Diplomacy in the new era: Party General Secretary and State President To Lam opened the 33rd Diplomatic Conference in Hanoi, urging overseas missions to turn foreign relations into tangible resources for national development and to renew research, forecasting and strategic advice for long-term security and growth. Conference agenda: Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said the week-long event will align Party guidance with new tasks, strengthen coordination across ministries and localities, and push diplomacy’s pioneering role toward 2030 and a vision to 2045. Economic diplomacy focus: Reports at the conference highlighted trade momentum toward a 1-trillion-USD goal, with FTA utilisation and certificates of origin supporting export growth. Security shift: Separate coverage from the Party’s third plenum stressed a move from reacting to threats to preventing them early, embedding security into sustainable development. Party governance push: To Lam also called for unified, accountable implementation of the plenum’s resolutions through practical action programmes. Regional ties: Vietnam deepened cooperation with the RoK on transport and trade targets, and reinforced Cambodia ties through Party and parliamentary channels. External signals: A U.S. nuclear carrier docked in Danang, while China’s Wang Yi met ASEAN counterparts in Manila amid South China Sea tensions. Business abroad: Vingroup plans global expansion as Vietnam’s home market cools, betting on EVs, AI and robotics. Humanitarian pivot: The Vietnam Red Cross Congress set a shift from emergency relief to resilience, with demands for transparency and accountability.