FM hails contributions of the press

At a meeting with the press in Hanoi, Minh noted that 2012 was a busy year for the diplomatic sector, with 49 foreign delegations led by Deputy Prime Ministers, Vice Presidents and Vice Chairmen of legislative bodies visiting Vietnam, a 5-6fold increase on the averages of previous years.

Notably, more than 10 Latin American delegations have paid official visits to Vietnam, including those from Panama, Uruguay and Haiti.

In 2012 Vietnam has successfully organised the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year, and the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has collaborated with relevant ministries and localities to draft a Party Politburo resolution on international integration.

Vietnam has actively implemented land border management agreements with China, as well as land border marker demarcation and planting with Cambodia and Laos.

It has harmoniously dealt with sea disputes, closely coordinating with other ASEAN countries in creating a legal foundation and issuing related statements, taking advantage the support offered by foreign countries concerned about territorial tensions.

This year ASEAN has released a six-point principle on the East Sea, clarifying the regional grouping’s stance on the issue.

Economic diplomacy has helped raise the trade value between Vietnam and its partners despite the global economic recession, said Minh.

Vietnam is currently in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP), and free trade agreements with the European Union, the Republic of Korea, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). It is also preparing for FTA negotiations with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

 As many as 36 countries, including members of G20, have now recognised Vietnam’s market economy status.