International media and scholars both domestically and abroad highly appreciated the working trip to three ASEAN countries from May 27 to June 1 by General Secretary and President To Lam: an official visit to Thailand, state visits to Singapore and the Philippines, and a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

In an interview with the press, Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau, Director of the Institute of Politics and International Relations, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, stated that the trip demonstrated the strategic stature of a proactive and constructive diplomacy.

According to Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau, the trip to three ASEAN countries by General Secretary and President To Lam took place in a special geopolitical context, as the post-Cold War world order was entering a phase of fundamental restructuring. More than just a series of bilateral meetings, this visit demonstrated the strategic stature of proactive and constructive diplomacy , reflecting a shift from an adaptive mindset to one that shapes the strategic environment.

"The message of peace was conveyed convincingly in the keynote address by the General Secretary and President at the Shangri-La Dialogue."

The statement attracted significant attention and received very positive feedback from public opinion both within and outside the region; it strongly demonstrated Viet Nam's role as a responsible member and a reputable voice in issues of peace, security, and development in the region and globally.

Another notable outcome of the visit was the significant strengthening of political trust between Viet Nam and the three countries. We qualitatively promoted the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Thailand, elevated strategic cooperation with Singapore through the Strategic Dialogue mechanism between the two ruling parties, and upgraded the framework of relations with the Philippines to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.”

Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau commented: The visit takes place when the world is facing three structural crises that the General Secretary and President have pointed out: the crisis of international order, the crisis of development models, and the crisis of strategic trust. These three crises are not separate phenomena but are cause-and-effect relationships, creating a negative spiral that threatens global peace and development. The crisis of international order stems from the erosion of the multilateral system and international law in the face of unilateralism and new protectionism; the crisis of development models reflects the deadlock of unsustainable and inclusive growth models; and the crisis of strategic trust among nations is paralyzing mechanisms for international dialogue and cooperation.

“In that context, the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam is not only reactive but also constructive. This is an expression of a new diplomatic philosophy; instead of passively waiting for a stable strategic environment before acting, Viet Nam proactively participates in shaping that environment by strengthening the pillars of stability in the region. ASEAN, with Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines, are precisely those pillars,” shared Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau.

Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau stated that General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized the necessity of "building an open and inclusive regional structure centered on ASEAN." Openness means that the regional structure facilitates constructive participation from all stakeholders. Inclusiveness means that this structure should reflect the interests of all countries in the region, not just a few or a specific group of countries. Viet Nam's perspective reflects the philosophy of regional multilateralism, in which small and medium-sized countries are not merely passive actors, but can also become dynamic architects participating in shaping the regional order. Viet Nam is practicing a form of structural soft power – not power to impose its will, but power to shape mechanisms, establish norms, and create frameworks for cooperation.

Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau highly appreciated the working visit of General Secretary and President To Lam, noting that it not only strengthened bilateral relations between Viet Nam and each ASEAN country, but also contributed to consolidating the collective strength and central role of ASEAN in the regional security architecture. This is a harmonious combination of national interests and regional responsibilities, between an independent and self-reliant foreign policy and the spirit of multilateral cooperation.

Speaking with a Viet Nam News Agency (VNA) reporter in Beijing, Professor Xu Liping, Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Institute for Global and Asia-Pacific Strategic Studies (CASS) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, affirmed that the keynote speech at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue demonstrated the strategic vision and sagacity of General Secretary and President To Lam.

According to Professor Xu Liping, the world today is facing increasing instability and chaos; the rise of unilateralism, hegemony, etc., has posed unprecedented challenges to global governance.

General Secretary and President To Lam has sided with the righteous path of history, clearly identifying three major crises facing global governance and proposing constructive solutions from Viet Nam.

This has enormous practical implications for building a fairer and more equitable international political and economic order.

Source: Vietnam.vn

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