Diplomatic attainment marks a “bright spot” in national achievements

This comes as the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs played host to a symposium showcasing 75 years of Vietnamese diplomacy with the event featuring lessons gained from past experiences. The occasion is part of a broad range of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic sector, from 1945 to 2020, with the aim to provide an objective and scientific assessment of diplomatic contributions to the cause of national construction and defence.

During his opening speech, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stated that the diplomacy of modern Vietnam was born 75 years ago under the direct leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, the country’s first foreign minister.

"During the past 75 years, the diplomatic sector has always accompanied the nation, served the people, and has made great strides and important contributions to the past struggles for national independence and reunification as well as the current process of renewal, international integration and national defence, thus helping elevating Vietnam's standing in the international arena," Deputy PM Minh said.

Amid changes and development, the nation’s diplomacy has undertaken a new mission and now strives to make important contributions to creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment. This is done to firmly safeguard the country while remaining flexible and creative in finding ways to promote international co-operation for the purpose of national construction and further development.

From going from a besieged and embargoed nation, up to the present day, the nation has established a stable and long-term relationship framework with 30 strategic and comprehensive partners. This has been done as a means of expanding and deepening the relationship with numerous nations globally, especially with partners that have a strategic importance to the cause of national development and security, therefore creating linkages of interest with other countries.

Furthermore, Vietnam has developed into an important link in terms of regional and global economic connectivity, whilst participating in many important free trade agreements such as the CPTPP and EVFTA, thereby creating a new driving force to enjoy stronger development. These tremendous achievements recorded during the 75-year period of growth clearly demonstrates the position and role of the diplomatic sector in particular, and foreign affairs in general, in the nation’s revolutionary cause.

The achievements recorded by the diplomatic sector can be seen as a bright sport in the country’s common achievements that affirm the correctness of its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, active international integration, multilateralization, and diversification, in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a core advisory body,” the Vietnamese diplomat said.

The one-day symposium features two sessions of discussion on the topic of the Vietnamese diplomatic sector’s contributions to national construction and development, in addition to its role in promoting a peaceful environment and national development moving forward.