Vietnam News Today (Dec. 11): Russia, Vietnam Affirm Defense Ties as Pillar of Strategic Partnership
	Vietnam News Today (Dec. 12): Vietnam, Japan Eye Stronger Naval Cooperation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) holds phone talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim on December 12, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister holds phone talks with Malaysian counterpart

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh talked over the phone with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim on December 12 to discuss the two countries' relations, and some regional and international issues emerging recently.

The Vietnamese Government leader welcomed his call with PM Anwar Ibrahim following their meeting at the G20 Summit last month. He praised their regular phone talks that have fostered timely coordination and information sharing in issues of common concern, reflecting the growing political trust between the two countries, including between high-ranking leaders, in line with the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Discussing future cooperation orientations, the two leaders noted with satisfaction the positive progress in the Vietnam – Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership over the recent past. They agreed to soon formally adopt the 2026–2030 action plan for implementing the partnership to set specific directions for each pillar and raise bilateral trade to 20 billion USD in a more balanced manner, cited VNA.

The Vietnamese leader suggested the two sides further strengthen cooperation in rice trading, along with maritime and ocean affairs, with priority given to oil and gas collaboration between the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam) and Malaysia’s Petronas group, as well as cooperation in joint fishing and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Mentioning regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides expressed deep concern over the recent tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, urging restraint, no use of force, dialogue, and peaceful resolution.

They agreed to closely coordinate with other ASEAN countries to strengthen solidarity, uphold the bloc’s central role, and leverage ASEAN-led mechanisms to promote dialogue, thus contributing to peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

Vietnam, Austria seek to foster cooperation in high-quality workforce development

The Vietnam-Austria forum on skilled labor and vocational training has been organised in Krems city, opening up opportunities for the two countries to boost cooperation in high-quality human resources development.

The December 10 event was held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Austria, in collaboration with IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), and the Austrian Business Agency (ABA), drawing 170 delegates in person and 150 delegates online, including representatives of 30 companies and vocational schools from Vietnam.

It consisted of three sessions, covering updates on the labor policies and legal environment of both countries, opportunities and challenges for cooperation in fields such as healthcare-nursing, tourism and hotel-restaurant management, information technology, and other industries, according to VNA.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang speaks at the Vietnam-Austria forum on skilled labour and vocational training (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang highlighted the strong interest of government agencies, associations and training institutions, noting significant potential for expanding the skilled labor market between the two countries.

Lower Austria’s Provincial Councillor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister described the forum as timely, pointing to IMC Krems longstanding cooperation with Vietnam, including full scholarships for 150 Vietnamese nursing trainees.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang underlined the country’s demographic advantage, with 68% of its population of working age and an annual labor force increase of around one million. With more than 860,000 Vietnamese working in over 40 overseas markets, he stressed that labor mobility serves both socio-economic development and a broader human resources diplomacy agenda. Austria, facing labor shortages linked to population ageing, is increasingly interested in Vietnam’s young and diligent workforce. The two economies can complement each other as Australia needs highly skilled labor to compensate for the shortage caused by an aging population, while Vietnam boasts a young, intelligent, hardworking, and eager-to-learn workforce.

Acting Director of the ministry’s Department of Overseas Labor Management Vu Truong Giang stressed that although no formal agreement exists yet, 55 Vietnamese workers are already employed in Austria under pilot schemes, earning stable incomes and receiving good welfares.

Both sides agreed to accelerate negotiations towards a bilateral labor agreement, establishing a stable legal framework for future cooperation and reinforcing labor collaboration as a pillar of bilateral relations.

Russia-Vietnam forum marks 75 years of cooperation

A three-day scientific and educational forum titled “Russia-Vietnam: 75 Years of Cooperation” took place from December 11-13, marking the opening of the Russia-Vietnam Year of Science and Education Cooperation in 2026.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha delivered remarks via video message.

Those in attendance at the event included Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Co-Chair of the Russia–Vietnam Inter-governmental Committee for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation; First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Andrei Yatskin; Russian Deputy Minister of Education and Science Konstantin Mogilevsky; Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi; First Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) Tran Hong Thai; and Plekhanov University Rector Ivan Lobanov. The event also drew a large number of leaders from ministries, agencies and higher-education institutions of both countries.

Welcoming participating scholars, Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and that President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has emphasized the development of a special relationship between the two nations over the decades.

Russia was honored to welcome Party General Secretary To Lam on his official visit in May, during which he attended events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War.

Chernyshenko added that hosting the “Russia-Vietnam: 75 Years of Cooperation” forum at Plekhanov University where more than 1,000 international students are enrolled, including 263 from Vietnam with strong academic performance, is particularly meaningful.

For his part, Federation Council First Deputy Chairman Andrei Yatskin said his recent visit to Vietnam gave him a clear sense of the country’s reform momentum and achievements. Vietnamese people, he noted, have strong confidence in major higher-education projects the two countries plan to complete in 2026.

In his recorded message to the forum, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha recalled his years of study in Russia. He described human-resource training in the former Soviet Union as a strategic and invaluable contribution to Vietnam’s development, a gift akin to handing Vietnam a “golden key” to knowledge. Generations of Vietnamese scientists, leaders and managers who trained in the Soviet Union and today’s Russia have become an invaluable asset- a “red thread” connecting the two peoples.

Building on this history, the two sides aim for a trusted, enduring and effective partnership in the digital era and the knowledge-based economy, working together toward a prosperous future for each nation and broader progress for humanity. Tran Hong Ha added that beyond their traditional strengths in fundamental science, the two countries can broaden cooperation into strategic technologies, reported VOV.

Russian experts provide technical support at a Vietsovpetro drilling platform (Photo: tapchicongsan.org.vn)

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi stressed that cooperation in science and education has long served, and will continue to serve as a solid bridge between the two nations, dating back to the early years of diplomatic ties when President Ho Chi Minh sent the first group of Vietnamese officials to study in the Soviet Union.

The forum’s opening-day agenda included a plenary session on strategic partnership, a signing ceremony for a maritime-research roadmap, and thematic discussions on hydrology, ecology, biomedicine and pharmacology.

Speaking to the press in Russia, Professor Tran Hong Thai, First Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, highlighted science and technology as a long-term cooperation area.

Over the past 75 years, cooperation between Vietnam, the former Soviet Union and today’s Russia has built a solid foundation enabling Vietnam to absorb Russian technology as well as technologies from other countries. With 2026 designated as a year of focus on science and training, he said the period opens a new phase for long-term cooperation.

Looking ahead, he said cooperation can expand from fundamental sciences into other essential fields for Vietnam, including nuclear energy, high-speed rail technology, heat-resistant materials and ecological technologies.

On the same day, Professor Tran Hong Thai and Yuri Kulchin, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, signed a cooperation agreement between the two academies.

Regarding financing, a crucial dimension of cooperation, Ngo Si Quoc, Deputy Executive Director of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), said the foundation has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) on joint selection and funding of advanced research projects in natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and the humanities.

Under the MoU RSF will fund Russian research teams with 4-7 million rubles per year depending on project scale, while NAFOSTED will support Vietnamese research teams with up to VND10 billion over a three-year cycle, with the possibility of higher funding for projects of exceptional academic value or strong application potential. These commitments, he added, reflect both sides’ confidence in effective cooperation in the field.

Across the three-day forum, multiple sessions also covered social and humanitarian cooperation, inter-university partnerships and cultural dialogue.

Chinese market seen as a springboard for Vietnamese goods to reposition quality

China is the biggest consumer of Vietnam’s exports as well as a springboard for Vietnamese businesses to reposition their product quality, enhance value and expand product lines.

For 21 consecutive years, China has remained Vietnam’s largest trading partner. Conversely, Vietnam is China’s fourth-largest trading partner globally and its biggest within ASEAN.

Data from Vietnam Customs shows that during the ten-month period of 2025, China imported more than US$8.7 billion worth of Vietnamese farm produce. As Chinese demand grows for high-quality, fresh goods, the market still offers ample space for Vietnamese exporters. Chinese consumers are steadily shifting toward fresh, clean and traceable agricultural products, a trend in line with Vietnam’s key exporters such as tropical fruits, seafood and processed goods.

With more than 30,000 hectares of farmland under effective cultivation, Nguyen Tuan Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee, said the province has abundant raw materials for processing industries including coffee, durian, pepper and passion fruit, which are being upgraded in quality, traceability and planting-area codes to meet export requirements.

“Gia Lai has planned new industrial parks linked with material zones to form closed production chains. The province is calling on Chinese enterprises to co-develop raw-material areas, build supply chains and transfer technology,” Thanh said.

As Vietnam’s international integration deepens, China is one of its largest and most important export destinations, especially for agricultural products, seafood, foodstuffs, wood products and consumer goods.

According to Do Thi Minh Tram, Deputy Director General of the Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Chinese partners are setting increasingly strict demands regarding quality, traceability, packaging, preservation and distribution, posing challenges for businesses, cooperatives and farming households.

Experts note that the Chinese market is not only the biggest outlet for Vietnamese goods but also a platform for Vietnam to reposition quality, boost value and diversify products. China continues to be a priority market with strong growth across many Vietnamese product categories, VOV reported.

The Chinese market still offers ample room for Vietnamese goods to broaden their reach.

Building on this foundation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is urged to craft a comprehensive strategy for sustainable export expansion.

Nong Duc Lai, Vietnam’s Trade Counselor in China, said that to maximize market potential in the new period, Vietnam needs a set of both urgent and long-term solutions. China is accelerating the enforcement of strict rules on food safety, processor registration and traceability, such as Order No. 280.

“If Vietnamese exporters fail to stay one step ahead, shipments could be halted immediately. It is essential to standardize the entire production chain under GAP and HACCP; apply planting-area and farming-area codes; build a digital database for agricultural traceability; and invest in on-site residue and quality control. At the same time, diversify products and increase deep processing. Diversification not only improves profit margins but also helps businesses avoid seasonal or policy-driven disruptions,” Lai said.

He also urged businesses to expand cross-border e-commerce channels. Calling it a “new goldmine,” he said Vietnamese firms should partner with major Chinese distributors to open official stores on reputable e-commerce platforms. Packaging, visuals and labeling should be tailored to Chinese consumer preferences. Aside from being a sales channel, e-commerce functions as a marketing tool that helps Vietnamese goods establish a firm presence in China’s domestic market.

“Enterprises should make full use of trade promotion events and develop specialized logistics for agricultural and aquatic products. To compete with domestic Chinese goods, Vietnam needs cold-storage systems at border areas; professional logistics centers in Lang Son, Quang Ninh and Lao Cai; and fast, cold-chain, official-route transport services. Lower logistics costs can become an invisible advantage for Vietnamese goods to expand market share,” Lai added.

The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade has carried out a wide range of measures to help domestic businesses tap the Chinese market more effectively, including sending delegations to major fairs in Kunming, Nanning and Shanghai; developing a “Vietnam National Pavilion” on Alibaba; organizing direct business-matching events in Vietnam with Chinese enterprises; and compiling official-export guidelines.

Leveraging product strengths, geographic advantages and policy conditions will help Vietnamese exporters enhance competitiveness, widen market access and contribute to economic growth targets in the new phase.

According to Vietnam Customs, bilateral trade between Vietnam and China continues to improve and is on track to hit a new record in 2025. During the past ten months alone, the figure reached US$207.8 billion, surpassing the US$202.2 billion recorded for the whole of 2024.

ADB lifts Vietnam’s growth forecast to 7.4 percent in 2025

In its latest Asian Development Outlook, ADB upgrades growth forecast for developing economies in Asia and the Pacific by 0.3 percentage points to 5.1 percent.

The regional upgrade comes as exports outperform expectations and trade uncertainty eases following the conclusion of several trade agreements with the U.S.

The ADB report highlights that robust exports—especially of semiconductors and other technology products—together with cooling inflation and stable financial conditions, have strengthened the region's overall growth prospects.

Developing Asia is now expected to expand 5.1 percent in 2025, higher than the 4.8 percent projected in September, while the 2026 outlook has been nudged up to 4.6 percent, cited VGP.

The Asian Development Bank has raised Vietnam's growth forecast to 7.4% in 2025.

"Asia and the Pacific's solid economic fundamentals are underpinning robust export performance and steady growth, despite a global trade environment clouded by historic levels of uncertainty over the past year," said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park.

He noted that although new trade agreements have helped ease some uncertainty, "external and other challenges could still weigh on the outlook." The chief economist called on governments across the region to continue fostering open trade and investment to sustain growth momentum.

ADB cautioned that risks to the region include renewed trade tensions, financial market volatility, geopolitical strains, and the possibility of a deeper-than-expected downturn in China's property sector.

HSBC recently upgraded Vietnam’s 2025 and 2026 growth forecast to 7.9 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively, the highest in ASEAN. UOB raised Vietnam's growth forecast to 7.7 percent in 2025, while Standard Chartered predicted that the Vietnamese GDP growth would accelerate to 7.5 percent in 2025 and 7.2 percent in 2026.

Vietnam News Today (Dec. 9): Vietnam-US Trade Forum 2025 to Mark 30 Years of Economic Ties Vietnam News Today (Dec. 9): Vietnamese, Cambodian PMs hold talks, highlight importance of peaceful border; Vietnam-US Trade Forum 2025 to mark 30 years of economic ...

Vietnam News Today (Dec. 10): Vietnam, Russia Promote Law Enforcement Cooperation Vietnam News Today (Dec. 10): Vietnam, Russia promote law enforcement cooperation; Vietnam, RoK strengthen cooperation on trade remedies; Vietnam experiences steady growth in global supply ...