PM Phuc underlines creative diplomacy to raise national stature

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers a speech at the 30th Diplomatic Conference.

He attributed the country’s achievements to the remarkable contributions by the diplomatic sector’s efforts to take full advantage of domestic and foreign resources in order to promote economic restructuring and market expansion towards exponential growth.

“Facilitating diplomacy should be active and creative to seek for solutions to achieve set targets and objectives in the remaining two years of the new term, in particular, a 6.7% of growth rate and CPI below 4%,” Phuc said.

He urged all diplomats to take more active roles in stepping upmultilateral partnerships and, at the same time, guide and push forward the expansion of all-round cooperation with a focus on the national economy. Additionally, they must provide accurate and up-to-date information on foreign markets for the government, ministries, localities, and enterprises as well as give advice on foreign economic diplomacy.

The diplomatic work has been focused on businesses and localities in countries of residence, which is considered to be a key task of fostering external economic relations, he added.

Foreign affairs activities must foster peace, stability and development, he said while describing the quality of talented diplomats as telling inspiring stories to international friends about Vietnam’s history and its passion for peace.

“Our partners, namely Russia, India, the Republic of Korea and China, have due respect to Vietnam’s position in their strategies. Then how do we position ourselves in their strategies. The Foreign Ministry must look for creative and flexible way to improve national image as well as opportunities for peace, stability, cooperation and development,” he said.

However, the cabinet leader also pointed out some shortcomings and weaknesses in foreign affairs such as the ineffective implementation of agreements, commitments with partners; research and forecasts are still passive resulting in unpredictability about regional fluctuations so as to adjust proper policies for some countries; there have not been breakthroughs in innovation and proposals for national development; efforts to reform the diplomatic work fail to create a solid foundation for ensuring long-term development targets.

The PM asked diplomats to promote the strategic position of Vietnam, considering this as one of the priorities of foreign affairs, adding that Vietnamese ambassadors should accompany businesses to seek more resources, promote trade links, attract ODA, tourists, overseas remittances, and develop the labour market towards a digital and smart economy.

The diplomatic sector needs to pay greater attention to human factor in which the adoption of high technologies, modern skills, public diplomacy serving businesses’ operational efficiency should be further promoted, the government leader emphasized.