Illustration photo by dangcongsan.vn

At the conference entitled “Diplomacy in the Ho Chi Minh era: 80 years of dedicated service to the nation and people” held on Monday in Hanoi, Mr. Son highlighted Vietnamese diplomacy’s achievements and contributions over the past 80 years.

He said diplomacy plays an important role in building peace, breaking the siege and embargo, and expanding the foreign affairs landscape with the pursuance of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, for peace, cooperation and development.

“In particular, economic diplomacy has been a central task, a major driving force for national development. Vietnam has attracted hundreds of billions of USD in FDI capital, becoming one of the 20 countries with the largest trade in the world, an important link in 17 free trade agreements (FTAs), which connect Vietnam with more than 60 key economies around the world.”

Vietnam now has diplomatic relations with 194 countries, built a network of strategic partnerships and comprehensive partnerships with 37 countries, including major countries and all five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Vietnam is an active member of more than 70 international and regional organizations, Deputy PM Son said.

At the conference, delegates emphasized Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic ideology and the combined strength of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people's diplomacy. They proposed orientations for the development of comprehensive, modern, professional diplomacy, imbued with national identity in the new era. Former Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Ton Nu Thi Ninh called Vietnam a model in balancing between major powers on the basis of national interests.

“The most prominent evidence of Vietnam's rising global position and prestige is its two terms serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, particularly the 2020-2021 term. This impressive achievement allowed us to move from a recipient to a contributor and a responsible and trustworthy partner. Vietnam's outstanding contribution to the South Sudan peacekeeping force has been recognized by the UN. Vietnam's prestige in the eyes of the international community is most clearly and convincingly demonstrated by Vietnam being elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the second time in 2020 with a record high of votes with 192 out of 193,” Ms. Ninh added.