(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed on Tuesday that Vietnam remains committed to international integration as a means to catch up, advance alongside, and surpass others—but not at any cost or in ways that risk independence.
 PM Pham Minh Chinh at a ceremony to announce the 2024 FTA Index, April 8, 2025. |
Speaking at a ceremony to announce the 2024 FTA Index—an evaluation of how localities are implementing free trade agreements—the Prime Minister stressed that integration must be grounded in mutual benefit, balanced interests, and shared risks.
“We welcome cooperation with all partners who come in goodwill, seeking mutual development, prosperity, and happiness. But we do not accept integration at any cost. Integration that leads to dependence—absolutely not,” he said. “We must rise by our own hands and minds, from our skies, seas, and land, from the core values of the Vietnamese people and our thousand-year cultural heritage of national unity. We deeply respect and appreciate the support of international friends.”
PM Chinh emphasized that international economic integration—especially through FTAs—is a crucial channel for Vietnam to connect with the world and align its economy with global standards.
FTAs, he said, serve as engines for domestic reform, market expansion, and increased economic competitiveness. Effectively leveraging these agreements is essential to sustaining growth and elevating Vietnam’s global stature, PM Chinh noted.