2006 was considered a successful year for Vietnam’s diplomatic sector following the country’s organisation of the APEC Year and the 14th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The success of the meeting has helped elevate Vietnam’s prestige and role in the international arena.
The year 2006 closed with a colourful picture of the international situation which was predominantly featured by peace, cooperation and development.
The world economy continued to secure its highest growth rate in the past 30 years while the Asia-Pacific region became most dynamic. Economic integration, from the sub-regional to inter-regional scale, was boosted. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) continued to promote solidarity among member countries and step up the building of an ASEAN Community.
However, the picture also had its dark side that adversely impacted peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Civil and sectarian wars, terrorism, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and disputes on territorial borders and natural resources became more complicated, particularly in the Middle East. Economic competitions became fiercer together with increased trade protectionism, particularly among developed countries. The Asia-Pacific region was not an exception, and without flexible solutions, regional security and stability would be affected.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s missile and nuclear weapon tests complicated the situation in the region as well as relations among countries, which was likely to spark an arms race in the region and the world.
In Southeast Asia, difficulties of several ASEAN countries, together with outside intervention, affected solidarity among ASEAN member countries as well as relations between ASEAN and other parts of the world.
In addition, non-traditional threats such as epidemics, natural disasters, environmental pollution and climate change remained complicated, badly affecting the development of all countries.
For Vietnam, local people are proud of the country’s tremendous achievements recorded during the past 20 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The 10th National Party Congress identified orientations and development tasks for the country till 2010 and 2020, opening up a new period in the country’s development and international integration. After the congress, the entire Party, army and people made every effort to realise congress resolutions and reaped encouraging initial results.
On the diplomatic front, thanks to the correct and timely instructions and direct involvement of Party, State, Government and National Assembly leaders, the diplomatic sector grasped opportunities and overcame challenges to implement major diplomatic activities. Those efforts paid off, making significant contributions to the country’s successes. 2006 was considered a year of “bumper harvest” for Vietnam’s diplomatic sector.
2006 also marked new developments in Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy following the successful organisation of the APEC Year 2006 and the 14th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The success of the 14th APEC summit helped increase the country’s prestige and promote the image of a peaceful, dynamic, safe and hospitable nation internationally. The nomination of Vietnam as non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in the 2008-2009 term by Asian countries was attributed to the country’s increased prestige and contributions to resolving important international political and security issues.
In addition, Vietnam played its active role and put forward initiatives in other international multilateral organisations and forums.
The diplomatic sector continued to make important contributions to maintaining peace and facilitating national development. The task of carrying out diplomacy in combination with economic development resulted in important achievements. Notably, Vietnam officially joined the World Trade Organisation, opening up a new period in the country’s international economic integration. In 2006, Vietnam set up new records in external economy, including foreign direct investment capital of US$10.2 billion, official development assistance (ODA) of US$4.45 billion pledged by donors, and exports of nearly US$40 billion.
The diplomatic sector also lent a helping hand to enterprises and localities in external economic activities, including promoting trade and investment, boosting labour and tourism cooperation, and elevating Vietnam’s image abroad.
2006 saw the blossoming of many bilateral and multilateral diplomatic activities, and international friends expressed their wish to strengthen the multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam. The number of high-level delegations to Vietnam increased to 40, a record figure so far. Vietnam made great strides in heightening the friendship and cooperative relations with all countries, particularly with neighbouring and regional countries, economic powers, and other important partners. The country continued to strengthen the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos while boosting relations with Cambodia focusing on economic cooperation and development on the principle of “the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-lasting stability”.
Under the motto of "the friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, durable stability and future-oriented vision", relations between Vietnam and China developed constantly, helping promote mutual trust.
Relations between Vietnam and ASEAN also developed well in 2006.
In particularly, 2006 marked the full normalisation of Vietnam-US relations following the US Congress’s approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relation (PNTR) with Vietnam. Vietnam and Japan agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of economics, striving to build a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia. The country continued to strengthen its strategic partnership with Russia while expanding relations with the European Union, traditional friends and countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
In 2006, Vietnam gained important achievements in border work, contributing to the building of common border areas of peace, stability, cooperation and development with neighbouring countries. Cultural and communications activities for overseas service were renewed, including media coverage on Vietnam’s admission to the WTO. Efforts to promote the image of Vietnam abroad paid off, leaving deep impression on international friends, especially after the 14th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Vietnam actively held dialogues on human rights and religious issues with some countries and showed its determination to fight against dark schemes of hostile forces that take advantage of issues of democracy, human rights and religion to intervene in the country’s internal affairs and undermine national unity.
Activities concerning Vietnamese nationals residing abroad were also boosted. In the context of international integration, the diplomatic sector is fully aware of its responsibility towards protecting Vietnamese citizens in foreign countries.
Remarkable achievements recorded by the diplomatic sector over the past year were of great significance, making positive and long-term impacts on national construction and defence. These achievements were attributed to the country’s increased position and strength after 20 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, as well as to the close and effective cooperation of ministries, agencies, localities, organizations and the entire people, thereby creating an aggregate strength on the diplomatic front.
The coming year is expected to create great opportunities for Vietnam to develop. As peace, cooperation and development remain a major trend and the global economy continues to grow steadily, the country’s external relations and its international integration process will be expanded. However, Vietnam will also face numerous challenges, including fiercer competition and unexpected political, security and economic situation in the region and the world. Despite intermingled opportunities and challenges, Vietnam is enjoying great opportunities and major advantages.
When the country enters a new period of deeper international integration, the diplomatic sector will have to increase the effectiveness of its activities in order to overcome challenges, make use of opportunities and successfully implement the external policy identified by the 10th National Party Congress. In addition to promoting the country’s political-external relations, the sector should focus on serving the national economic development as its primary task. In the post-WTO period, it should take a more active part in grasping new opportunities from WTO admission while overcoming challenges which arise from the opening of the market and the international integration process.
In the face of future complications in the region and the world, it is essential for Vietnam to persist with the principle of national independence, unification and socialism, to be more flexible in its policies and conduct, and to better combine national strength with the strength of the era in order to maintain and promote the stable and peaceful environment for national construction and defence.
Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem
