It sums up and symbolises the foreign policy the Communist Party of Vietnam has been implementing, that has made important contributions to the country’s overall development achievements.

The attainment of Vietnam’s diplomatic affairs in recent years are attributable to the efforts of Party, entire people and entire army, of which the most important and decisive factor is the direct and comprehensive leadership of the Party, headed by General Secretary Trong.

Diplomatic imprint imbued with Vietnamese identity

Associate Professor Duong Van Quang, former Director of the Diplomatic Academy, said that during his lifetime, the General Secretary always emphasised the need to build a modern and comprehensive diplomacy imbued with the characteristics of “Vietnamese bamboo.”

A bamboo has three parts, namely root, trunk and treetop, Quang said, adding that strong roots signify the thousand-year-old tradition of peace loving of Vietnam. This tradition has been reflected in Vietnam’s diplomatic activities through various periods, including diplomacy of the Ho Chi Minh era during the 1945-1946 period, at the Geneva Conference, the Paris Conference and continues to the present.

The trunk of the tree symbolises the national interests and the country’s stance, which must be firmly connected with the root, according to Quang. He further explained that the trunk must be firm to enable the tree to stand upright, while flexible enough for the top to move.

Under the direction of the Party, with General Secretary Trong as the leader, Vietnamese diplomacy has achieved many outstanding results, Quang said. He cited the Party leader’s historic visit to the US in July 2015, with an unprecedented meeting with US President Barack Obama at the Oval Office of the White House, as an outstanding example, which opened up a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries.

In late October, early November 2022, General Secretary Trong became the first foreign leader to visit China shortly after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

In September 2023, the Party leader presided over the welcoming ceremony for US President Joe Biden and held talks with the White House leader at the Party Central Committee’s headquarters, an unprecedented event. The same year, General Secretary Trong and his spouse welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and his spouse who were on a state visit to Vietnam. In June this year, the Party leader welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin on a state visit to Vietnam.

Quang noted that amidst the current complex international situation, where major powers are fiercely competing and pursuing very different viewpoints and policies, Vietnam’s ability to maintain good relations and invite leaders from all three major countries to visit reflects the essence of “Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy.”

According to former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son, in recent times, especially since the 13th National Party Congress, Vietnam has continued to deeply integrate into the world. One of the country’s greatest successes is that Vietnam has integrated with the world without losing its political identity. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Vietnam has maintained political, security, economic, cultural, and social stability, he said.

Son emphasised that the Party’s leadership, with its flexible bamboo diplomacy and the desire to make friends with all countries, has conquered the world and proven that Vietnam’s foreign policy is very successful.

He ascribed the success to the wise and sound leadership of the Party with General Secretary Trong at the helm and the solidarity of the entire nation.

Sharing memories of his interactions with the Party leader, Son recalled the honour of welcoming the General Secretary paying official visit to Russia when he was the ambassador there.

President Putin highly appreciated General Secretary Trong’s leadership role, and the Russian side assessed that Vietnam has effectively integrated into the world, earning respect from the international community.

Some photos of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Russia in September 2018 (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Le Van Bang, former Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, shared that he had many opportunities to meet and listen to the Party leader’s speech at the Ministry of Foreign Ministry. The General Secretary’s instructions and writings on diplomacy, especially on promoting the “Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy” are handbooks that diplomats will remember forever.

Illustrative image. International media highly value the Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy. (Photo: VNA)

According to Bang, the General Secretary’s viewpoint on “bamboo diplomacy” has helped bring Vietnam’s diplomacy to international level, he said, adding that many countries want to learn from Vietnam’s experience.

Referring to the leader’s official visit to the US in July 2015, the former diplomat hailed it as a historic milestone for both countries and also on an international scale as it was the first visit of a General Secretary of the CPV invited by the US government, marking a historic moment in Vietnamese diplomacy. He went on to say that General Secretary Trong continued to follow and contribute significantly to the development of Vietnam-US ties. Last year, the Party leader welcomed President Biden, and the Vietnam-US relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership, benefiting the people of both countries.

With the General Secretary’s viewpoint and contribution to external affairs, Bang said that the Party leader is a respected figure and an outstanding example for those working in the diplomatic sector to follow./.

VNA