Foreign policy of Vietnam n the first decade of the 21st century. The present situation and the perspectives for the future

As a result of the decades of reforms (doi moi) internal conditions as well as international position of Vietnam have changed diametrically. Inside the country, the basis of market-oriented economy allowed to lift Vietnamese economy out of crisis and assured its further, dynamic development. This process was supported signifi cantly by implementation of the foreign policy based on peace and multilateral cooperation. It was made possible by the fact that changes in both internal and external conditions at the turn of the 20th have created different opportunities and threats for Vietnam from those experienced at the beginning of doi moi. In response to the new challenges, Vietnamese administration revised the strategy of development, especially in the fi eld of foreign policy. The 9th Congress of CPV in April of 2001 approved the new doctrine of Vietnamese foreign policy. As the earlier doctrine, which had been in effect since 1991, it maintained all fundamental principles, such as multilateral cooperation, independence and special importance of economic relations. It was supplemented, however, by the new elements: the principles of non-intervention in domestic policy and proactive engagement in international economic integration on the regional (ASEAN) and global (WTO) levels. The document approved during the 9th Congress resolved one of signifi cant dilemmas of Vietnamese government concerning attitude towards the international processes of integration and the place and role of Vietnam in the developing structures. Positive trends in Vietnamese economy after 2001 and optimistic forecasts for the future indicate that changes implemented in foreign policy have brought good effects. International position of Vietnam has also strengthened. SRV is a member and active participant of ASEAN and WTO, the ties with China are getting closer (despite disputable issues), strategic partnerships with Russia, the United States, Japan, India and the European Union are developing