Bamboo diplomacy philosophy attracts the attention of Vietnamese scholars in Russia

What unique characteristics does bamboo have that enable Vietnam to declare a diplomacy with a “bamboo” identity and achieve successes recognized by the world?

How should we understand and apply this diplomatic principle to achieve effectiveness in bilateral cooperation, especially in the current new era?

How Vietnam's strong cooperation potential is waiting to be exploited were the issues discussed enthusiastically at the workshop "Vietnam in a multipolar world : approaches, challenges and prospects" held on May 22 at the Russian Foreign Ministry's State University of International Relations (MGIMO).

According to a VNA reporter in Moscow, the scientific and diplomatic event was attended by representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, a delegation of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations led by Chairman Phan Anh Son who is on a working visit to Russia, diplomats, Vietnamese students from Russia and Vietnam (participating online) and a large number of MGIMO students.

In his role as keynote speaker, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son outlined the foreign policy that Vietnam under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam is pursuing, which is independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations; being a friend, a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community; steadfast in principles and goals, flexible and clever in strategies; at the same time, closely and harmoniously coordinating between party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people's diplomacy.

Responding to questions from scholars about how Vietnam chooses to participate in international integration organizations, Mr. Phan Anh Son affirmed that, according to the above principle, Vietnam will never participate in any organizations that hinder the development of other countries. On the contrary, Vietnam has always helped countries, including close neighboring countries, to integrate into international organizations.

The concept of bamboo diplomacy, first introduced by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 29th Diplomatic Conference on August 22, 2016, has been known for several years in Russia but has increasingly received more in-depth research.

Sharing with VNA reporters, Deputy Director of the ASEAN Center, Ms. Valeria Vershinina, said that the bamboo diplomatic style is first of all adapting to the current situation in international relations, demonstrated through Vietnam's actions in the current chaotic situation in the world, being soft, flexible, knowing how to adapt to the situation and most importantly, always keeping the initiative in decisions.

Ms. Vershinina pointed out that in just a few years, Vietnam has upgraded its relations to the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership with a series of major powers, especially the United States, while Vietnam and Russia are still maintaining very successful top-level relations.

That shows that Vietnam's bamboo diplomacy is multi-dimensional, and aims to maintain the country's influence and initiative, despite the ongoing conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as in other regions of the world.

Ms. Vershinina also pointed out the similarities between Vietnam's bamboo diplomacy and Russia's multipolar world view.

Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed its policy of being a friend and reliable partner of all countries, supporting a multipolar world in which all countries have a voice and influence on important decisions in global organizations such as the United Nations.

For his part, Vladimir Mazyrin, Director of the Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, assessed that from the perspective of Vietnam studies, the bamboo diplomacy philosophy is a new philosophy in diplomacy. He believes that this philosophy is more reasonable than that of other countries in the region.

Through discussion at the workshop, Mr. Mazyrin said that bamboo diplomacy is not only a method of operation for Vietnam's diplomacy, but also the right political choice in the current context, and this policy demonstrates the research and creative exploration efforts of Vietnam's leaders. Since the General Secretary's statement, Vietnam's diplomacy has absorbed and widely developed.

The correctness of this philosophy is demonstrated through achievements not only on the diplomatic front, but also in Vietnam's economy, trade and investment, as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said: "Our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as it does today."

At the workshop, Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy Doan Khac Hoang highly appreciated the quality of discussions and presentations at the workshop, saying that participants had received useful and current information for work, study and research in Vietnam.

Mr. Doan Khac Hoang also believes that understanding Vietnam's foreign policy will help future diplomats have a smooth and correct start in the career of building and developing relations between Russia and Vietnam.

According to VNA/Vietnam+

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