Vietnam Forges Ahead: Strengthening Global Ties and Elevating Strategic Partnerships

The elevation and upgrading of relations with key and important partners, along with vibrant high-level foreign affairs activities in recent years, especially since the beginning of the 13th National Congress term, have contributed to creating a new strategic stature, deepening cooperation, and creating a solid foundation for long-term and sustainable development of relations.

Foreign affairs and multilateral diplomacy have grown strongly, affirming Vietnam as an active and responsible member of the international community. Not only has it successfully organized many major international events such as ASEAN, APEC, etc., diplomacy has also fulfilled many important international responsibilities at international mechanisms such as the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNESCO, etc.

In particular, foreign affairs and diplomacy have proactively and actively put forward many ideas and initiatives, participated in solving common regional and world issues, and participated more and more deeply in international peacekeeping and rescue activities.

In serving development and international integration, along with mobilizing important resources for development such as FDI, ODA, foreign affairs, diplomacy has contributed to making Vietnam a link in many regional and global economic links by signing and participating in important economic agreements and frameworks.

At the same time, the diplomatic sector has actively coordinated closely with ministries and sectors in promoting international integration in the fields of security – defense, society, culture, science – technology…, bringing Vietnam into the general flow of the world.

Along with national defense, security, foreign affairs, diplomacy has contributed to the “important, regular” task of maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, protecting the Fatherland, and protecting peace early and from afar.

We have made efforts to build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development with neighboring countries. We have resolutely, persistently, promptly and effectively fought against activities that violate our sovereignty, rights and legitimate interests at sea; at the same time, we have proactively and actively promoted negotiations and cooperation to resolve existing issues, effectively implemented the DOC, and actively participated in building a substantive and effective COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

Cultural diplomacy and foreign information have contributed to bringing Vietnam’s “soft power”, strongly promoting the image of the country, people, innovation achievements and Vietnamese cultural identity to the world.

Overseas Vietnamese affairs contribute to implementing the Party and State’s care policy for the overseas Vietnamese community, strengthening national unity, mobilizing many community resources for national development and defense.

We have also done a good job of protecting our citizens abroad, especially when conflicts, wars, and epidemics occur in the world.

Diplomacy in the New Age

In the coming time, the world situation will continue to have many major changes, with opportunities and challenges intertwined. In that context, the most important goal and task of diplomacy in the coming time is to maximize and continue to consolidate the favorable foreign situation, bring the country into the flow of the times, create breakthroughs to successfully implement the strategic goals until 2030 and 2045 set by the 13th National Congress.

Entering the “new era, the era of the Vietnamese nation’s rise”, on the basis of seriously summarizing the foreign affairs lessons of 40 years of renovation and in the context of the new situation and major issues facing the country, the Foreign Affairs sector will continue to innovate thinking and action, advise and build new solutions to supplement the Party’s foreign policy and guidelines, properly implementing the guiding viewpoint stated by General Secretary and President To Lam that “ensuring national defense, security and promoting foreign affairs are essential and regular”.

As an important driving force for innovation, the Foreign Affairs sector is determined to continuously strive to both effectively serve security and development interests, enhance the country’s position, and contribute to building a fair international order, ensuring the legitimate interests of countries, including Vietnam.

We will continue to enhance, upgrade and make the most of opportunities from strategic partnership and comprehensive partnership frameworks; strongly promote the role of foreign affairs methods and channels such as high-level diplomacy, specialized diplomacy, local diplomacy, scholar and business channels, etc.; participate more proactively and responsibly in solving common international and regional issues; demonstrate the core and leading role of multilateral diplomacy in important issues and mechanisms of strategic significance.

In particular, we will also give high priority to the work of building the industry, building the Party, and building a team of diplomatic cadres who are both red and professional, have solid expertise and are absolutely loyal to the Fatherland and the Party’s ideals.

Along with that, the Foreign Affairs sector will continue to closely coordinate with foreign affairs forces, the pillars of Party foreign affairs and people’s foreign affairs, maximizing the combined strength and specific advantages of each pillar in the unified whole of comprehensive, modern and professional Vietnamese foreign affairs and diplomacy.

Promoting the glorious tradition and great achievements over the past 79 years and looking forward to the great milestone of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the industry, following the spirit of serving the Fatherland and the People, under the leadership of the Party, Vietnamese diplomacy will continue to move forward, writing the golden pages of revolutionary diplomacy, contributing worthily to the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.