The article posted on The Diplomat (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)
- After its COVID-19 successes, Vietnam is well positioned to play
a more energetic role on the global stage, according to the international online news magazine The Diplomat.
In an article published on March 30, The Diplomat said as an
emergent and rising power in international affairs, Vietnam is potentially well
positioned to help rebuild the global governance system that has been paralysed
by increasing superpower tensions and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is imperative that Vietnam play a stronger role in global governance in the
years to come, for several reasons, it stated.
Engaging in global governance activities dovetails with Vietnam’s avowed
foreign policy goals, it said, noting that the political report presented at the 13th National Congress of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) in January asserts that Vietnam will remain a responsible and proactive member of the international community, as well as a
trustworthy partner for other countries.
According to the article, Vietnam stands to gain from being more
proactive in global governance.
The existing global governance system has deteriorated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing
strategic tension between China and the US, and this offers Vietnam a chance to
contribute to the reform of the international system.
The article said thanks to its impressive response to the pandemic, Vietnam ranked second among 98 countries in terms of performance in managing
COVID-19. More importantly, the country has also witnessed a relatively high growth rate compared to its neighbours, and is forecast to recover quickly from the pandemic. To
this extent, Vietnam has become the role model in terms of governance.
These achievements have laid a solid foundation for Vietnam to contribute more
to the governance of the post-pandemic world, and if the country takes this
chance, it will be able to both enhance its international image and play a more
active role in world affairs, the article said.
Being proactive in global governance will also help Vietnam
soften the impact of key global challenges, including human security, water
security, climate change, and future pandemics.
On December 27 last year, Vietnam proposed an International Day of Epidemic Preparedness during its non-permanent membership of the UN
Security Council. This is a good example of how the country can gradually
contribute to the revival of global governance, turning it into a “responsible
member” of the international community, as it desires to become.
Vietnam’s proliferation
of free-trade agreements (FTAs) that the country has signed in recent years
testifies to its desire to integrate itself further into the global economy. To
fully reap the benefits from these FTAs, it is crucial for Vietnam to be more
proactive on governance issues, both domestic and global, the article said.
It noted that in recent years, Vietnam has performed well in a number of
international and regional organisations, especially the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UN, thus consolidating its
international position. The country’s active engagement with the UN, especially
in the realm of peacekeeping, is also evident for Vietnam’s emergence.
If Vietnam can foster its recent successes, it will be more
institutionally capable, paving the way for the country to contribute more
substantively to global governance.
Given what its government has achieved so far, Vietnam has the
potential to become a more confident and respected actor on the world stage,
the article stressed./.