State President Nguyen Minh Triet paid a Tet visit to cadres and staff of the foreign ministry and wish them further success in the new year.

President Triet highlighted the diplomatic sector’s great contribution to Vietnam’s achievements last year such as the successful organization of the 14^th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Vietnam’s admission to the World Trade Organization and the decision of the Group of Asian Countries at the United Nations to nominate Vietnam as its only non-permanent member. President Triet emphasised that in the context of international integration, the diplomatic sector plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability for the country’s sustainable development. The sector should become a key adviser to the Party and State in external affairs, conduct foreign-related activities in an active and effective manner, combine political and security diplomacy with cultural and economic diplomacy. Vietnam’s diplomatic activities should be more active as the country’s image has been elevated in the international arena.

President Triet asked the sector to contribute to the country’s socio-economic development in the current period. It is necessary to closely combine political diplomacy with external economic activities, seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and speed up international and regional economic integration.

The State President Nguyen Minh Triet praised the diplomatic sector for considering 2007 a diplomatic year for economic development and hoped that the sector will continue to perform well in the coming year.

The diplomatic sector should closely cooperate with media agencies to intensify foreign-related propaganda activities to promote Vietnam’s image in the world and make the best of international support for the revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese people, Mr Triet stressed.

He also asked the sector to actively assist and protect Vietnamese citizens living abroad while affirming that the Party and State will spiritually and materially create the best conditions for the diplomatic sector to fulfill its tasks.