Reaching out with the country into the new era

The country is at a transitional time, moving into a new spring. Spring is the season of budding and budding, nurturing dreams and hopes. Naturally, spirituality urges us to reflect on the past year and look forward to a bright future.

Rising together with the nation into a new era.

The Power of the Year of the Dragon

Embodying the power of the Dragon, in the Year of the Wood Dragon, the country overcame challenges, soared high, and conquered many milestones; political and social stability was maintained; the economy exceeded expectations; national defense and security were solid; and international integration was deep and comprehensive, contributing responsibly and enhancing its international standing and prestige.

Pioneering and accompanying the nation, Vietnam has engaged in proactive, positive, and effective diplomacy across all three pillars, channels, and fields, leaving behind outstanding marks and significant achievements. High-level diplomacy has been vibrant, with 60 activities involving key leaders, both domestically and across continents, at summits and global and regional forums. Numerous documents have been signed, new initiatives and ideas have been proposed, deepening the framework of relations with partners and showcasing a strong, reliable, loyal, and responsible Vietnam that has won the hearts of the international community.

Continuing to play a core role and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral diplomacy; integrating deeply, proactively, and comprehensively into the international community, bringing Vietnam into the mainstream while simultaneously leveraging positive energy and preserving national identity, becoming a model of development cooperation.

In a world of intense confrontation and deep divisions, Vietnam is the only country that maintains and develops comprehensive strategic partnerships with the three major powers: China, Russia, and the United States; upholding independence and self-reliance, creating a favorable situation and a framework for long-term stable relations with other partners.

Conducting systematic, decisive, groundbreaking, and practical economic diplomacy, enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation across various regions and with partners, and exploring new, potentially lucrative markets; affirming its role as a crucial driving force for the strong development of the national economy.

Diplomacy continues to play a pioneering role, leveraging external resources for national development; together with national defense and security, it effectively carries out the crucial and ongoing task of maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, and firmly protecting the Fatherland from early on and from afar.

Ministries, departments, and localities harmonize in a rich, majestic, and captivating chorus. The strength of the entire nation is powerfully unleashed through widespread, practical, and concrete activities of people-to-people diplomacy. 2024 will be a fruitful year for multifaceted cultural diplomacy, a spiritual foundation that spreads the values ​​and strength of the country and nation, creating momentum for integration and development.

In particular, the Year of the Dragon (Giáp Thìn) created a high degree of unity regarding opportunities, the inevitability of a new era, and the gradual preparation for a journey to new heights. This is an invaluable asset, full of pride, and also represents the hope the country has as it enters the Year of the Snake (Ất Tỵ). "Learning from the past to understand the present," welcoming the Year of the Snake, we remember the springs of the Year of the Snake.

In March 1929, the first Communist Party cell in Vietnam was established with seven members. Subsequently, three more communist organizations were formed. This laid the foundation for the unification conference organized by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc on February 3, 1930, to form the Communist Party of Vietnam. The image shows the founding conference of the Communist Party of Vietnam on February 3, 1930. The photograph is a reproduction of a painting by artist Phi Hoanh at the National Historical Museum. (Source: dangcongsan.vn)

The mark of the Spring seasons of the Year of the Snake

In the spring of 981 (the year of the Metal Snake), King Le Hoan led the army to defeat the enemy on the Bach Dang River, contributing to the defeat of the first Song Dynasty invasion. In 1077, General Ly Thuong Kiet established the Nhu Nguyet defensive line on the Cau River to resist the invading Song army led by Guo Kui. Legend has it that on January 18, 1077, the heroic poem "Nam Quoc Son Ha" (The Mountains and Rivers of the Southern Country) - the first declaration of the nation - resonated majestically across this sacred land, inspiring the spirit of our army and people to defeat the enemy.

On the 24th day of the 12th lunar month of the year Dinh Ty (January 29, 1258), King Tran Thai Tong led the Dai Viet army and people in a major counterattack at Dong Bo Dau (Long Bien, Hanoi today), inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, forcing them to retreat back to their country, ushering in a peaceful spring for the nation. In the spring of Quy Ty 1533, King Le Trang Tong ascended the throne, establishing the Le Trung Hung Dynasty (Later Le Dynasty), opening the longest-lasting feudal dynasty in history (1533-1789).

Exactly 240 years ago, on January 19, 1785 (the year of the Snake), the Tay Son rebels achieved a resounding victory at Rach Gam - Xoai Mut, the largest naval battle in history, annihilating 50,000 Siamese troops. From that victory, the Tay Son dynasty grew stronger and stronger, expanding its influence as far as Phu Xuan and Northern Vietnam.

Going back in history, in the second lunar month of the year Ky Ty (1149), King Ly Anh Tong issued a decree establishing Van Don trading port in Quang Ninh, the first trading port, creating favorable conditions for expanding international trade by sea.

In March 1929, the first Communist Party cell in Vietnam was established with seven members. Subsequently, three more communist organizations were formed. This laid the foundation for the unification conference organized by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc on February 3, 1930, to form the Communist Party of Vietnam, ushering in a new phase of the revolution.

After 30 years of wandering across continents and oceans, on the second day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake (January 28, 1941), leader Nguyen Ai Quoc crossed the Vietnam-China border in the Ha Quang and Cao Bang provinces to directly lead the revolution. At Pac Bo, he directed the construction of a base, organized national salvation groups, opened training classes, and prepared for the Central Committee meeting of the Party, marking a turning point for the Vietnamese revolution.

The Spring of the Year of the Snake is often associated with significant events, marking new beginnings in many fields, creating turning points and paving the way for the nation's development. The hope is that the Spring of the Year of the Snake will continue to be the start of new milestones.

The year 2025 (Year of the Snake) marks the 80th anniversary of the diplomatic service and many other significant events for the country.

The Year of the Snake (2015) marks the beginning of a new era.

The year 2025 is marked by many significant events, including the 80th anniversary of National Day, the 50th anniversary of national reunification, the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN, and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Diplomatic Service... In particular, it is a year of momentum and preparation for the country to enter a new era of development and prosperity, based on three decisive factors and pillars: building a solid foundation and "launching pad"; making breakthroughs to remove institutional bottlenecks; and creating strong momentum capable of propelling the country to new heights.

The great journey must be meticulously prepared, starting now. The new era demands a worthy document, additions and developments to the Political Platform, and a team of strategic cadres with sufficient dedication, competence, courage, and wisdom to form the core for consolidating the foundation, removing bottlenecks and obstacles, and creating momentum for development in a new phase. There are many national and major tasks to be undertaken to build a new stature for the country.

First and foremost, it is essential to continue to thoroughly instill in the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army a deep understanding of the new era, its urgent demands, opportunities, and challenges. From there, we can innovate our thinking, strategic vision, methods, and speed of action to meet these new demands.

Based on that foundation, a revolution in the organizational structure and operating methods of the political system will be carried out from the central level, ministries, and departments to the local and grassroots levels. This revolution will affect nearly five thousand legal documents and millions of people, demanding sacrifice, prioritizing the common good over personal interests, and emphasizing the pioneering and exemplary role, especially of the leaders. The revolution in organizational structure must be conducted scientifically, decisively, and fundamentally completed in the first quarter of 2025.

At the same time, in the final year of the term, we must make resolute efforts to successfully achieve the goals of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; successfully hold Party congresses at all levels; finalize the draft documents and prepare personnel for the 14th National Party Congress.

The challenge lies in carrying out tasks simultaneously, sometimes requiring a "run and queue" approach, yet the demands are very high, ensuring that one task does not affect or hinder another. Therefore, it must be carried out synchronously, comprehensively, and strategically; decisively and cautiously; scientifically and thoroughly; with reason and compassion.

In this new context, diplomacy needs to deeply understand its pioneering mission: bridging the gap between Vietnam and the world, creating new opportunities, positioning Vietnam favorably in the flow of the times, combining internal and external forces, national strength with the strength of the times, and elevating the country's progress alongside its development.

Leveraging the role of economic diplomacy, continuing to renew traditional growth drivers, expanding markets, cooperating, and transferring semiconductor chip and artificial intelligence (AI) technology; joining forces for digital transformation, green transformation, and the development of science and technology to create momentum and breakthroughs for the country.

Leveraging the unique characteristics of people-to-people diplomacy and cultural diplomacy, shifting more strongly from exchanges to cooperation, promoting tourism, investment, and trade, and attracting resources for construction and development. Closely coordinating with national defense and security to fulfill crucial tasks, regularly protecting the Fatherland from early on and from afar, and maintaining a peaceful environment for national construction and development.

Proactively and promptly identify challenges, seize opportunities, propose policies and solutions to attract the maximum amount of external resources, and appropriately handle complex relationships and situations; proactively initiate and propose initiatives, play a core and leading role in important international issues and mechanisms of strategic importance, consistent with national interests, and make positive contributions to peace, cooperation, development, and progress of humanity.

To fulfill its mission, Vietnam's diplomacy needs to be built and perfected to be increasingly comprehensive, modern, and professional. The focus should be on digital transformation in thinking and action; organizational reform to be lean, efficient, strong, and modern; and building a team of capable, intelligent officials who dare to think, dare to act, dare to innovate, dare to be pioneers and breakthroughs, and possess skills and qualifications on par with international standards.

The greater the honor, the greater the responsibility. The atmosphere of the Year of the Snake (2015) is pervasive, inspiring cadres, Party members, civil servants, and diplomatic officials to rise up like Phu Dong Thien Vuong in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.