 President Ho Chi Minh receives a French peace movement delegation during their visit to Vietnam, March 15, 1955. (Photo: Archive/ VNA) |
To mark the 125th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh in 2015, Deputy Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh wrote, “President Ho Chi Minh was an eminent diplomat. He was the first State President and first Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He was the founder of Vietnam’s modern diplomacy who directly worked out Vietnam’s diplomatic policies, directed diplomatic activities, and made diplomacy a front, contributing to the success of national liberation and reunification.”
Whenever the country faced difficulties in different periods, President Ho Chi Minh remained consistent in his approach to foreign affairs, which was broad and profound.
He particularly emphasized and pursued the policy of “more friends and fewer enemies”, befriending all democratic countries, and hating no one.
In particular, President Ho Chi Minh promoted the “knowings” – knowing when to be gentle and when to be tough, knowing the time and the tide, knowing ourselves and others, and knowing when to advance and when to retreat.
India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said of President Ho Chi Minh,“We have met a person who is part of Asian history. We meet such a great man, and we meet a period of history. Therefore, we not only enrich our thoughts but also feel more honored. Meeting President Ho is such an experience.”
American researcher David Halberstam said Nguyen Ai Quoc (President Ho Chi Minh) was typical of a culture – not a European culture, but a future culture.
 Professor Hoang Chi Bao, a leading researcher on President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: Tran Vuong) |
Professor Hoang Chi Bao, a leading researcher on President Ho Chi Minh, said the President’s cultural, humane, and elaborate diplomacy style was hailed and supported by foreign friends, contributing to the great success of Vietnam’s revolution.
“President Ho Chi Minh clearly identified who was a friend and who was an enemy so that he could isolate enemies and make full use of support from friends for the benefit of the Vietnamese people and revolution,” said Mr. Bao.
“His diplomacy was demonstrated in every field and every situation, including among his comrades, other Communist Parties, Vietnamese people, and foreign friends. In every circumstance, his sincerity, openness, and frankness received support from foreign friends,” he added.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, who worked in the foreign affairs sector and served as an interpreter for President Ho Chi Minh, said that for him, the President was a great teacher of diplomacy.
“President Ho Chi Minh was simple and close to others. He taught us many things about diplomacy. He stressed the need to study history and learn foreign languages. We really admired and respected him,” said Mr. Khoan.
President Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic policies have been the key to the success of the Vietnam Communist Party’s diplomacy in different historical periods. At the recent National Foreign Relations Conference, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, hailed the great historical contributions of President Ho Chi Minh to Vietnam’s diplomatic sector, integration process, and national development.
“President Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation and directly led and guided the development of the Vietnamese revolutionary diplomatic service. The fundamental elements of Ho Chi Minh’s Diplomatic Thought stem from the philosophy and tradition of diplomacy employed by our forefathers, and it was President Ho Chi Minh himself who developed these values to a higher level, seamlessly combining patriotism, national culture, and Vietnamese diplomatic traditions with the quintessence of world culture and diplomatic experience,” said Mr. Trong.
“This school of thought always upholds the goal of national independence, tolerance, and amity. Diplomacy is to be used to deter conflict, and it must be in accord with the world circumstances, so that Vietnam may join in the flow of the time.”
Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his wish that Vietnam’s diplomacy will continue to bring into full play President Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic policies in modern time to deal with diplomatic challenges, promote cooperation and development, protect national interests, and respect international laws.