Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh works with heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad on July 22. (Photo: Lai Hoa/VOV)

He called for coordinated measures to diversify markets, products, and supply chains, promote trade facilitation, and effectively leverage the 17 signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and sign additional FTAs that have already reached high-level agreements.

The Prime Minister speaks at the meeting (Photo: Lai Hoa/VOV)

The PM said: "Economic diplomacy is a key pillar of diplomacy in the new era. We must connect with other economies more closely, inclusively, and comprehensively. There remains significant untapped potential. As high-level agreements have been reached, ambassadors, government agencies, ministries, provincial leaders, and industry associations must now realize them."

The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to expedite FTA negotiations with the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and Brazil, promote a rice trade agreement with Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brazil, and initiate FTA talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bangladesh, and a preferential trade agreement with Pakistan. Additionally, he stressed the importance of advancing railway projects connecting Vietnam with China and Central Asia, and soon finalizing an agreement between Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Ho Chi Minh City’s International Financial Center.

In H1, 2025, Vietnam signed 253 cooperative agreements on economy, trade, investment, and science and technology. Diplomatic efforts have revitalized growth drivers and strengthened Vietnam's trade and investment cooperation with key partners, especially China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, the EU, and ASEAN countries. Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad have carried out nearly 300 trade, investment, and tourism promotion activities, and supported localities in organizing over 150 trade and investment promotion events both domestically and internationally.