Professor Carl Thayer

According to Thayer, a draft political report to the Congress and a socio-economic development plan for the next five years introduced in October indicate that Vietnam is keen on economic reforms, anti-corruption efforts, and international integration. Vietnam will fulfill its obligations as a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and free trade agreements with the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Vietnam was twice elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Thayer said, adding that Vietnam’s new leaders, elected at the upcoming Congress, will be tasked with pushing Vietnam’s international integration to secure a higher position in the world arena.