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| Delivering a policy speech at Oxford University during his visit to the UK on October 29, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that Vietnam is making efforts to build "warm inside, peaceful outside": Maintaining political stability - economic and social development internally, maintaining a peaceful , cooperative and mutually respectful environment externally; handling differences by peaceful means and international law; putting people and the legitimate interests of the people first and foremost. (Source: VGP) |
The draft document clearly defines goals and tasks, shapes strategic thinking, vision and orientation for national development in the next 5 years and until the mid-21st century, including diplomacy .
The Draft Document highly appreciates the success of foreign affairs in the 2021-2025 term, "actively and effectively promoting the pioneering role, contributing to maintaining and consolidating a peaceful and stable environment, opening up an unprecedented new situation for national development"; "... foreign affairs and international integration have been expanded, upgraded and deepened; Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena have been increasingly enhanced" (pp. A, B). From the results and forecasts of the world and domestic situation, the Draft Document sets out the goals, requirements, task orientations, strategic decisions, and main solutions for foreign affairs in the new term, in the new era.
The Party places high demands on "developing foreign affairs in the new era, commensurate with the historical, cultural and position of the country". At the same time as continuing to promote the "pioneering" role, the Party's viewpoint determines that "... promoting foreign affairs and international integration is essential and regular" (Section II, p. B). In the context of a complex and volatile world, foreign affairs need to regularly and continuously monitor and closely follow the situation, coordinate policies, and propose countermeasures according to all developments, in all regions, in a unified whole, for the whole period.
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| President Luong Cuong and senior leaders of countries attending APEC 2025 (October 31 - November 1) pose for a group photo. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
With the potential, "soft power" of history, national culture, and position of Vietnam, foreign affairs have reached new goals, creating a favorable situation and environment, creating and opening up new opportunities for development; raising the country's status in "world politics, global economy and human civilization"; not only "proactively and actively participating..." but also "proactively and actively contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development..., solving common regional and international issues" (p.C, section XI).
The Party pointed out that foreign affairs “has two roles”, not only “for Vietnam” (creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, firmly protecting the Fatherland, taking advantage of external resources and favorable conditions for national development), but also “for the world” (contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and development of humanity); contributing to combining national strength with the strength of the times. This is a continuation and a new development in the Party’s thinking, goals and approaches, and also the role and responsibility of foreign affairs in the new era.
The fourth guiding viewpoint states: “To ensure and protect the highest national interests on the basis of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law...” (p.B). Foreign affairs both “guarantee” and fight to “protect” national interests. Therefore, it is recommended to add the goal and task of foreign affairs (section XI, p.C) as: “to ensure and protect...”, demonstrating the new point and the unity between viewpoints and goals and tasks.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the G20 Summit in South Africa (November 22-23). (Source: VNA) |
Section XI presents synchronously and comprehensively the goals, tasks, orientations, and methods: “Promoting comprehensive diplomacy for development, focusing on economic diplomacy and technological diplomacy. Improving the effectiveness of cultural diplomacy, national defense, and security…”. At the same time, other sections also mention related contents and methods of connecting foreign affairs with all fields.
Specifically, “Supplementing and perfecting institutions to maximize the role of the three pillars: Party foreign affairs, state diplomacy and people's foreign affairs...” (section III); “Taking international integration as a method to mobilize all resources for industrialization and modernization” (section IV); “Proactively and actively cooperating and promoting the image of the country, cultural values and Vietnamese people to the world” (section V); “Proactively and actively integrating internationally in education...” (section VI); “Proactively promoting international cooperation and integration in science and technology” (section VII); “Promoting international integration and foreign affairs in defense and security...” (section X); “Promoting the mobilization of Vietnamese people abroad... to stay attached to their homeland, preserving national identity and culture...” (section XII)...
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| General Secretary To Lam took a souvenir photo with delegates at the working session with the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 15 at the Party Central Committee Headquarters. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
The Party has proposed the direction of "comprehensive and strong implementation of the work of overseas Vietnamese". That has attracted the attention of overseas Vietnamese and the international community. The community of more than 6 million overseas Vietnamese in more than 130 countries is an inseparable part of the nation, a "people's diplomatic ambassador", a "bridge", spreading Vietnamese cultural values to the world. Overseas Vietnamese are a special component of the great national unity bloc, an important resource of knowledge, science, technology, finance, building international networks... to develop the country and deeply integrate into the world.
Thus, there is always a close combination between foreign affairs and other fields and other fields with foreign affairs and international integration, in a whole, under the "unified leadership of the Party and the centralized management of the State". That combination raises the level and enhances the "soft power" of foreign affairs, combines national strength with the strength of the times, creates favorable conditions to attract external resources, and together with national defense and security, maintains a peaceful environment to build and develop the country, firmly protect the Fatherland.
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The 14th National Congress of the Party affirmed the will and aspiration to develop a prosperous, civilized, happy country, and to steadily advance towards socialism. The Draft Document will continue to be supplemented and completed. However, the Draft Document has consistently demonstrated the generalization and emphasis of viewpoints, goals, orientations, methods, resources, and driving forces for national development, including foreign affairs, in the new era.
The Party is oriented to supplement and perfect the system, "ensuring resources for foreign affairs commensurate with the country's new position and strength to meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation" (section XI, p.C). This is a common task of the political system, with diplomacy being the core. To carry out the mission and responsibility assigned by the Party and State, and trusted by the people, requires diplomacy to think and act "in sync" with the entire system at a higher level, effort, speed, and efficiency.
First of all, foreign affairs must thoroughly grasp and absorb the viewpoints, goals, requirements and directions set forth by the 14th Party Congress. It is not just a one-time study and understanding, but a whole process, "learning while doing", applying in implementing the "Action Program"; through practice to more deeply understand the Party's viewpoints, improve awareness, capacity and effectiveness of action. Thereby, creating motivation, new energy sources, perfecting methods, innovating styles, accompanying the entire Party, the entire people, the entire political system, sectors and localities to successfully implement the Party's Resolution.
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| Head of the Vietnamese Delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang (first row, right) and members of the Delegation at the moment Vietnam was announced as re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council, October 14, 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Delegation to the United Nations) |
Enhance the political mettle, intellectual level, pioneering role, setting an example, and fighting spirit of Party committees, Party organizations, key leaders and managers at all levels. Be the core in building a comprehensive, modern, and professional diplomacy with a team of cadres with strong political mettle, good moral qualities, and high professional qualifications. Proactively apply science and digital technology in research, assessment, and forecasting of situations and trends; regularly coordinate with staff sectors to advise, propose policies and countermeasures, respond flexibly, and handle promptly and appropriately arising situations and issues, not missing opportunities, being passive, and surprised.
Maximize the three pillars and pioneering role of foreign affairs, closely coordinate with sectors, actively attract foreign experts, businessmen, scientists, and overseas Vietnamese through preferential mechanisms and policies. Proactively promote cooperation and exploit external resources, especially in areas related to key driving forces such as technology transfer, innovation, digital transformation; expand markets, build brands to contribute to the implementation of the central task of economic and social development and environmental protection. Proactively and actively integrate into the international education and training sector and promote the image of the country, cultural values, and Vietnamese people to the world. Apply science and digital technology, continue to innovate content and methods, and improve the effectiveness of foreign information work.
Vietnamese representative agencies abroad must regularly and closely connect with overseas Vietnamese associations; innovate their methods of operation, bring the Party and State's viewpoints and policies to overseas Vietnamese; grasp their thoughts and aspirations, advise and propose flexible and appropriate measures, connect overseas Vietnamese, share experiences, provide advice, cooperate in research, transfer technology... with ministries, branches, businesses and localities, so that overseas Vietnamese can accompany and contribute to the country's future.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/huong-toi-dai-hoi-dang-lan-thu-xiv-anh-sang-dan-dat-ngoai-giao-tien-phong-dong-hanh-va-phung-su-dat-nuoc-dan-toc-vung-buoc-vao-ky-nguyen-moi-335327.html
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