It seems the world is witnessing five major trends with different shades. They are: restructured world economy, fundamental transition of national strength, readjusted national strategies and re-organized international relations, re-drawn regional maps and climate and environment adversity.

There are signs showing deep and broad changes in the world economy in five aspects: first, after the global financial-economic crisis, constraints of development models in the world have been exposed hence the need to find new and more appropriate models. Second, there are fundamental changes in growth strategy. Third, under the impacts of the financial-economic and energy and food crisis, the world production structure is changing subsequently. Fourth, the global financial-economic crisis also shows the strength transition of economies. Fifth, accompanying this process is the exchange of position of currencies.

In face of these changes, countries including big powers have readjusted their development strategies as well as external relation strategies. Under the impact of power transition and strategy readjustment of countries, international relations have undergone deep, intermingled and complicated movements as follows: 1-During the “transition” period, there are complicated and unprecedented changes. 2- The rally of force will not follow clear patterns but depends on time, problem, region, level and form. 3-The general tendency has not yet departed from the orbit of “cooperation while fighting”. 4-Strategic tools will be used more comprehensively in politics, security, economy and culture and even in problem like climate change with both “hard and soft strength”. 5- The center of development and the fight over power will move to Asia-Pacific especially East Asia. 6-Under the pressure of development, demands for oil and other strategic raw material will greatly increase, leading to rising resource disputes and ocean security will become a prominent problem.

A new feature in the world map is the shift of the center of the world’s life to Asia-Pacific from Europe after staying there for decades. This rigorous upheaval in an area of geopolitical and geo-economics strategic importance like the Middle east and Northern Africa and the rising of Asia-Pacific will exert influence to the development trend of the world in the coming decades.

Given these changes, Viet Nam needs to set store by some issues. First, deep and comprehensive assessment of the world situation is needed to map out an overall strategy and to reorganize a contingent of external relation researchers under unified leadership. Second, within the framework of common strategy, Viet Nam’s position in strategies of powers should be identified to answer the question which threats are most direct and greatest. Based on an overall point of view, counter measures should be identified to safeguard national interest. For example, territorial sovereignty and integrity should be linked to peace, stability and external relations. Third, thorough study of big powers’ policies should be done. Fourth, be persistent in the policy of independence, and self-reliance for real national interest; constantly pursue the policy of multilateral and diversified relations and take advantage of support and assistance of the broad international community. Fifth, clearer policies and practical measures are to be made to make the most of the comparative edge of a country in the region which is becoming a new center of the world while proactively upholding its role to develop ASEAN as a community./.