humanity, such as security, peace, sustainable development cooperation, and prosperity.
Reporter: According to Assoc. Prof. Dr., how can Vietnam open up strongly while still retaining the initiative in economic development?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Nghia: Our country's economy has one of the highest levels of trade openness in the world. Therefore, to open up strongly, attract, and maximize international resources and capital for economic development while avoiding the trap of foreign dependency, especially regarding capital and technology, Vietnam needs to implement a strategy of "dynamic equilibrium" or "adaptive self-reliance" through the following three pillars:
Risks need to be dispersed by multilateralizing partners and markets, avoiding exclusive dependence on a single country or supply chain.
First, “establishing a solid institutional barrier”: It is necessary to build and perfect the legal system, on the one hand based on development-fostering thinking, proactively participating in creating regional and international rules, but on the other hand tight enough regarding defense to protect national-ethnic interests, national security sovereignty, and national economic security, using international law and new-generation free trade agreements as a "filter" to proactively regulate capital flows...
Second, “diversifying market structures”: Risks need to be dispersed by multilateralizing partners and markets, avoiding exclusive dependence on a single country or supply chain.
Third, “technological self-reliance” and “self-reliant creation of value chains” (“mastering value chains”): Rapidly develop high technology and core technology (such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence A.I., quantum computing...), while shifting from low-value processing to mastering core technology, developing a domestic enterprise force strong enough to master crucial domestic links, mastering value chains starting internally that will spread and connect to global value chains...
Reporter: In your opinion, is diversifying markets, partners, and supply chains a "shield" that helps the economy increase resilience against external shocks?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Nghia: Absolutely right. Because diversifying markets, partners, and supply chains is the most proactive and fundamental "shield" of the economy against external shocks. This stems from the following logic: First, increasing risk dispersion opportunities, meaning shifting from "putting all eggs in one basket" to a multipolar structure, helping neutralize impacts when a single market or supply chain is disrupted.
Second, minimizing vulnerability, meaning creating immediate buffer spaces and alternative channels, helping the economy avoid being paralyzed or falling into a passive, geopolitically coerced position.
Third, creating equilibrium, meaning increasing strategic choice space, helping Vietnam maintain its right to self-determination and enhance durable resilience in a world full of fluctuations.
Domestic enterprises need to be supported in mastering technology and strongly shifting to exporting deeply processed products with high intellectual content. Photo: Nguyen Binh/CAND
Reporter: Recent global trade fluctuations show the risk of relying too heavily on a single export or import market. In your view, what does Vietnam need to do to minimize this risk?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Nghia: To minimize dependency risks, Vietnam needs to pivot its strategy from "scale expansion" to "structural security" of the economic system through the 3 solutions below:
One is repositioning supply chains. Diversify trading partners by deeply exploiting new-generation FTAs, while localizing raw material sources to minimize disruption risks from a large market.
Two is upgrading domestic value. Support domestic enterprises in mastering technology and strongly shifting to exporting deeply processed products with high intellectual content.
Three is building "substitutive capacity." Flexibly develop the domestic market as a strategic reserve buffer when traditional export markets face volatility.
In my view, Vietnam needs to vigorously implement an effective and substantive strategy of “multilateralization and diversification” to both expand space for cooperation, markets, supply chains, value chains... while firmly maintaining self-reliance, self-resilience, and independence.
Specifically, first, multilateralizing and diversifying partners. It is necessary on the one hand to prioritize deepening and tightening expanded economic, trade, and investment relations with neighboring, traditional friendly countries and Comprehensive Strategic Partners; on the other hand, consolidate and expand potential new market partners; steadfastly adhere to the "Four No's" principle, maintain strategic balance, and position Vietnam with readiness and goodwill as a global mediating bridge, contributing to creating regional and world peace as wished by President Ho Chi Minh in His Testament and affirmed by General Secretary and President To Lam.
Along with that, developing and expanding flexibly adaptive export and import markets. Deeply exploit new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs) (CPTPP, EVFTA, RCEP); pioneer access to Global South, Middle East, and African markets to disperse risk.
Breakthroughs in high technology and core technology fields. Focus on digital transformation, green transition, semiconductor chips, AI, and renewable energy. These are breakthrough spearheads clearly shown in the Resolution of the Party's 14th National Congress, linked with Politburo Resolution 57 and strategic decisions of our Party and State aimed at technology self-reliance and building solid self-resilient internal strength in the new development era of the Vietnamese nation.
Reporter: Thank you very much, sir!