In an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the Vietnamese leader emphasized that Vietnam does not cooperate with one country in a way that harms or creates difficulties for another.
On relations between the United States and China, he said competition among major powers is an objective reality. Vietnam neither views ties with major powers through a security lens nor aligns itself with any particular side. He said Vietnam continues to maintain strong relations with both countries, bringing benefits to all parties while contributing to regional peace and stability.
Regarding relations with China, Mr. Lam said Vietnam and China are neighboring countries with long-standing ties and are advancing substantive cooperation across a wide range of important areas. He said maintaining peaceful, stable and cooperative relations with China benefits both countries and contributes to regional peace and stability.
On the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), the Vietnamese leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent position of safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity while advocating the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He stressed that maintaining good relations with China, protecting sovereignty and addressing issues in the East Sea are complementary objectives.
Asked about Vietnam’s goal of achieving double-digit economic growth, Mr. Lam said the country’s development aspirations are shared by the entire nation. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s long-term goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045, a target that has been consistently upheld over the years, including in the Political Report presented at the 14th National Party Congress earlier this year.
