Party chief highlights resolve to develop modern diplomacy with “Vietnamese bamboo” characters

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Over the past 90 years, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam has built a unique and special diplomacy of the Ho Chi Minh era with strong “Vietnamese bamboo” characters, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said at the first National Conference on Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on December 14.

Like bamboos with strong roots, solid stems and flexible branches, Vietnamese diplomacy is soft and clever but still persistent and resolute; flexible, creative but consistent, valiant and resilient against all challenges and difficulties for the national independence and people’s happiness; united and humanitarian but resolute, persistent and patient in safeguarding the national interests, he said.

Vietnamese diplomacy is the combination of softness and powerfulness on the foundation of understanding itself and others as well as the situation, the Party leader said.

Party General Secretary Trong suggested that the diplomatic sector should reform its mindset and seek suitable solutions in external affairs.

“Without continued renovation and properly grasping the situation, we cannot catch up with the development of the reality. We need to build a new stature and position in behaving and dealing with relations with other countries both bilaterally and multilaterally," he stressed.

The Party chief underlined the need to show stronger voice and more positive stance in foreign affairs, while continue to popularise and properly implement the external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralisation, diversification of relations, active and positive international integration for the interest of the country and nation, while combining cooperation and combat, strengthening collaboration and continuing to create the advantages compared to other countries, thus preventing conflicts and avoiding confrontation as well as isolation and dependence.

The General Secretary said the world is changing rapidly and although facing difficulties, Vietnam still has a bright future.

The whole Party, people and army have been united with high determination to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, he said, underlining that the conference marked a new milestone of the diplomatic sector and made a new and stronger change towards higher efficiency of external affairs, thus successfully realising the external policy adopted at the Congress.

The National Conference on Foreign Affairs is the first held and directly steered by the Politburo and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat to discuss the Party, State and people diplomacy. It aims to implement the 13th National Party Congress’ Resolution regarding foreign relations.

Diplomacy pillars highlighted at national conference on foreign affairs

Le Hoai Trung, Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, said the 13th National Party Congress set forth the guidelines for external affairs, aiming to build a comprehensive and modern diplomacy based on the three above-said pillars. (Photo: VNA)

Le Hoai Trung, Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, said the 13th National Party Congress set forth the guidelines for external affairs, aiming to build a comprehensive and modern diplomacy based on the three above-said pillars.

As an advisory body of the Party Central Committee in foreign affairs, the Commission for External Relations, under the leadership of the Politburo and the Secretariat, will seriously follow the guidelines and viewpoints of the Party, carry forward achievements and make greater efforts in realising the guidelines adopted at the 13th National Party Congress, he said.

In Party diplomacy, it is necessary to pay attention to and improve the quality of research and strategic consultancy, while keeping a close watch on the world situation and political trends, according to the official.

Party diplomacy should be a pillar in putting forth master strategies for relations with neighbours and other countries, he said, adding that Party diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy would promote mutual understanding and international support for national reform, construction and defence.

Speaking at the conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attributed the achievements recorded by the diplomatic sector to the absolute and comprehensive leadership of the Party, the centralised and unified management of the State, as well as the consensus between the Party, people and the army.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attributed the achievements recorded by the diplomatic sector to the absolute and comprehensive leadership of the Party. (Photo: VNA)

He emphasised close links between political, economic and cultural diplomacy, information for foreign service, overseas Vietnamese affairs and citizen protection, saying the diplomatic sector has worked to utilise good political ties, favourable factors and international commitments to mobilise resources for national growth.

The sector has also accelerated the building and consolidation of relevant institutions, policies and laws, and stepped up modernination and digital transformation in the work, Son said.

The core task lies in personnel development, he said, stressing that diplomats must have a good background in politics, ideology, morality, knowledge and working style.

In her remarks, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga said people-to-people diplomacy has reaped great achievements and made significant contributions in different periods of the Vietnamese revolution.

People-to-people diplomacy, together with Party diplomacy and State diplomacy, has boosted the normalisation of relations with major partners and mobilised the support of international friends for the settlement of war consequences and national reconstruction.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA)

To enhance the role of people-to-people diplomacy, Nga suggested raising awareness in the entire political system about the significance of people-to-people diplomacy, strongly reforming operations across spheres, and completing mechanisms and policies to ensure financial and human resources for people-to-people diplomacy.

She proposed the Party Central Committee's Secretariat soon issue a new directive on people-to-people diplomacy to replace Directive No. 04 dated July 6, 2011 to match its new role and task.

Nat’l foreign affairs conference stresses need to safeguard Fatherland early, from afar

After 35 years of Doi Moi (Renewal), under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnam has achieved great achievements of historical significance, which have been importantly contributed by the successful implementation of the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, including defence diplomacy and international cooperation activities in security and order of the People's Public Security force.

The statement was made by delegates at the National Conference on Foreign Affairs implementing the 13th National Party Congress’s Resolution on December 14.

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien said that over the past years, the defence diplomacy work has been carried out synchronously, comprehensively, flexibly and effectively in both bilateral and multilateral aspects.

Vietnam has to date established defence ties with more than 100 countries around the world, with many substantial and effective cooperation mechanisms such as training and exchange of military delegations, cooperation between armed forces, defence industry, United Nations peacekeeping, among others. These activities have contributed to firmly safeguarding the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation, and consolidating and enhancing the position and prestige of the country and the Vietnamese people's army in the international arena.

In the time to come, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence will continue to concretise and organise the implementation of defence diplomatic activities in accordance with the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, considering defence diplomacy as a key task and an important part of the three pillars of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy.

It is important to implement the stance of defending the Fatherland early and from afar in peacetime, making efforts to prevent conflicts, settle disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, thus contributing to building a peaceful environment, and strengthening strategic trust with partners for nation development, Chien stated.

Efforts will be made to promote multilateral defence diplomacy, make effective proposals; participate in regional and international security architectures, especially defence cooperative mechanisms with the framework of ASEAN, and actively join UN peacekeeping operations, he added.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieut. Gen. Luong Tam Quang highlighted ensuring security and order in the scope and territory of the national border and, in non-traditional security issues and international issues for which many countries and international organisations are responsible, as well as the role and tasks of the police force in performing the external affairs of the Party, State and people.

To successfully implement the foreign policy set out by the 13th National Party Congress, the police force will continue expanding collaboration with law enforcement agencies of other countries and international organisations, and actively participating in political and security institutions and in addressing global security and order issues.

Quang stressed the close combination between diplomacy and other professional measures to proactively prevent and defeat all plots and sabotages by hostile forces. He also highlighted the need to firmly consolidate the security line from afar, from beyond borders and territories, effectively handle security challenges, and fight transnational crimes.

Changes in mindset in foreign relations needed to promote economic development: Minister

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien proposed a number of measures to promote external relations to adapt to the new situation and boost post-pandemic economic development at the National Conference on Foreign Affairs on December 14.

Underlining the need to continue strengthening economic diplomacy to ensure the highest national interest in the new situation, Dien held that it is necessary to institutionalise the Party’s stance and policy on external economic activities to suit international commitments and practices, while promptly building a new strategy on international economic integration through joining free trade agreements, especially new generation FTAs and effectively implementing existing ones.

Alongside, it is necessary to focus on developing fundamental industrial sectors and form strong industrial firms with close links with the global supply chains, together with the development of breakthrough sectors to match international trends, he said.

The official stressed the need to pay more attention to the role of businesses as the centre of external economic activities by focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles facing them, supporting them in international integration, and speeding up administrative reform to facilitate investment, business as well as import-export activities, and assiting enterprises in expanding operations abroad.

He said that it is crucial to concentrate on building an economy of independence and self-reliance on the basis of multilateralisation and diversification of external economic relations to avoid dependence on a particular market or partner. Together with ensuring harmony in interest, he noted promoting cooperation in shaping common regulations in international labour division to improve the position of Vietnam in the regional and global value, production and supply chains.

The minister also underlined the necessity to improve the capacity of agencies and officials engaging in foreign economic activities as well as the business community in issues related to foreign economic strategy, trade protectionism and risks of supply chain crackdown, along with the development of high-quality human resources.

At the conference, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai held that vaccine diplomacy is an evidence of the adaptive and creative diplomatic sector of Vietnam amid the COVID-19. He noted that thanks to the flexible foreign relations activities during the outbreak, the city has received great support from partners around the world in fighting the pandemic and maintaining economic development./.

Local diplomacy contributes to international integration

At the National Conference on Foreign Affairs on December 14, leaders of Ha Noi and Da Nang city affirmed that local diplomacy has made positive contributions to the country’s foreign affairs and international integration, thus helping raise Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena.

Delivering a speech themed “Hanoi’s implementation of the 13th National Party Congress’s foreign policies: opportunities, challenges and tasks”, Standing Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen said that the Party congress had set forth the task for the capital city to expand and improve the efficiency of foreign affairs, international integration and development cooperation to improve its position.

To realise this guideline, the city will promote external relations in all fields, ranging from politics, economics, culture to urban development, and through Party, governmental and people-to-people diplomatic channels, she said.

Hanoi will continue consolidating and expanding its friendship and cooperation with capitals and localities of other countries, while participating more actively in international urban mechanisms and forums, stepping up economic diplomacy to serve sustainable development, and attracting resources from outside to improve the capital’s building and development.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Da Nang city’s Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang said that in the time ahead, the central city will focus on enhancing Party diplomacy and studying new policies on external affairs based on the world situation, and orientations and instructions of the Party.

Attention will be paid to effectively implementing bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes, particularly the implementation of the city’s international agreements with other localities and international organisations in trade, investment, tourism, start-ups, and human resources training, so as to better post-pandemic economic recovery, Quang stressed.

Da Nang will maintain close coordination with ministries and sectors to carry out suitable solutions to ensure security and sovereignty over sea and islands, and develop sea-based economy, he added./.

Foreign friends impressed by Vietnam’s diplomatic achievements

Foreign friends have expressed their impression on Vietnam’s achievements, especially those in external affairs, over the past 35 years of renewal process.

Jakarta Post’s senior journalist Veeramalla Anjaiah, who is also a senior researcher from the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) in Indonesia, said with its practical and flexible foreign policy, Vietnam restored diplomatic ties with China in 1991, normalised ties with the US in 1995, joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 1998, the World Trade Organisation in 2007 and successfully integrated into the global economy.

He stressed that Vietnam is striving to become a friend, a trustworthy partner, an active and responsible member of the international community. The country has so far formed diplomatic ties with 189 out of 193 member states of the United Nations, including 30 strategic and comprehensive partners. In 2019, Vietnam was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020-2021 tenure with 192 out of 193 approval votes.

According to him, they are great successes of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector.

Sharing the same view, Secretary General of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association Jean-Pierre Archambault said Vietnam has exerted efforts to fully integrate into the international community, with its success in the election of UNSC non-permanent member as the most solid evidence. The result has proved Vietnam’s new position and the international community’s trust in its foreign policy.

Assoc. Prof of International Business Faisai Ahmed from the FORE School of Management in New Delhi said Vietnam has made remarkable strides following the renewal process, contributing to improving its international trade position, global competitiveness and role in the world economic governance.

Professor of contemporary history Pierre Journoud from France’s Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University spoke highly of Vietnam’s policy on door-opening and global integration as well as mulilateralisation and diversification of ties in foreign policy.

Highlighting Vietnam’s increasingly important role in the region, especially in ASEAN, and international arena, he said Vietnam’s commitments at the United Nations and peacekeeping activities in Africa are enriching its experience and consolidating its prestige in the world.

Source: VNA

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