(VOVworld) – Vietnam has gained many significant achievements in external affairs in 2013, raising the nation’s position in the international arena while consolidating Vietnam’s prestige in the world, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. In 2013, Vietnam established diplomatic ties with 5 countries and set up comprehensive strategic partnership with 2 countries. Up to this moment, Vietnam has had strategic partnership with 13 countries and comprehensive partnership with 11 countries. Deputy Prime Minister Minh highlighted the importance of establishing strategic and comprehensive partnership with 5 members of the UN Security Council, citing their big influence in the world. He said: "Vietnam’s partnership with major countries, especially members of the UN Security Council will help create a peaceful and stable environment for Vietnam. Since Vietnam set up a strategic partnership with Russia, Vietnam-Russia’s two-way trade turnover increased 6 folds. Vietnam’s trade activities with China have increased 4 times in 6 years while that with the UK doubled in just 3 years of strategic partnership. It can be said that Vietnam’s export-import activities with 5 UNSC members account for 45% of the countries’ total import-export activities while their investment accounts for 20% of the total foreign investment to VN. The Vietnamese students studying abroad also mainly reside in these 5 countries."

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Photo: internet

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that as Vietnam sets up comprehensive or strategic partnership with other countries, every Vietnamese citizen will benefit from the nation’s multilateral ties in diverse fields: politics, economics, trade, tourism, and culture.
Regarding border, sea and island sovereignty, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh reiterated that protecting Vietnam’s territorial integrity and developing the country are two major sacred tasks of every Vietnamese person. Vietnam has well protected national independence and sovereignty in 2013 while setting up border line at sea with neighboring countries in accordance with the international conventions and laws.