Vietnamese Diplomacy: 80 Years of Service to the Nation and People

Ms. Vice Minister, the past 80 years have been a historically significant period. Could you share some of the outstanding milestones that have shaped Vietnam's revolutionary diplomacy ?

The person who laid the foundation and shaped Vietnam's revolutionary diplomacy, and was also its first Minister of Foreign Affairs, was President Ho Chi Minh .

This has been a very special honor for us over the past 80 years. We are proud to have made significant and impactful contributions to the historical journey from gaining and maintaining independence to breaking the blockade and embargo, and then integrating into the international community.

Throughout the process of building, protecting, and developing the country, perhaps the first milestone worth mentioning is the Preliminary Agreement and Provisional Agreement of 1946. In a critical situation, President Ho Chi Minh decided to pursue peace as a means of progress, seizing the opportunity to maximize the chances of maintaining peace while preparing for the subsequent resistance war.

The second milestone was during the resistance war against colonial imperialism. Diplomacy served both the resistance and actively fought to break the encirclement and isolation, expanding relations with the outside world and securing the support of international friends for the just national resistance. The pinnacle of diplomatic art was the two negotiations.

These two negotiations were not only historic for Vietnam but perhaps will go down in the history of international relations negotiations: the Geneva Accords in 1954 and the Paris Peace Accords in 1973. The success of these negotiations further strengthened Vietnam's position and power, along with other fronts, to achieve complete victory.

From 1995 to the present, Vietnamese diplomacy has continued to achieve very important successes. From economic integration, we have deeply integrated into the international community; from participating in multilateral institutions, we have now played the role of an active and responsible member of the international community, making meaningful initiatives and contributions to common affairs.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang: "In the new era, the diplomatic sector will continue to strive and make efforts to achieve new successes, contributing to the common cause of the whole country and the entire nation."

To date, Vietnam has diplomatic relations with 194 countries, of which 38 have partnerships or higher, including all members of the UN Security Council, and members of the G7 and G20. Notably, Vietnam has strategic partnerships with all its "former enemies".

Another milestone we are witnessing is that Vietnamese diplomacy is entering a new era for the nation. In this new era, the diplomatic sector will continue to strive and make efforts to achieve new successes, contributing to the common cause of the entire country and the entire nation.

Put the interests of the nation and people above all else.

So, what is the most important lesson that Vietnam's diplomatic sector has learned throughout its 80-year journey, Mr. Deputy Minister?

Firstly, there is the lesson of putting national and ethnic interests above all else. Right from the 3rd Diplomatic Conference in 1964, President Ho Chi Minh instructed diplomatic officials to always serve the interests of the nation. His ideology has been deeply ingrained in and implemented by generations of diplomatic officials over the past eighty years.

It also serves as a lesson in the absolute and direct leadership of the Party and the keen ability to assess and grasp the situation, making crucial decisions at the most critical moments.

The lesson is about combining national strength with the strength of the times. We could not have won the resistance wars without the support of progressive people around the world and international friends. We also could hardly have overcome the most difficult periods of encirclement and embargo without the support, both material and spiritual, of friendly countries.

Another lesson is the importance of being steadfast in principles but flexible in strategy, as President Ho Chi Minh once taught. This is the principle of "adapting to changing circumstances while maintaining core principles."

The lessons learned are about unity, consensus, seizing opportunities, and winning hearts and minds through righteousness, reason, and morality.

Furthermore, diplomacy must coordinate seamlessly with other branches of the armed forces. For example, during the resistance war, diplomacy had to combine with military action, fighting and negotiating simultaneously. Later, diplomacy had to cooperate with other forces to maintain good relations with other countries, attract resources for development, protect national achievements, and leverage Vietnam's soft power and value.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang: "Through cultural diplomacy, we can connect with the world and the international community in the most heartfelt ways, from stories about cuisine, music and art to the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), heritage, etc."

The Deputy Minister was asked about the role of economic diplomacy and cultural diplomacy in contributing to enhancing Vietnam's position and image on the international stage today.

If political diplomacy is considered the spearhead, the vanguard force, then economic diplomacy is the launching pad for national potential, and cultural diplomacy is the launching pad for the nation's spirit.

In order for economic diplomacy and cultural diplomacy to best fulfill their roles in the period of reform, the 11th Party Congress also set forth the requirement for close coordination between political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, and cultural diplomacy.

The 13th Congress also emphasized the need for close and effective coordination between economics, culture, society, foreign affairs, and national defense… All the Party's policies and guidelines have paved the way for diplomacy.

Economic diplomacy and cultural diplomacy have made practical and effective contributions to the country's overall development goals. I'll give you an example: vaccine diplomacy. In a very difficult context at the time, we promoted vaccine diplomacy to help Vietnam become one of the countries with guaranteed safety and the earliest reopening.

Furthermore, developing cultural diplomacy helps us leverage our national soft power. Through cultural diplomacy, we connect with the world and the international community in the most heartfelt ways, from stories about cuisine, music, and art to the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), heritage, and more. Vietnam skillfully integrates traditional and everyday Vietnamese art forms into high-level diplomatic activities.

How will the role of the younger generation of diplomats determine the future of our country's diplomacy, Mr. Deputy Minister?

President Ho Chi Minh said, "Cadres are the root of all things," and "cadre work is the key of keys," therefore, training the younger generation in any field is very important. It determines future development. In the field of diplomacy, we pay great attention to training the younger generation.

The younger generation now has more favorable conditions compared to us. In the past, some diplomatic staff members lacked professional training. Later, after being recruited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we received short-term training courses and, more importantly, learned from the senior staff.

Currently, students are being trained in a very good environment. The Diplomatic Academy is one of the most prestigious and high-quality training institutions. Not to mention the many international relations and international economics departments at various universities. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad or pursue their studies locally.

Beyond professional expertise and diplomatic skills, I believe the most important thing is that the students are instilled with a passion for the profession, equipped with the necessary skills of a diplomatic officer, and that if they want to become good diplomats, they must possess a patriotic spirit and a commitment to service, as reflected in the diplomatic sector's slogan for the past 80 years: "Dedication to serving the nation and the people."

Achieving the three objectives of foreign policy.

As the country enters a new era, what are the fundamental directions for Vietnam's diplomacy in the coming period?

Our country is entering a new era amidst complex and unpredictable turning points and developments in the world and the region. During a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Secretary To Lam emphasized: In this new era, an era of national resurgence, Vietnamese diplomacy must reach new heights to fulfill its glorious responsibility, worthy of being the vanguard, an integral part of the Vietnamese revolution.

I believe that:

Firstly, Vietnamese diplomacy must play a crucial and consistent pioneering role in establishing and consolidating a favorable, peaceful, and stable foreign policy environment to achieve the three objectives of foreign policy: security, development, and enhancing the country's standing. In particular, it must deepen cooperation between Vietnam and other countries in an effective, sustainable, and mutually beneficial manner across the board.

Secondly, through economic diplomacy, science and technology diplomacy, etc., foreign relations must pave the way to seize opportunities and overcome challenges, striving to create new drivers of national development, leveraging domestic strengths while attracting foreign investment. Foreign relations must contribute to guiding the country in line with the development trends of the times, creating a proactive stance to grasp new trends.

Thirdly, we must continuously enhance Vietnam's contributions to the common affairs of the international community, assume a role in multilateral institutions, and be ready to contribute to multilateral forums; organize multilateral events and international conferences in Vietnam, and especially be more proactive and assertive in proposing initiatives.

Another very important point is to leverage the nation's soft power and elevate Vietnam's status and influence. How can we ensure that we are not only a strong economic nation, but that when people think of Vietnam, they also think of its cultural values, so that Vietnam can reach out to the world and bring the world closer to Vietnam?

Finally, it is crucial to build a comprehensive, modern, and professional Vietnamese diplomacy with a team of capable officials who can adapt to the demands of the new situation and meet the development goals of our country in the new era.

An online discussion titled "80 Years of Vietnamese Diplomacy: Serving the Nation and People" featured insights from Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

"Connecting" with international friends through a comprehensive view of Vietnam.

I'm curious to know what we would name a mobile application if the Vietnamese diplomatic service had one. For example, "VietDiplo – Connecting the world with just one touch" or "Peace 360 – Anytime, Anywhere"?

This is a great suggestion. We could develop a mobile app so that with a single tap, international friends can gain comprehensive access to Vietnam – a peaceful country with abundant natural and cultural heritage, diverse cuisine, and immense potential for cooperation…

And the most important thing about a name is its meaning, its ability to "connect" with the user.

As someone with a long history in the diplomatic field, could the Deputy Minister share with VietNamNet readers a joyful or sad memory, or an inspiring story, to help readers understand what "people in the diplomatic field" are like?

There are many happy memories, but there are also things that I'm not so happy about. There are times when I'm very satisfied and excited about the results of my work, but there are also times when I still think to myself that perhaps I could have done better.

Therefore, I believe this is also one of the requirements for diplomatic staff, especially for young people. That is, they must always strive and try their best to do well. When I was invited to interact with students at the Diplomatic Academy, I asked them what they imagined diplomatic staff to be like.

I jokingly said that you might imagine diplomats dressed elegantly, traveling in luxury cars, frequenting prestigious places like the presidential palace, royal residences, and royal residences… But you don't know, or haven't yet realized, that behind those glamorous photos lies immense effort and countless sleepless nights. Many diplomatic officials work in areas like citizen protection or border control, climbing mountains, crossing streams, and venturing into the most dangerous places…

Do you remember the APEC 2017 event? A week before the conference, a major storm hit, destroying or affecting all our preparation efforts. But in a very short time, all forces were determined and overcame the difficulties. We organized the APEC conference in Da Nang with many memorable moments.

Similarly, at the US-North Korea summit, despite having just over a week to prepare, all forces worked hard, and we successfully organized the event, providing both sides with a secure and safe negotiating environment, respectful protocol, and a warm sense of Vietnamese hospitality.

When I spoke with many people, they shared the question, "Why is Vietnam so dedicated to a conference between two seemingly unrelated countries?", and the answer was for peace, to contribute, however small, to world peace. Throughout my work, I have been inspired and motivated by things that seem so small...

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