Department of Diplomatic Corps Services: Affirming the role of the leading public service unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Speaking with The Gioi and Viet Nam Newspaper, Director of the Department of Diplomatic Corps Services (PVNGĐ) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ngo Phuong Nghi reviewed the outstanding performance results of the unit in the past year and affirmed his expectations for the dedication of the staff and workers in the coming time.

The Department of Diplomatic Corps Services organized a scientific workshop on “Legal basis and regulations on the operation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ specialized construction investment project management board to implement domestic and foreign projects and international bidding packages” on October 15. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Can you tell us about the outstanding achievements that the PVNGD Department has made in the past year?

Mr. Ngo Phuong Nghi, Director of the Department of Diplomatic Corps Services. (Source: Department of Diplomatic Corps Services)

2025 is a remarkable year for the Department of PVNGD. With the constant attention of the Ministry's leaders, the close and effective coordination from the units within the Ministry and the functional units of the central and local ministries, the collective leadership of the Department of PVNGD has directed and led the entire unit to overcome many challenges and difficulties to achieve many outstanding results.

The political tasks and financial obligations assigned by the State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been excellently completed by the Department, in which the achievements in the four key tasks of the Department have been directed, led and completed with remarkable results such as management, leasing and repairing and renovating houses for diplomatic corps and international organizations in Hanoi; management of Vietnamese workers working for diplomatic corps and international organizations and ensuring security and safety; management and guidance of non-resident foreign reporters; providing services for diplomatic corps and international organizations in Hanoi.

In addition, the PVNGD Department is also highly appreciated for its active and successful participation in supporting and serving major events of the country in 2025 such as: The 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025); The 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025); The signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention; The 80-year exhibition - Achievements of the country and the upcoming 14th Party Congress.

An unforgettable milestone is the success of the 2025 International Food and Culture Festival, with the participation of 128 booths from 50 embassies, international organizations, businesses and localities across the country. The event has a profound humanitarian meaning when it called for and dedicated all the proceeds to support and join hands with our compatriots to overcome storms and floods.

The activities of gratitude, support and care for Vietnamese heroic mothers are always closely paid attention to by the leaders and the Trade Union of the Department, demonstrating the spirit of humanity and gratitude to previous generations, contributing much to the cause of protecting and developing the country.

The most encouraging thing is the significant improvement in the income of the Department's officers and employees. With many efforts to streamline, adjust appropriately, and comply with the State's regulations and laws, the lives of officers and employees working at the Department have been better in recent years and may be even better in the future.

Domestic and foreign journalists work at the press center of the Hanoi Convention Signing Ceremony, National Convention Center. (Photo: Hoang Giap)

What innovations or solutions has the PVNGD Department had to improve service quality and meet the increasingly diverse needs of foreign representative agencies in Vietnam?

We always keep in mind that the PVNGD Department is a public service unit that needs to take the lead in providing services and support to foreign representative agencies, foreign organizations, and foreign reporters in Vietnam. Therefore, we regularly research, consult, and propose solutions to improve service quality.

In recent years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has actively implemented the rearrangement and reorganization of the organizational structure, and the PVNGD Department is no exception to that trend. The leaders of the PVNGD Department always identify that streamlining the organizational structure and personnel is always the top priority.

In 2025, the Department has completed the consolidation of functions, tasks, organizational structure and personnel of the Department's units in the direction of gradually streamlining and reducing focal points in accordance with the Department's long-term development orientation and the policies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State, helping professional activities and coordination between units in the Department to become increasingly effective, fast, and promote collective strength.

Another important measure is that we always focus on giving opinions, amending and perfecting the legal framework, laws, decrees, circulars... related to the unit's activities. Many difficulties have been resolved thanks to the active study of legal documents, correctly identifying the key issues that need to be resolved and proposing solutions to both implement legal regulations and combine timely policy development to bring direct benefits to the Department, ensure revenue and stabilize the lives of officers and employees.

In addition, the specialized departments have researched and advised the Department's leaders to quickly issue support and encouragement policies (both spiritually and materially); the Department's officers and employees feel secure in their work, always dedicated and devoted to completing assigned tasks well, thereby contributing a small part to the overall achievements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Digital transformation and adjustment of leadership, direction and coordination activities are also regularly focused on and improved to suit the new situation. We have used and applied the document management system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department at the same time, have a hotline to receive feedback and needs from customers and regularly interact with information to diplomatic missions, international organizations and foreign reporters.

The 2025 International Food Festival, organized by the Diplomatic Corps Service Department in coordination with units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, promptly spread the spirit of sharing among domestic and international friends, supporting people in flood-affected areas. (Photo: Thanh Long)

What are the advantages and disadvantages that the PVNGD Department has to deal with?

The PVNGD Department always receives close attention and direction from the leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and effective coordination from units inside and outside the Ministry, which is the first advantage.

At the same time, the leadership capacity, the solidarity of the Department's leadership, the working capacity of the officers and employees as well as the more than 60-year tradition of the Department are favorable factors and the main reasons contributing to the Department's success to date.

We also absorb, adjust, and adapt to the rapid changes of the entire political system, actively and proactively contribute ideas and adjust legal documents to suit the new situation and have a relatively solid foundation in terms of digital infrastructure, work management system, and work assignment and processing procedures. At the same time, we are training and have a relatively high-quality and proactive next generation of personnel.

However, difficulties still exist in the process of handling assigned tasks, related to issues of regulatory corridors, legal documents; mechanisms for representative agencies to rent and locate headquarters in Vietnam; competition from other types of services, thereby posing requirements to adjust and improve the quality of services of the Department.

The Department of Diplomatic Corps Services organized a program connecting units in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foreign affairs agencies and representatives of foreign organizations in Vietnam within the framework of the 2025 Culinary Culture Festival on November 22. (Photo: Xuan Son)

Moving into 2026, what are the priorities and key plans of the PVNGD Department?

The top priority of the PVNGD Department is to continue to maintain service quality, serve diplomatic corps, foreign organizations, foreign press groups, excellently complete political tasks assigned by the Ministry's leaders, while maintaining and improving the material and spiritual life of the Department's officers and employees.

In 2026, the Department will continue to need the State's policy support to improve operational efficiency. Along with that, the Department will strengthen legal work, encourage units to train on-site, promote the role of transferring experience between generations and proactively study documents to apply to work. We focus on developing a team of young civil servants and workers to create a source of quality cadres and human resources for the future.

With the goal of reforming and improving the efficiency of the apparatus' operations, promoting digitalization in all aspects of work, the Department is determined and makes efforts to ensure a streamlined, productive and effective organization.

In the coming time, the PVNGD Department will continue to make efforts and unite, promote the leadership role of the Department's leadership team and the dedication of its staff and employees, and maintain its motto as the leading public service unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a reliable support point for diplomatic delegations, international organizations and foreign reporters.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cuc-phuc-vu-ngoai-giao-doan-khang-dinh-vai-tro-don-vi-su-nghiep-di-dau-cua-bo-ngoai-giao-336634.html