AAFV Secretary General hails Vietnam's successful international integration

Talking to the media about Vietnamese efforts in international integration and development of people-to-people diplomacy, the AAFV leader reviewed the numerous victories recorded in Vietnam's diplomacy that the country had won in the struggle of nation building and defence in the modern period.

Archambault stated that the country had won two wars that are part of world history in the 20th century. Most notably, the Dien Bien Phu victory ended the struggle against the French colonialists in 1954, whilst victory over the US imperialists liberated the South, thereby resulting in national unification in 1975.

These represent Vietnamese successes during years of making efforts to struggle, enlist international support and solidarity, and to integrate with anti-oppression movements of peoples from around the world.

The AAFV Secretary General reiterated that after 1975, the nation supported Cambodia in overthrowing the genocidal Pol Pot regime and help the neighbouring country escape genocide, in addition to fighting the embargo placed on it by the US and Western countries that ran until 1994.

Archambault went on to affirm that all these factors have served to solidify Vietnamese political will to fully integrate into the wider international community, a will that has been successful.

The most prominent evidence of this success is that during the 73rd UN General Assembly, Vietnam was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020 to 2021 term with a majority of approval votes 192 out of 193.

This result demonstrates the latest Vietnamese international position and the international community's confidence in the nation’s foreign policy.

According to the AAFV chief, amid many new challenges in terms of peace, security and development, mobilising support for strengthening multilateralism, and the rule of law, international co-operation is more necessary than ever.

At present, the country has so far established strategic partnerships with around 20 countries, including France, and also signed a free trade agreement with the EU. The nation has also played an active role in ASEAN and is one of the most dynamic economies in the region, Archambault stressed.

Furthermore, the country has also achieved success in joining international organisations, even when it has been forced to negotiate with difficult partners like the US when promoting accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

With regard to citizen diplomacy, the nation has also received great support from friendship and solidarity associations from around the world, including the AAFV.

First established in 1961 when the US imperialists intensified their invasion of Vietnam, the AAFV has continuously developed co-operative relations with local friendship associations. This has been done to launch a range of activities promoting solidarity with the Vietnamese people, with a particular focus on economic, cultural and health care co-operation, along with the traditional strength of the relationship between Vietnam and France, he added.