Vietnam maintains three tiers of diplomatic relationship with other countries: Comprehensive partnerships, strategic partnerships, and comprehensive strategic partnerships ( CSP). The highest level is a CSP.
A complete partnership may indicate a general desire to cooperate on a wide range of issues, according to a Voice of America article from August 2024 about diplomatic relations. Strategic partnerships may have a narrower, more in-depth focus on specific areas like trade, energy, or counterterrorism.
” A complete proper agreement, then, implies both broad-based participation and a commitment to specific mutual pursuits”, the post said.
In March this year, Vietnam signed a CSP with Australia, with both places pledging to strengthen social, military security and fairness assistance. In a joint speech, the countries promised to strengthen economic relationship and improve climate cooperation.
The states also expressed issues on the position in the South China Sea and reaffirmed their commitment to tranquility, security, security, freedom of navigation and overflight, and unobstructed lawful business.
They also agreed to abide by international law, political procedures, and quiet means of resolution of disputes, including those in the South China Sea.
Therefore in October, Vietnam established a CSP with France, making it the first European Union country to be accorded the highest degree of agreement.
However, it is important to point out that each country has their own unique criteria for how for political relationships are defined.
For example, some nations and groups may use the same words without actually implying a hierarchy.
In October 2021, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) accorded CSP status to China and Australia, saying that the new partnerships should be “meaningful, substantive, and mutually beneficial”.
Prior to the CSP, ASEAN insisted that the new name does not imply a hierarchy of rank, despite the consensus that a proper relationship was the highest level of engagement between ASEAN and a speech partner.
In a February 2023 Fulcrum site article, Ms. Joanne Lin, director of the ASEAN Studies Center at the ISEAS- Yusof Ishak Institute, stated that” ASEAN was clear that the new desired relationship name is a recognition of the depth and breadth of the dialogue relations rather than an upgrade.”
” As a new nomenclature, it makes little sense that the CSP does not denote an elevation of partnership. Without status differentiation, one might wonder what value it can add to a conversation partner.
VIETNAM’S CSPS
- China ( 2008 )
- Russia ( 2012 )
- India ( 2016 )
- South Korea ( 2022 )
- The United States ( September 2023 )
- Japan ( November 2023 )
- Australia ( March 2024 )
- France ( October 2024 )
- Malaysia ( November 2024 )