Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has received many State leaders and leaders of countries on their visits to Vietnam (Photo: VOV)

As an outstanding diplomat of international stature, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong led Vietnam to the good fortune, strength, position, and global reputation it has today. Vietnam’s foreign relation achievements over the past decade have been profoundly marked by his leadership.

Diplomatic milestones

During the term of the 13th Party National Congress, Vietnam’s foreign affairs activities have been notably vibrant. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, US President Joe Biden, General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen in 2023, and recently, with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As the top leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Mr. Trong directly participated in significant foreign affairs activities, creating historical turning points and qualitative improvements in Vietnam's relations with various partners. These efforts have elevated Vietnam's position, prestige, and image globally.

His diplomatic approach has helped Vietnam have more friends and less adversaries. It is rare for a country to welcome three heads of state from three leading global powers within nine months.

Associate Professor Chu Hoang Long, Director of the Vietnam Policy Research Center at the Australian National University and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Australia Intellectuals and Experts Association (Photo: VOV5)

Associate Professor Chu Hoang Long, Director of the Vietnam Policy Research Center at the Australian National University and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Australia Intellectuals and Experts Association, said: "General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was a person of great merit and a decisive factor in positioning Vietnam for balance and stability in diplomatic relations, especially with major partners like the United States, the European Union, Russia, and China. It was no coincidence that leaders from these major powers visited Vietnam in close succession. It was no coincidence that US President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong agreed to meet in Hanoi in 2019. General Secretary Trong played a decisive role, along with the senior leadership team, in creating the strategic balance in Vietnam's diplomacy."

Party leader Trong contributed a great deal to strengthening Vietnam’s relationships with neighboring countries and traditional friends. He nurtured the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. He promoted the traditional friendship of "both comrades and brothers" with China, fostering deep connections with the Communist Party of China and its leaders.

Furthermore, General Secretary Trong reinforced the strong fraternal friendship with Cambodia and persistently worked to enhance cooperation between the Cambodian People's Party and the Communist Party of Vietnam, as well as between the governments and people of both countries.

Geographically distant from Vietnam, Cubans remember General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as a tireless advocate for the special friendship between the two countries.

Joy Puentes Saldise, Charge d'affaires of the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam (Photo: VGP/Quang Thuong)

Joy Puentes Saldise, Charge d'affaires of the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, said: "General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was a great friend of Cuba, having visited Cuba five times. He was one of the Vietnamese leaders who visited Cuba the most during various terms. In his position, he consistently worked to promote economic and trade relations between the two countries and enhanced the exchange of experiences in political tasks between the two parties, particularly in regard to ideology."

Strategic vision

The Vietnamese party leader not only excelled in fostering international friendships but also demonstrated exceptional strategic intelligence and theoretical acumen. He encapsulated a comprehensive theoretical system of Vietnam's diplomacy, building a diplomatic approach embracing the characteristics of Vietnamese bamboo: firm roots, a sturdy trunk, and flexible branches.

The roots represent the steadfast maintenance of national interests and the well-being of the people, serving a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification.

The sturdy trunk symbolizes the strength of unity and the combined strength of the entire foreign affairs political system under the direct leadership of the Party. It blends national strength with contemporary global strengths, embodying a spirit of self-reliance and international solidarity.

Flexible branches represent the style of flexible and creative diplomacy.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said: "Vietnam’s foreign affairs achievements over the past decade have been significantly marked by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s contributions. His intellectual vision and profound political insight, along with the guidance from the Party Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat, have not only shaped major foreign policy guidelines but also ensured their effective implementation. The Party leader directly engaged in high-level foreign affairs with strategic orientation, helping to elevate Vietnam’s diplomacy to a new height."

Vietnam’s recent successes in foreign affairs have been attributed to collective efforts by the entire Party, the people, and the army with the most crucial and decisive factor being the direct and comprehensive leadership of the Party, with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at its helm. The Party leader’s strategic foreign affairs activities and profound theories have played a pivotal role in building bridges of friendship, creating unprecedented favorability in the foreign policy environment and securing long-term strategic benefits for Vietnam.