President Tran Duc Luong - The person who laid the foundation and profoundly shaped Vietnam's multilateral foreign affairs in the integration period

Under the leadership ofPresident Tran Duc Luong, many important milestones in foreign affairs and integration have been established, laying the foundation for a multilateral foreign policy, creating position and strength for Vietnam to enter a new era of development.

Sir, as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1987-2000), then Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000-2006), you had the opportunity to witness and serve comrade Tran Duc Luong throughout the period when he was Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers, later Deputy Prime Minister (from 1987-1997) and President (from 1997-2006).

This is the period when the country is carrying out the Renovation and integration process with many difficulties and challenges. Could you share your greatest impression of comrade Tran Duc Luong during this special period?

I was fortunate to work with President Tran Duc Luong for 10 years, since I was Deputy Minister and Comrade Tran Duc Luong was Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Deputy Prime Minister, then President since 1997.

It was a long time, so I have a very deep impression of comrade Tran Duc Luong.

Comrade Tran Duc Luong was originally a geological scientist , but when he assumed the position of President, he paid great attention to foreign affairs. It can be said that this was one of the top concerns of President Tran Duc Luong.

President Tran Duc Luong witnessed Foreign Minister Nguyen Di Nien and Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan sign a joint statement between the two countries during an official friendship visit to the People's Republic of China (December 2000). Photo: VNA

Comrade Tran Duc Luong assumed the role of President during a period when our country was actively integrating internationally, diversifying and multilateralizing relations with other countries. After we normalized relations with China and then the United States, joined ASEAN and many other international organizations, the country's foreign affairs activities were promoted.

At that time, the person assigned by the Politburo to direct foreign affairs activities was comrade Tran Duc Luong. Therefore, I worked directly with comrade Tran Duc Luong and during more than 7 years as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I always received close guidance from comrade Tran Duc Luong.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien.

Talking about comrade Tran Duc Luong, I can summarize some highlights.

First, he is a very dynamic person. In his conversations with me on business trips, comrade Tran Duc Luong always wondered why our country, despite having intelligence, resources, and a workforce, could not develop faster. Although the country had made progress after peace, it was still too poor. Therefore, he always advised us: “In the current situation, diplomacy needs to be more active, more active, have more friends, and call on more investors to invest in Vietnam, thereby developing the country's economy. Only when the economy is strong can there be strong diplomacy.”

Second , in diplomatic activities, he is very proactive. During his overseas trips, he always takes the initiative to find ways to approach friends and partners; to discuss issues to enhance cooperative relations between Vietnam and other countries.

President Tran Duc Luong and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong-nam witnessed the signing ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement between the two countries on May 3, 2002, at the National Assembly House in Pyongyang, within the framework of an official visit to the DPRK from May 2 to May 5, 2002. Photo: Trong Nghiep/VNA

Third , he is a very approachable and easy-to-work-with person. I really like the way he works, which is to regularly raise difficult issues, issues that others avoid and do not dare to raise for discussion. He is an open-minded person and is open in the way he communicates with others.

Fourth , he not only cares about big things, but also closely follows small things, giving very specific and detailed instructions.

Fifth , he is a man of principle. There are issues that Comrade Tran Duc Luong is willing to discuss, even “concessions”, but on key issues of principle, he has a very firm and steadfast stance, just as Uncle Ho taught “with the unchanging, respond to all changes”.

Finally , comrade Tran Duc Luong had a humane and extremely simple lifestyle, always friendly and harmonious with his brothers.

Could you share the major milestones and turning points in foreign affairs and integration of the country during the period when comrade Tran Duc Luong assumed the position of President?

During the time comrade Tran Duc Luong held the position of President, there were many important events.

First, the visit of US President Bill Clinton to Vietnam in 2000. This was the first time a US President visited Vietnam. With the problems between the two countries in the past, this visit had many issues that were considered “sensitive and complicated”. However, President Tran Duc Luong resolved these issues in a skillful and balanced manner so that both sides felt “acceptable”.

It can be said that the war against the US to save the country left many pains for the Vietnamese people and the aftermath of the war. Therefore, at that time, the message had to be understood and accepted by the veteran revolutionaries, the victims of war and their relatives.

Therefore, in every event, every statement, every gesture, comrade Tran Duc Luong handled it skillfully and appropriately, helping President Bill Clinton's visit to Vietnam to be a great success, which was the starting point for the next steps of the Vietnam - US relationship in the future, so that the two countries can move towards the highest level of relationship - Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as it is today.

Second , in foreign affairs activities with European countries such as France, England, Sweden, Norway, etc., President Tran Duc Luong is very active in promoting cooperative relations.

The contributions and dedication of President Tran Duc Luong are highly appreciated and acknowledged by many international friends. France has awarded the Legion of Honor - the highest honor of France to President Tran Duc Luong.

French President Jacques Chirac presents the First Class Legion of Honor to President Tran Duc Luong (Paris, October 28, 2002). Photo: Nguyen Khang/VNA

Or during his visit to the UK, in addition to meeting with Queen Elizabeth, President Tran Duc Luong also met with the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair. What is special is that Tony Blair rarely meets heads of state, because he is in the executive branch. But when President Tran Duc Luong visited, Tony Blair met with him and he was very pleased with the things that President Tran Duc Luong mentioned.

Third , at international forums and conferences, President Tran Duc Luong was very active in contacts, thereby building goodwill so that we could have favorable conditions in future contacts and establishing diplomatic relations.

It can be said that for those of us working in diplomacy and foreign affairs, President Tran Duc Luong is the one who paved the way for the development of diplomacy.

General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, President Tran Duc Luong and comrade Khamtai Siphandon, Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of Laos at the Presidential Palace, January 4, 1999. Photo: Nguyen Khang/VNA

The period when comrade Tran Duc Luong held the position of President was a period when the country resolutely implemented the policy of renovation, transforming from a centrally planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy. As President, comrade Tran Duc Luong, on behalf of the State, signed and promoted a series of economic and trade agreements of vital significance to the Vietnamese economy, especially the Vietnam - United States Bilateral Trade Agreement in 2000 - considered one of the breakthrough milestones.

Many people believe that President Tran Duc Luong contributed to deeply shaping the multilateral foreign policy, laying the foundation for our country's deep integration process, paving the way for a series of bilateral and multilateral trade and investment agreements that the country signed in the following years.

What do you think about this comment?

This assessment is very correct, because in all foreign affairs activities, comrade Tran Duc Luong always emphasized and prioritized economic and trade issues, which are important issues for national development. In all foreign affairs activities, President Tran Duc Luong always emphasized this focus.

President Tran Duc Luong reads the report on the proposal to the National Assembly to ratify the Vietnam - US Trade Agreement, at the 10th session of the 10th National Assembly, November 23, 2001. Photo: Nhan Sang/VNA

During the period when Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), we had to campaign for many years and in that, the role and mark of comrade Tran Duc Luong was very clear. In high-level meetings, he always raised this issue.

With the Vietnam - US Bilateral Trade Agreement, this is an agreement that both sides have made great efforts and campaigned for to sign. Thanks to this agreement, the Vietnam - US economic relationship has made breakthrough developments, creating the foundation for the excellent cooperative relationship between the two countries as it is today.

Therefore, I find the comment that the reporter made is completely worthy of the role, intelligence, passion and dedication of President Tran Duc Luong.

What is your comment on the diplomatic style of former President Tran Duc Luong? Through his trips, meetings, and work, what feelings did foreign friends and partners have for President Tran Duc Luong and the country and people of Vietnam?

As I said, President Tran Duc Luong is a very simple, modest, friendly, and extremely lovable and approachable person.

Such a person, such a head of state, when attending any international forum or bilateral visits, is always respected and highly appreciated by international friends, bringing about concrete results contributing to the country's development.

I have spent a lot of time researching Ho Chi Minh's diplomacy and Ho Chi Minh's style and found that President Tran Duc Luong is worthy of being an excellent student of Uncle Ho.

What significance do the unique marks and values ​​of the bravery and intelligence of former President Tran Duc Luong, as you have just shared, have for the cause of developing a rich and strong country in the new era - the era of national growth?

The contributions of President Tran Duc Luong are a continuous flow in Vietnam's foreign affairs activities. That helps foreign affairs to actively contribute to the cause of building and protecting the country.

Vietnam’s position in the international arena today is something that many countries aspire to have. That position did not come to us suddenly, but was built up through many previous generations, including the significant contributions of President Tran Duc Luong.

This is a golden opportunity to develop the country and make it grow stronger. As the country enters a new era, I have great confidence in the path of both inheritance and breakthrough that General Secretary To Lam has set out, thereby bringing the country to prosperity and raising Vietnam's position in the international arena.

Thank you very much!

Source: https://baodautu.vn/chu-tich-nuoc-tran-duc-luong---nguoi-dat-nen-mong-dinh-hinh-sau-sac-nen-doi-ngoai-da-phuong-viet-nam-thoi-ky-hoi-nhap-d289139.html