'The Flame of Emulation' – Forging Vietnam's Diplomatic Spirit

Throughout eight decades of growth with the country, the Vietnamese Diplomatic Service has always affirmed its pioneering position on the foreign affairs front, making an important contribution to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Behind the glorious and proud achievements throughout the long history is the "flame of patriotic emulation" that has never been extinguished, fostering the mettle, intelligence and personality of generations of Vietnamese diplomatic staff.

Right from the early days of the country's founding, President Ho Chi Minh , the first "industry commander" of Vietnam's Diplomacy, affirmed: "Competition is patriotism, patriotism requires emulation, those who emulate are the most patriotic people". Over 80 years of construction and development, under the leadership of the Party and Uncle Ho, Vietnam's diplomacy has always upheld the spirit of serving the Fatherland and the people, making great contributions to the nation's revolutionary cause. The spirit of patriotic emulation does not stop at slogans but is concretized by practical actions, vibrant and creative emulation movements, associated with each stage of the country's development.

Ngọn lửa thi đua – tôi luyện bản lĩnh ngoại giao Việt Nam

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 endless beat of a patriotic heart

President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed: “Our people have a passionate love for the country. That is our precious tradition.” Throughout his life, the father of the nation “had only one desire, the ultimate desire, which is to make our country completely independent, our people completely free, everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, everyone can go to school.”

The patriotism of the first Foreign Minister also became the source of a strong and great wave of patriotism of the diplomatic "army", "surviving" all dangers and difficulties of the "life-threatening" situation or "internal and external enemies" to write many heroic pages of history, forging excellent diplomats such as Pham Van Dong, Hoang Minh Giam, Nguyen Duy Trinh, Xuan Thuy, Le Duc Tho, Nguyen Thi Binh, Nguyen Co Thach... who have become symbols of the bravery and intelligence of Vietnamese diplomacy.

Most recently, in his speech at the 80th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Sector, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that: "Diplomacy has always been closely linked to the country's destiny from the dawn of independence in the fall of 1945 to the triumphant song of peace and unification in 1975 and the renewal, integration, building of the foundation, and raising Vietnam's position in the international arena today."

Throughout those years, patriotism was when the steadfast spirit and flexible intelligence for the ultimate benefit of the nation were revealed in the fierce "battles of wits" from the Geneva Conference in 1954, the Paris Agreement in 1973 to the journey of "breaking the siege" at the United Nations, restoring friendly neighborly relations with China and ASEAN countries, fighting against the embargo of the US government, developing relations with nationalist and non-aligned countries, gradually expanding relations with developed capitalist countries and international organizations, gradually becoming members of major international multilateral organizations and forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement (1976), the United Nations (1977)...

Entering the period of innovation and deep international integration, the patriotic emulation spirit of the Diplomatic sector continues to be fostered and called upon, the diplomatic "army" always promotes its pioneering role, taking the lead in building peace, protecting the Fatherland "early, from afar", opening up a favorable foreign situation for building and protecting the Fatherland; contributing to making Vietnam an active and responsible member of the international community.

From a besieged and isolated country, Vietnam now has diplomatic relations with 194 countries, established a network of countries with Comprehensive Partnership relations or higher, including all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, all ASEAN countries, all G7 members, 18/20 G20 economies, and is an active member of more than 70 international organizations. Vietnam has twice served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (terms 2008-2009 and 2020-2021), three times as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (terms 2014-2016, 2023-2025 and recently elected for the term 2026-2028), participated in 6/7 key operating mechanisms of UNESCO...

I think, every diplomat through each page of the history of the Industry, if he does not love the Fatherland "like flesh and blood, like his parents, like his wife and husband" (Vietnam, blood and flowers - To Huu), how can he achieve such great and proud victories!

I still remember, on an occasion when sharing with young diplomats about his most favorite saying and wanting to inspire the younger generation, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son mentioned the spirit of resilience, indomitability, and sacrifice for the love of the Fatherland of the character Pavel in the novel How the Steel Was Tempered - "Steel was tempered in red fire and cold water, at that time the steel became fearless".

Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Nguyen Trung Kien receives the honorary symbol at the program "Glory of Vietnam 2025" presented by Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia and President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Nguyen Dinh Khang, June 22. (Photo: Hai Nguyen)

“Fire tests gold, hardship tests strength”

At the patriotic emulation congress for the period 2015-2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the patriotic emulation movement for the period 2020-2025 with the theme "Vietnamese diplomacy is brave, professional, modern, creative, and effective for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland". Over the past 5 years, the Foreign Affairs sector has carried out its tasks in the context of the world and regional situation witnessing great, profound, complex, and unpredictable changes, with multi-dimensional impacts on the security and development environment of the country. However, "fire tests gold, hardship tests strength", the success of this "campaign" is the driving force for another "campaign", foreign affairs work has been deployed synchronously, comprehensively, in the right direction, with key focuses and has reaped many "sweet fruits".

In carrying out its tasks during the pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has maintained its core and pioneering role. The patriotic emulation movement has become a driving force encouraging the entire sector to strive to excellently complete the foreign affairs tasks of the Party and State. The vaccine diplomacy "campaign" has become a milestone, an inspirational story of the spirit of service so that each diplomat always strives to overcome challenges and best complete the assigned tasks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has arranged hundreds of phone calls and letters between senior Vietnamese leaders and international partners, mobilizing more than 258 million vaccine doses, of which nearly 120 million are aid doses, helping to save the budget nearly 23 trillion VND. This effort not only saves the lives of millions of people but also demonstrates the spirit of "competing to serve the people" in Vietnamese diplomacy.

At the same time, the Industry has launched the movement "cadres, civil servants, and public employees compete to practice office culture", building a team of diplomatic cadres with courage, professionalism, discipline, and responsibility; effectively implementing the movement "the whole country competes in digital transformation" with the program "digital literacy for the masses".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also launched many emulation movements with practical content, linked with studying and following the moral example and lifestyle of Ho Chi Minh; closely following foreign affairs tasks and building the sector, taking the successful completion of political tasks as the main criterion to evaluate emulation results.

Notably, in recent times, the Ministry has presided over and coordinated the issuance of 17 resolutions, conclusions and directives of the Politburo and the Secretariat on important foreign affairs issues; implemented more than 340 high-level bilateral and multilateral activities, and signed over 500 cooperation agreements. Vietnam has upgraded or established strategic partnerships and comprehensive partnerships with many countries, strengthened relations with all major countries and partners, and major international organizations such as the United Nations, G20, APEC, ASEAN, etc. This is a direct result of the spirit of "competing to work creatively and effectively" throughout the industry.

Patriotic emulation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not only a driving force to carry out foreign affairs tasks, but also a method to build an increasingly professional, effective and efficient sector.

The Ministry has streamlined its organizational structure to 25 administrative units and 5 public service units, reducing nearly 40% of the focal points; promoted administrative reform, digital transformation and strengthened financial discipline and order. Inspection, examination, and anti-corruption, waste and negativity work have been carried out seriously and transparently, contributing to strengthening internal trust.

“To love the country is to compete”, the measure of the actual effectiveness of the work is the core criterion in the commendation work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over the past 5 years, the whole sector has had 129 Medals, 186 Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister, 1,818 Certificates of Merit from the Minister; the commendation rate for direct workers reached nearly 50%, female cadres reached 28%. The Ministry also promptly proposed commendations for overseas Vietnamese groups and individuals and international friends who have made many contributions to the friendly relations with Vietnam, demonstrating the spirit of gratitude and spreading the good values of the patriotic emulation movement.

On all fronts, whether at home or abroad, Vietnamese diplomatic officers always carry within themselves the spirit of “for the national interest”, “for the image of Vietnam in the international arena”. Many typical examples from officers in departments, agencies, units to ambassadors and heads of representative agencies have left a deep impression of dedication, responsibility and innovation.

The driving force for the "dare" spirit of diplomatic staff is nothing greater than patriotism. Perhaps, as tradition has it, when the spirit of patriotism is united and becomes an extremely large "wave", all challenges and difficulties will be conquered. That "wave" in the diplomatic "army" has always been strong, has been the strength of Vietnamese diplomacy throughout the past 8 decades and will also be an unparalleled driving force for Vietnamese diplomacy to reach new heights.

Officials and youth union members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the 255th Vietnam-Laos border marker. (Source: Communications Department of the Youth Union of the Diplomatic Academy)

When the “wave” is combined

The coming period, in the era of national development, will be a period of many challenges but also of great promise. The Draft Political Report of the 14th Party Congress has many new points that affirm the pioneering role of foreign affairs and diplomacy in maintaining a peaceful environment, protecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, mobilizing external resources for the cause of development and enhancing the national position. In particular, this time our Party has identified promoting foreign affairs and international integration as a central and regular task of the entire political system.

With that great "mission", recently at the 1st Congress of the Government Party Committee, Comrade Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Party Committee Secretary, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung emphasized the building of a professional, civilized, humane, modern and effective diplomatic sector, meeting new requirements in the context of globalization and deep integration.

In particular, among the focuses on innovation in thinking and leadership methods in foreign affairs, Minister Le Hoai Trung appreciated the innovation of the Party's leadership methods through personnel work, improving the capacity of personnel, especially improving awareness, political capacity, professional courage, and adaptability in the context of integration; building a team of diplomatic staff who are "both red and professional"; building a model of dedicated, exemplary leadership who dare to think, dare to do, and dare to take responsibility for the common interest.

The driving force for that “dare” spirit is nothing greater than patriotism. Perhaps, as tradition has it, when the spirit of patriotism is united and becomes an extremely large “wave”, all challenges and difficulties will be conquered. That “wave” in the diplomatic “army” has always been strong, has been the strength of Vietnamese diplomacy throughout the past 8 decades and will also be an unparalleled driving force for Vietnamese diplomacy to reach new heights.

Excerpt from a message from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 1st Congress of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the 2025-2030 term to conclude: In the coming time, it is forecasted that the situation will have more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages, so it is necessary to strongly promote the democratic spirit, aspiration, passion, dedication and sacrifice of the diplomatic staff, with faith in victory, faith in justice, overcoming one's own limits; each diplomatic staff must be a pioneer on the foreign affairs front.

The 5th National Emulation Congress of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2025) with the theme "Building a competent, disciplined, modern, and professional Vietnamese diplomacy; promoting the pioneering, important, and regular role of foreign affairs and international integration, for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland" took place in the context of the entire Party and people looking towards the 14th National Party Congress - a pivotal moment for a new development stage of the country and the diplomacy sector.

The Congress is an opportunity to summarize, honor and replicate advanced models, spreading the spirit of 'Emulation is patriotism - patriotism requires emulation', aiming to build a comprehensive, modern, professional, civilized and humane diplomacy in the spirit of direction of General Secretary To Lam.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ngon-lua-thi-dua-toi-luyen-ban-linh-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-333611.html