VietNamNet Bridge – Senior diplomatic think-tankers, overseas ambassadors and foreign-affairs officials gathered in Ha Noi today, Dec 12, for the first meeting of a week-long 27th diplomatic conference to discuss the best use of foreign affairs in the country's development.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh said that the conference is important as the first one to implement the resolutions of the latest social and economic development strategies of the 11th Party Congress.

Themed "Positively and proactively integrating into the world, synchronously implementing the foreign affairs activities and resolutions of the 11th Party Congress", the meetings will assess the impact of regional and international situations on national security and development. They will also examine the diplomatic service’s achievements and weaknesses in foreign policy since the last 26th diplomatic conference. These lessons and experiences will serve as the basis for future proposals and policies.

"In the past, the foreign policies on peace, co-operation, development, diversification and multilateral international relations in Viet Nam achieved many results and contributed to a stable environment and favourable conditions for the construction and defence of the country," Minh said.

"Foreign affairs of the past have succeeded in all four key tasks of political, economic and cultural diplomacy, as well as projects for overseas Vietnamese," he said.

He stressed that diplomats will concentrate on promoting political, economic and cultural diplomacy, mobilising overseas Vietnamese, and protecting Vietnamese nationals.

Alongside the diplomatic conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to hold a joint-meeting on international integration and new economic tasks in the new period. The 16th meeting of the national foreign affairs officials will also be held.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News