The US News & World Report newswire has released a list of the world’s most powerful countries in 2021, with Vietnam being placed at the 25th position in the power rankings.
The top 10 most powerful countries in the list include the United States, China, Russia, Germany, the UK, Japan, France, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Related: Vietnam ranks among the best countries to start a business. Here’s why
The rankings are based on a range of criteria, such as as leadership, economically influential, politically influential, strong international alliances, and possessing a strong military.
Overall, Vietnam ranks 25th in terms of the global power rankings, 10th in Asia, and second in Southeast Asia after Singapore.
According to the US News and World, despite Vietnamese economic influence not being particularly high, the Southeast Asian nation boasts strengths in its export activities.
Curving along the eastern edge of the Indochina Peninsula, Vietnam shares long stretches of its borders with Cambodia, Laos and the South China Sea. Occupied by the French until 1954, a communist state emerged in 1975 after the People’s Army of the north and Viet Cong guerilla fighters defeated the anti-communist south. The bitter war garnered international attention and participation, especially from the United States, at a critical juncture in the Cold War era in which communism was gaining ground on the global stage.
“Doi moi” economic policy reforms beginning in 1986 have helped Vietnam transition to a more modern, competitive nation. State-owned enterprises and agriculture, which once monopolized the economy, are losing prominence as the nation works to achieve sustainable development through more open trade and industry, including food processing, garment manufacturing, machine-building and mining. The United States is now the nation’s most prominent trade partner, a position reinforced by former President Obama’s visit to the country in 2016, following by Donal Trump and recently was the Vice President Kamala D. Harris.
Vietnam is densely populated and growing quickly, with about a third of the population living in bustling cities. Ho Chi Minh City is the most populous city in the country. War ravaged much of Vietnam’s landscape, but fantastic caves, imperial landmarks and emerald island coves remain.
Related
Source: Vietnam Insider