Foreign ambassadors praise Vietnam’s resilient, proactive, and responsible diplomacy

Pioneering role in new era

Assessing Vietnam's foreign policy vision, Lao Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh noted that Vietnamese diplomacy is entering a proactive new stage of development. Moving beyond merely adapting to a rapidly changing global environment, Vietnam now actively helps shape cooperation initiatives, promote dialogue, build trust, and address global issues. This transition signifies the maturity of Vietnamese diplomacy and the nation's rising international standing.

Echoing this view, Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki emphasized his nation’s consistent support for Vietnam’s policy of strategic autonomy and international integration. He stressed that diplomacy serving as a pioneer in economic diplomacy, attracting high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI), and training high-skilled human resources directly contributes to regional economic security and sustainable development.

Philippine Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III applauded Vietnam for elevating the role of foreign affairs in achieving national development goals, describing its post-14th National Party Congress direction toward deeper integration and economic security as a sound strategy that demonstrates readiness for mutual respect-based dialogue.

Meanwhile, South African Ambassador Vuyiswa Tulelo expressed high expectations for the 33rd Diplomatic Conference as Vietnam outlines its roadmap for transitioning from a lower-middle-income to an upper-middle-income country, serving as a regional and global model for sustainable development.

Affirming the status of a responsible "middle power

From the position of a strongly rising country, Vietnam is increasingly affirming its image as a responsible "middle power" before the international community. Philippine Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III believed that this responsibility is closely linked to the capacity to actively participate in perfecting multilateral institutions, where Vietnam always upholds and strives to ensure the central role of ASEAN in the regional architecture.

This reality is reflected through Vietnam's contributions to global issues. Chinese Ambassador Ha Wei cited Vietnam's establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with 15 countries and regional organizations, alongside its membership in more than 70 international forums and its efforts in climate change response, food security, humanitarian relief, and disaster recovery. These results have clearly affirmed Vietnam's image as a responsible member and a reliable partner of the international community,the Ambassador emphasized.

The capacity for sharing and international support was also recognized by the Philippine Ambassador through humanitarian relief actions when Vietnam dispatched search and rescue forces to support the recovery efforts after the earthquake in Venezuela. Through this, the Ambassador affirmed that Vietnam can fully share its successful experience in disaster prevention as well as maintaining resilient economic growth amid global security fluctuations.

South African Ambassador Vuyiswa Tulelo assessed that Vietnam's international prestige is continuously nurtured thanks to its unique non-aligned diplomatic policy, active engagement with major powers, and flexible adaptability. She highly appreciated Vietnam's growing multilateral roles, such as serving as an observer at the African Union (AU), participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces in Africa, and becoming a partner country of the BRICS group of leading emerging economies.

Vietnam's constructive presence is also clearly demonstrated through major political-security forums worldwide. Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki expressed particular impression with the keynote address by General Secretary and President To Lam at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in May 2026, where the Vietnamese Leader highlighted the concept of "human security" while calling for the promotion of dialogue based on international law and preventive diplomacy. Alongside this, Vietnam hosting the 3rd ASEAN Future Forum in June 2026, assuming the CPTPP Chairmanship this year, and preparing to host APEC next year are the clearest evidence showing that Vietnam's role in the international community is constantly expanding.

Unique diplomatic identity

The key to the success of Vietnamese diplomacy also lies in the human factor with a very unique identity. Lao Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh expressed deep admiration for the glorious tradition of Vietnam's diplomatic sector: "Vietnam's diplomatic sector has been built over many generations with strong political courage, wisdom, identity, and very high adaptability to fluctuations in the world situation."

The Ambassador shared that during her years of working in Vietnam as well as her many years in the diplomatic sector, what remained most deeply with her was "the sincerity, professionalism, sense of responsibility, and open cooperative attitude from Vietnamese diplomats."

This professionalism was also recognized by Philippine Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III through periodic exchanges of the ASEAN Committee in international locations where he previously worked, such as Beijing, London, or Ottawa. Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III paid a special tribute by comparing Vietnamese diplomats to true "diplomat-scholars." Inspired by a visit to the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam), the Ambassador expressed admiration for the enduring tradition of studiousness that fosters a desire for knowledge expansion and lifelong learning to contribute most wisely to foreign affairs activities, a valuable quality that he noted appears in only a few diplomatic services in the world.

"I particularly admire the tradition of studiousness of Vietnamese talents in the past as well as Vietnamese diplomats today. The academic spirit inherited by many Vietnamese diplomats shows an unceasing desire to learn, expand knowledge, and improve qualifications. These are extremely important qualities that any diplomat needs to contribute positively and wisely to foreign affairs activities," Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III shared.

Tightening practical bilateral relations

The trust and respect from the international diplomatic community are also the solid foundation for further tightening practical bilateral relations in the new period. Lao Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh expressed deep confidence that the diplomatic sectors of the two countries will continue to coordinate closely to effectively implement high-level agreements, promoting infrastructure connectivity, trade, investment, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges to bring the special solidarity relationship between Laos and Vietnam into greater depth, substance, and effectiveness.

Regarding Vietnam-China relations, Ambassador Ha Wei expected that Vietnam's 33rd Diplomatic Conference will contribute to bringing Vietnam's diplomacy to a new height, making positive contributions to promoting Vietnam-China relations to continue developing at a high level, while creating new momentum for peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Both sides will continue to consolidate political trust, promote infrastructure connectivity, and create new growth drivers through cooperation in 5G technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and green development. At the same time, he also hoped that people-to-people friendship will be continuously strengthened as the two countries enter the Vietnam-China Tourism Year 2026-2027 to inherit the tradition of understanding and bonding across generations.

Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki affirmed the commitment to accompany and support Vietnam in enhancing its capacity for autonomy and resilience, while continuing to promote comprehensive cooperation from economic security to defense security to build a peaceful and stable international environment.

South African Ambassador Vuyiswa Tulelo placed high expectations on realizing commitments after the two countries officially upgraded relations to a Strategic Partnership in late 2025, especially in promoting high-level delegation exchanges and opening up investment and import-export opportunities in strengths such as minerals, manufacturing, and agriculture.

The trust and high appreciation from foreign ambassadors on the occasion of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference contribute to clearly affirming the self-reliance, courage, and remarkable maturity of Vietnamese diplomacy, opening up prospects for bilateral cooperation. This is a solid basis for Vietnam to continue achieving even greater foreign policy achievements, actively contributing to the common peace, stability, and prosperity of the region and the world.

33rd Diplomatic Conference in Hanoi sets strategic course for new era

VOV.VN - The 33rd Diplomatic Conference opened in Hanoi on August 1, setting a strategic foreign policy agenda to guide the country into a new era following the 14th National Party Congress.