Attending the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, and representatives of the family of diplomat Nguyen Co Thach.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung at the signing ceremony for the special issue of stamps, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and many other delegates.

"This is the first set of postage stamps about a diplomat in Vietnam," said Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Anh Tuan.

The stamps were designed by painter Nguyen Du of the Vietnam Post Corporation.

Recently, many events and activities to celebrate the 100th birthday of diplomat Nguyen Co Thach have been organized, such as offering incense, making films, and publishing photo books, established the Nguyen Co Thach Foundation at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

Nguyen Co Thach was born in 1921 into a family with revolutionary tradition in Lien Minh commune, Vu Ban district, the northern province of Nam Dinh. During his engagement in revolutionary struggle, he drew rich experience and took initiatives to overcome challenges. He held important positions such as a member of the Politburo, Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Foreign Minister, leaving a profound imprint on the Vietnamese diplomatic sector in modern time.

Not trained as a diplomat, Thach was appointed as Vietnamese Consul General in India for the first time in 1956. He then was considered an “outsider” and had to communicate via an interpreter. But he quickly learnt to speak and write English fluently. By 1973, he had already become known among international diplomats after demonstrating excellent negotiating skills during rounds of negotiations on the Paris Agreement ending the Vietnam War.

Following national reunification, the period from 1979-1991 was one of the most challenging for the Vietnamese diplomacy when the country was under embargo. With a strategic vision, Thach made outstanding contributions via advice to the Party and State about measures to break the embargo, and outline a new diplomatic strategy and economic policies in service of national reform.

Throughout six decades of active revolutionary activities, in any position, Thach has always demonstrated the spirit of a loyal communist soldier who worked for national benefits and successfully fulfilled assigned tasks. He has left fine impressions on Vietnamese comrades, families and international friends. In daily life, he was a simple and humane person with deep affection for the family and homeland.

The stamp painting designed by the Vietnam Post.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh signs the stamp painting.

The cover of the stamp set.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung signs the stamp painting.

Mr. Pham Kien Thiet, representative of the family of Diplomat Nguyen Co Thach.

Binh Minh

Photo book on diplomat Nguyen Co Thach debuts

The Foreign Ministry and Vietnam News Agency Publishing House have published a photo book entitled “Diplomat Nguyen Co Thach”, on the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary (May 15).