(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam is entering a new era with bold ambitions and sweeping reforms, aiming to transform itself into a high‑tech nation and achieve developed‑country status by 2045. According to Thai scholar Kavi Chongkittavorn, Vietnam’s recent policies and resolutions reflect Vietnam's confidence in its long‑term vision and its commitment to modern governance which are the keys to turning strategic goals into tangible results. Speaking with the Voice of Vietnam’s correspondent in Bangkok, Kavi shared his perspective on Vietnam’s development path and its growing role in ASEAN and beyond.
 Kavi Chongkittavorn - Thailand's veteran journalist, expert in ASEAN and international relations. |
VOV Reporter: How do Vietnam’s recent policies reflect its vision for development in the new era?
Kavi Chongkittavorn: Vietnam has made it very clear that it will transform its society into high-tech. To become a high-tech country is not easy. Vietnam has been adopting various economic and legal reforms, which is very important. That explains why you can set a very fixed target. Vietnam said it would become a developing country with upper-middle income in the next five years, and by 2045, a developed country. I don't think any developing countries in ASEAN have such confidence. Vietnam knows exactly what's a new era and the so-called new rise, because you need a lot of changes within the domestic domain.
 Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn shares his opinions with VOV correspondent in Thailand. |
VOV Reporter: How do you assess Vietnam’s role in ASEAN as it implements these strategies?
Kavi Chongkittavorn: For 30 years, Vietnam has shown that it's a stabilizer of ASEAN's unity and solidarities. But from now on, Vietnam wants to do more. Vietnam wants to promote ASEAN to serve as a bridge to raise the ASEAN profile in international relations. It benefits Vietnam as well as ASEAN economically, because Vietnam now carries the ASEAN flag as the fastest growing economy. If Vietnam has successful reform and becomes high-tech with innovation and a good record on green economy, it can promote ASEAN as a whole. Vietnam’s objective and ASEAN’s Vision 2045 align with one another, so together they could be a driving force.
VOV Reporter: What do you think are the key challenges and opportunities in translating Vietnam's resolutions into effective governance?
Kavi Chongkittavorn: You must have very good discipline in order to enforce all the measures that aim at streamlining, promoting the private sector, and reducing the role of state-owned enterprises. Vietnam’s economy has to become much more service-industry. I think in the future, Vietnam will also need to create data center, which requires a lot of energy. Good governance is the most important ingredient for economic growth and sustainability. Judging from the past, Vietnam has a very good record in handling COVID-19 because you can enforce discipline and timing, you can call to action fast.
You are competing beyond ASEAN because you have a large amount of high-level free trade agreements and comprehensive strategic partnerships with all members of the UNSC and also other countries. That's remarkable in comparison with other ASEAN countries.
VOV Reporter: How might Vietnam’s domestic policies influence its global standing and partnerships?
Kavi Chongkittavorn: One thing that is the most important now that is economic growth. And secondly, if Vietnam can deliver all the promises in the plan, that will serve as a model for other countries to emulate. If Vietnam can successfully prove that economic prosperity, economic growth can come with economic openness, it will have a big applause from the international community. Overall, it's translated into better standards of living and family network, that is what we are in the Asian cultural context. It will provide a good pillar for stable relations because the most important thing we have learned from recent events is that predictability and stability of bilateral relations are very important. Within the ASEAN context, it will impact the overall unity, and luckily, ASEAN unity, stability, and centrality remain intact.
VOV Reporter: Thank you very much.
Vietnam – Bright Economic Spot in ASEAN in 2025
+ Vietnam's GDP growth in 2025 reaches 8.02% despite global uncertainties, including reciprocal tariff policy of the US and severe natural disasters.
+ Vietnam records a record high import and export turnover of 930.05 billion USD, up 18.2% against 2024.
+ Macro-economy remains stable and inflation is kept at 3.21%, lower than the average consumer price index (CPI) increase of 3.31%.
+ Budget revenue stands at 100.8 billion USD, equivalent to 134.7% of the annual forecast and a 29.7% increase compared to the previous year.
+ GDP per capita is 5,026 USD, 326 USD higher than the previous year.
+ The financial market develops steadily. The stock market is upgraded to secondary emerging-market status.