This statement was made by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh at a meeting to mark the 65^th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on August 28.

Present at the meeting were former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Vice NA Chairman Tong Thi Phong and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem along with many diplomatic officials.

At the meeting, Mr Manh praised the sector’s proud achievements over the past 65 years. He pointed out that the Vietnamese revolution’s mission is to accelerate the renewal process, construct and protect the nation according to socialist principle, carry out the industrialization and modernization process, promote international integration and develop the country into an industrialized nation by 2020.

To accomplish this task, Mr Manh asked the diplomats to grasp five major orientations for the future.

First, the sector must grasp a “foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development; diversification; multilateral international relations, international integration, and keep independence consistent with socialism and maintain a peaceful and stable environment for the success of the industrialization and modernization process.

Second, Vietnam attaches much importance to establishing good relations with neighbouring and regional countries. It should be active and flexible in relations with other countries and create a peaceful and stable environment for development and integration.

Third, it should actively implement a comprehensive diplomatic strategy that coordinates diplomatic activities of the Party, and State and people diplomacy according to Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic thought.

Fourth, diplomats should pay attention to and improve the quality of research, especially for strategic forecasts and creatively apply Ho Chi Minh’s methodology in the regional and world situation.

Fifth, the sector should train and develop qualified diplomatic officials to better implement “comprehensive diplomacy”.

Reviewing the glorious history of the diplomatic sector, Deputy PM Khiem, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is also Foreign Minister, emphasized that 65 years of construction and development has taught the country many valuable lessons. He attributed the sector’s success to the clear sighted leadership of late President Ho Chi Minh, the Party and the State.

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan presented the Ho Chi Minh Order to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its career contribution to the national revolution.