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| General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and delegates attending the 32nd Diplomatic Conference, December 19. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
In 2023, Vietnam achieved many significant diplomatic milestones amidst a turbulent global landscape. Could the Minister share the significance and factors contributing to this year's diplomatic success?
2023 was a vibrant year in foreign affairs with many notable milestones. First, bilateral and multilateral foreign relations continued to expand and deepen, with relations with many important partners reaching new heights and showing qualitative advancements, particularly with neighboring countries, China, the United States, Japan, and many others.
External relations activities, especially high-level diplomacy, have been vibrant and widespread across continents and in many important multilateral forums and mechanisms such as ASEAN, the United Nations, the Mekong Subregion, APEC, AIPA, COP 28, BRI… Over the past year, we successfully organized 22 overseas visits by key leaders and 28 visits by high-level leaders from other countries to Vietnam, affirming Vietnam's new stature and position in the world. We continue to play a role in important international organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and UNESCO… as well as making positive and responsible contributions to common global issues such as combating climate change, maintaining peace in Africa, and sending rescue forces to Turkey…
Research, consultation, and forecasting on foreign affairs have yielded many important results. In the face of the highly complex international situation, the diplomatic sector, along with other sectors and levels, has advised the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Government on many important foreign affairs projects, especially those related to developing relations with key partners, ASEAN cooperation, the Mekong sub-region, and the approach to responding to initiatives from other countries…
Economic diplomacy continues to be promoted based on the spirit of Directive 15 of the Party Central Committee, with localities, businesses, and people at the center of service. Economic diplomacy activities have made important contributions to promoting economic growth, with exports and imports reaching nearly 700 billion USD in 2023, over 30 items having export turnover exceeding 1 billion USD, attracting FDI increasing by 14.8%, and accessing many new sources of quality capital in the context of a challenging global economy.
A peaceful and stable environment continues to be maintained for national development. Amidst the fluctuations of the international situation, the diplomatic sector, along with the defense and security sectors and other agencies at all levels, persistently promote dialogue and negotiations to resolve border and territorial issues, and properly and promptly handle activities that infringe upon Vietnam's independence, sovereignty, rights, and legitimate interests.
Significant achievements have been made in the fields of external information, cultural diplomacy, work related to Vietnamese people abroad, and citizen protection. In 2023, Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago were recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site; two more cities, Da Lat and Hoi An, were recognized as UNESCO Creative Cities; Vietnam was elected to important UNESCO bodies such as Vice President of the UNESCO General Assembly, Vice President of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and member of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-2027 term... We have provided timely protection and safely repatriated many citizens, especially from areas affected by conflict and natural disasters.
The aforementioned results were achieved primarily thanks to the correct leadership of the Party, the centralized and effective management of the State; the unity and high determination and great efforts of the entire political system; the close and seamless coordination between Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy; and between foreign affairs and national defense, security, economy, and socio-cultural affairs. Under the close leadership and guidance of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Government, the diplomatic sector has closely followed the foreign policy of the Party and the State, promoting the unique characteristics of "Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy," closely monitoring developments in the world and the region, "knowing oneself and others," "knowing the times and circumstances," being flexible and creative in strategy, handling foreign affairs issues according to the principle of "maintaining constancy while adapting to change," thereby implementing appropriate measures, taking advantage of opportunities and overcoming challenges to successfully complete foreign affairs tasks.
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| President Vo Van Thuong and heads of Vietnamese representative offices abroad. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Based on the achievements made, Minister, could you please tell us what the key directions of Vietnamese diplomacy will be in 2024?
The year 2024 is of significant importance in successfully implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. In the coming years, the instability and uncertainty of the international situation will continue, and new, more complex factors may emerge. Domestically, the socio-economic situation will continue to recover and develop, but many difficulties and challenges remain. However, the country's potential, position, international prestige, and the achievements in foreign relations in 2023 provide a solid foundation for Vietnamese foreign policy and diplomacy to overcome difficulties and challenges and contribute to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Based on the successful implementation of the foreign policy guidelines of the 13th National Congress and the resolutions, conclusions, and directives on foreign affairs issued by the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat since the beginning of the term, and strongly promoting the unique characteristics of "Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy," the diplomatic sector will focus on the following key areas:
Firstly, we must continue to promote innovation in foreign policy thinking. With our country's unprecedented strength and position, we need to boldly break free from outdated thinking and find new approaches for the benefit of the nation. To achieve this, we need to strengthen the organization and implementation of research, strategic planning, and forecasting on foreign policy; be sensitive to new issues, accurately identify opportunities, correctly position the country's strategic standing, and effectively utilize international trends to proactively formulate appropriate foreign policy decisions and actions.
Secondly, we must leverage our pioneering role, while closely coordinating with Party diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, and all sectors and levels to comprehensively deploy all branches of foreign affairs and diplomacy in order to firmly consolidate a peaceful and stable environment, protect the Fatherland early and from afar, effectively mobilize new resources from outside for socio-economic development, and enhance the country's position and prestige.
The focus is on effectively leveraging the upgraded relationship frameworks established this year, successfully implementing cooperation agreements already reached, and further deepening and enhancing relations with other partners to expand markets, attract high-quality investment, transfer new technologies, create new development opportunities for the country, localities, businesses, and people, as well as further strengthening Vietnam's new role and position in strategically important multilateral forums and mechanisms.
Thirdly, focus on creating a new shift in building and developing a strong, comprehensive, and modern diplomatic sector. This includes prioritizing the effective implementation of projects and plans for reforming training, development, planning, and placement of personnel; gradually improving infrastructure and policy mechanisms for foreign affairs; and continuing to innovate working methods and practices towards professionalism, efficiency, and modernity.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates attending the conference pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Given the volatile global situation in 2024, what will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do to continue building on the successes of the past year and make economic diplomacy a truly important driving force contributing to the socio-economic development goals set by the Government for the new year?
Implementing the policy of "building economic diplomacy to serve development, with people, localities, and businesses at its center," and adhering to the new thinking on economic diplomacy in the spirit of Directive No. 15 of the Party Central Committee and the Government's Action Program, economic diplomacy has been implemented synchronously, making important contributions to the socio-economic development of the country.
First and foremost, economic diplomacy is widely implemented in foreign affairs activities, especially high-level diplomacy, closely linked with political diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and other areas of diplomacy; in which, economic cooperation is always a central content within the framework of relationships, especially with important partners.
The upgrading of our relations with other countries over the past year has created breakthroughs in economic cooperation with them, opening up many opportunities for Vietnamese localities and businesses. International economic integration and participation in international economic linkages have become more proactive, positive, and effective.
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| The Speaker of the National Assembly meets with Ambassadors and Heads of Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Besides effectively implementing the signed free trade agreements (FTAs), in 2023, we signed an FTA with Israel and are actively negotiating FTAs with other partners; signed over 70 cooperation documents between ministries and agencies, nearly 100 cooperation agreements between localities, and hundreds of agreements between businesses... As a result, economic diplomacy activities have contributed to boosting economic growth, with exports increasing by 6-7%, and attracting over US$28 billion in FDI...
Entering 2024, the global economy still faces many difficulties and risks. Alongside opportunities and advantages, there are also challenges and unfavorable impacts. The diplomatic sector continues to adhere to the Party's guidelines and directions on economic diplomacy, closely following the 2024 socio-economic development plan and the evolving international and domestic situation. Economic diplomacy continues to effectively leverage the country's new strengths and capabilities, concretizing the recently upgraded frameworks into practical and effective economic cooperation programs and projects, especially in expanding markets, accessing new capital sources for infrastructure development, high technology, digital transformation, green growth, attracting tourism, and exporting skilled labor. In addition, together with other sectors and localities, it will proactively and actively address obstacles in economic cooperation with partners, especially important partners. Enhance the effectiveness of support for sectors, localities, and businesses in the spirit of "putting people, localities, and businesses at the center of service."
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the conference. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
On the occasion of the New Year 2024, what message would the Minister like to convey to diplomatic staff, the people of the whole country, Vietnamese people abroad, and international friends?
Under the leadership of the Party, the management of the State, the active involvement of the entire political system, and with the support and cooperation of the international community, our compatriots at home and abroad have upheld the tradition of national unity, demonstrated patriotism, self-reliance, and self-improvement, and achieved great accomplishments in 2023.
Diplomatic officials and Party members have made extraordinary efforts, overcome difficulties and challenges, devoted themselves to serving the Party, the Fatherland, and the People, and have made important contributions to the overall achievements of the country.
As a new spring approaches, every official and Party member in the diplomatic sector aspires to a world of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development; a country with ever-growing potential and strength, an increasingly high international standing and prestige, and a prosperous and happy life for our people.
Thank you, Minister!
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