Vietnam regional economic and food security engagement

Vietnam is engaging in various regional and bilateral discussions focused on economic cooperation, technological advancement, and food security.

In discussions with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Vietnamese officials highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation into emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and green transition. These efforts are intended to support Vietnam’s goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2045 and to prepare for its role as the host of APEC in 2027.

At the 11th APEC Food Security Ministerial in Hangzhou, China, Vietnam proposed four strategic cooperation directions to enhance regional food system resilience. These proposals emphasize building resilient agri-food value chains and promoting digital transformation through technologies such as AI, biotechnology, and big data. The ministerial meeting also adopted principles for strengthening food systems through innovation and digitalization.

Concurrently, Vietnam is seeing significant economic engagement with China, with bilateral trade reaching $184.3 billion in the first seven months of 2026. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has met with Chinese investors to encourage high-quality, long-term investment in manufacturing, energy, and high-tech agriculture. Agricultural cooperation has also intensified, with ministers agreeing to promote trade in traditional products, open markets for new items, and pursue technical cooperation in lobster breeding to ensure sustainable fisheries and meet export standards.