VietNamNet Bridge – Senior consultants, overseas ambassadors and foreign-affairs officials gathered in Ha Noi yesterday, Dec 12, for the first meeting of the week-long 27th diplomatic conference.

Addressing the opening ceremony yesterday, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong urged diplomatic staff to promote the country’s traditional diplomacy and embrace the ideology of late President Ho Chi Minh.

“In the context that the country has entered a new phase of development with both advantages and challenges, in order to create a peaceful and stable environment for the country, the diplomatic sector should focus on peace, co-operation, development, diversification and multilateral international relations,” he said.

The Party leader also asked diplomatic staff to thoroughly examine weaknesses and problems their departments had encountered, and make recommendations to the Party and the State.

This year’s theme is “Positively and proactively integrating into the world, synchronously implementing the foreign affairs activities and resolutions of the 11th Party Congress.”

The conference will assess the impact of regional and international situations on national security and development. Attendees will also examine the diplomatic service’s achievements and weaknesses in foreign policy since the 26th diplomatic conference.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh said: “The diplomatic sector is fully aware of its responsibility to contribute to the keeping of peace and stability, while taking advantage of outside sources to serve the country’s social and economic development, in addition to heightening the country’s position in the international arena.”

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. The 16th meeting of national foreign affairs officials will also take place.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News