In the diplomatic sector, Mr. Vu Khoan is a leader who has had a profound influence on many generations of cadres.
Late Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan (1937-2023).
Contribute to opening up the country
On June 21, many generations of diplomatic officials were saddened to hear that Mr. Vu Khoan, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee and former Deputy Prime Minister, passed away at 7:05 a.m. the same day at the 108 Central Military Hospital in Hanoi .
Former Director of the Diplomatic Academy Vu Duong Huan commented that former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan was a professional diplomat who held many different positions; studied and worked in the Soviet Union; interpreted for Uncle Ho, General Secretary Le Duan, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong; and was a veteran of Vietnam's diplomatic sector. The former Deputy Prime Minister was a person with innovative, creative and integrated thinking. Through the two terms of Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet and Phan Van Khai, former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan and the Government contributed to helping Vietnam end the embargo and open a new foreign policy.
Minister of Trade Vu Khoan and US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky signed the Vietnam-US Trade Agreement in Washington DC on July 13, 2000. Source: VNA
"During his time as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, he made important contributions to opening up the country and integrating with the world. During the time of Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, when Mr. Vu Khoan was in the position of Deputy Prime Minister, he had a very good policy plan with an open-door roadmap. That roadmap started from Southeast Asia, then to the US, and then expanded to Europe..." - Mr. Vu Duong Huan said.
As Minister of Trade since 2000, Mr. Vu Khoan contributed to the signing of the Vietnam - US Trade Agreement (2001) and promoted Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Mr. Vu Duong Huan shared his impression of the former Deputy Prime Minister as a thoughtful and intelligent person, always reading and learning, with many concerns about how to promote the strong development of Vietnam's diplomacy.
The former Deputy Prime Minister is a great example for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff of all periods, especially for young diplomats, because of his innovative, dynamic, creative and always learning ideas. The former Deputy Prime Minister is also a researcher with many diplomatic research works. "He worked until his death, before he passed away, he still participated in conferences and scientific research seminars of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is a person who learns all his life" - Mr. Huan affirmed.
According to Mr. Huan, when Mr. Vu Khoan held the position of Secretary of the Party Central Committee in charge of foreign affairs, many Politburo members wanted to consult him before making important decisions on foreign affairs.
Simple and honest person
Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed that former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan was an excellent diplomat, a teacher and elder brother to many generations of diplomatic officials. Mr. Vu Khoan was also a talented leader of the Party and State. A truly impartial and selfless person, devoted to the country.
He worked until the last days of his life. Although he had been seriously ill for several years, he did not stop working. His life was very pure and simple. Many generations of diplomatic officials will always remember him as an excellent diplomat and leader of Vietnam.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan (right) at the 25th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN in 2020 organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Mr. Doan Xuan Hung recalled that former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan was the one who interviewed him to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When Mr. Hung was worried that he would not be able to pursue this field without studying diplomacy, Mr. Vu Khoan analyzed: "You study economics, have not done diplomacy, so you will not fully understand diplomacy, but you will be able to do diplomacy, you use foreign languages as a means". And the veteran diplomat convinced the young man who had just graduated from university to work in diplomacy, and later became a good diplomat, contributing a lot to the country.
Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung shared that generations of officials learned many things from Mr. Vu Khoan, especially his sharp thinking in analyzing the world situation but his way of expressing himself was very concise and easy to understand.
For quite a long time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized a class for mid-level and senior officials at the Diplomatic Academy to teach them how to think about foreign affairs, with Mr. Vu Khoan as the main lecturer. People often call it "Vu Khoan class". Generations of diplomatic officials who attend "Vu Khoan class" all listen attentively, absorb knowledge and are very proud to show off "having attended Vu Khoan class". With his analytical methods, problem identification, diplomatic experience..., he has created a proud "brand".
Even after his retirement, when major issues arose, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs always invited him to give his opinion. If he could not attend, they would record audio and video to play back in the hall. "At major conferences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assessing the world situation, its impact on Vietnam, and future predictions, Mr. Vu Khoan was always invited to give his opinion. When he spoke, everyone felt that it was a comprehensive and profound summary," Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung expressed.
Mr. Vu Khoan was born on October 7, 1937, in Phu Xuyen district, Hanoi. He was a member of the Party Central Committee, term VII, VIII, IX; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, term IX; National Assembly delegate, term XI, XII; Deputy Prime Minister (2002 - 2006).
Mr. Vu Khoan served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990), Minister of Trade (2000); Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Foreign Economic Relations, Chairman of the National Committee on APEC (2002). In 2007, he retired in Hanoi.
Mr. Vu Khoan has been awarded many noble titles by the Party and State: First-class Independence Medal, First-class Labor Medal, Second-class Resistance War Medal against America for National Salvation, title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, 60-year Party membership badge in November 2021.
He was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples (former Soviet Union), the First Class Order of Freedom (Laos), and the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) by the governments of various countries.
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