Vietnam posts 8% GDP growth in 2025 despite Trump tariffsーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• Vietnam GDP Growth: 8% (estimated 2025), second highest in 15 years.
• US-Vietnam Tariffs: Initial 40% levies by the US, finalized at 20% through a deal.
• China-Pakistan Relations: Strengthening ties, upgraded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
• Mahathir Mohamad: Hospitalized with a hip fracture, former Malaysian Prime Minister.
• CPEC: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a Belt and Road Initiative project.

Vietnam’s Economic Performance

Vietnam’s economy demonstrated significant resilience and growth in 2025, achieving an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase of 8%. This figure, reported by Vietnam’s National Statistics Office on Monday, represents the second-highest annual growth rate the country has experienced in the last 15 years. The projected GDP for 2025 is 514 billion US dollars, a rise of 38 billion US dollars compared to the 2024 figures. This growth was attributed to strong performance across key sectors including services, industry, and construction.

Despite the imposition of tariffs by the US administration under President Donald Trump – initially announced at over 40% in April – Vietnamese exports to the US remained robust. A deal finalized in July between Vietnam and Washington resulted in a 20% tariff rate. The Vietnamese government has expressed optimism for continued economic expansion, aiming for a growth rate of at least 10% in 2026.

Strengthening China-Pakistan Ties

China and Pakistan are actively deepening their bilateral relationship, marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. A meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Ishakda in Beijing on Sunday resulted in a joint statement highlighting the “ironclad friendship and strategic mutual trust” between the two nations.

A key component of this strengthened partnership is the planned upgrade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). CPEC is a significant project under China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government. The joint statement also affirmed China’s support for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts, with both countries calling for increased efforts to eliminate terrorist organizations operating within Afghanistan.

Mahathir Mohamad’s Hospitalization

Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, aged 100, was hospitalized on Tuesday after suffering a fall at his residence. According to an aide, Mahathir fell while moving between a balcony and a room. He was admitted to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, where a right hip fracture was diagnosed. He is expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks.

Mahathir served as Prime Minister for a total of 24 years, overseeing a period of substantial economic development in Malaysia. He previously underwent heart surgery in 2022 and has experienced multiple hospitalizations in recent years.

Reporting Location & Sign-off

The news bulletin was reported by Chola Pansan ruler, broadcasting from Bangkok.

Technical Terms:

• GDP (Gross Domestic Product): The total monetary or market value of all final goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period.
• Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): A global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving investments in over 150 countries and international organizations.
• CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor): A collection of infrastructure projects currently under construction throughout Pakistan, and is a major part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
• Tariffs: A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.