Party General Secretary - a great and dear friend of Thailand and Russia
VOV.VN - Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was always a very dear friend of Thailand, said Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Urawadee Sriphiromya, clarifying that under his leadership, the mutual relationship flourished and grew in a multitude of fields.
In a recent media interview, the diplomat stated that the most important milestone recorded in the joint ties was the upgrade of bilateral relations to that of a strategic partnership during the leader’s historical official visit to Thailand in 2013.
With solid groundwork laid during General Secretary Trong’s tenure, both countries are now working towards the elevation of their relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership in the near future, with a view towards contributing to the prosperity of both countries, peoples, and beyond, she underscored.
The Ambassador hailed General Secretary Trong’s contributions to the national development of Vietnam, outlining that the nation’s rapid development and successful economic growth can be attributed to the strategic vision set out by the late leader.
Throughout his tenure, the country was widely regarded as one of the most dynamic economies in the region, she noted, adding that the nation has managed to become highly attractive to foreign direct investment and to transform itself into a new global manufacturing hub for a diverse range of products, ranging from the agriculture sector to high technology cluster, particularly the semiconductor industry.
“Party General Secretary Trong played an important role in translating the ideology and theory into practice for the prosperity of the country and the benefit of the Vietnamese people amidst the challenging environment,” said the Ambassador.
She asserted that General Secretary Trong was committed to upholding the ethics and integrity of the Party. The anti-corruption campaign led by the Party leader has helped to promote transparency, good governance, and sustainable development for the country as a whole.
The diplomat went on to outline that the Vietnamese policy of “Bamboo Diplomacy”, a term coined by the leader, has been highly praised on the international stage. It is intertwined with the Vietnamese foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralisation. It enhances Vietnamese geopolitics value and puts the nation in a bright spot in the international era despite a fast-changing global geopolitical landscape, she said.
This is a testament of the policy that, since 2023, the country has successfully welcomed leaders of China, the United States, and Russia, with the diplomatic approach showing that the nation balances practical relations with major powers in order to ensure that its national interests are promoted and protected. To date, the nation enjoys cordial diplomatic relations with 193 countries and has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with seven countries, namely China, Russia, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, the US, and Australia.
Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya described General Secretary Trong as a visionary and eminent leader who devoted his life wholeheartedly for the betterment of his country and people. He was an exemplary leader who lived a simple life and gained great respect and love from all walks of life.
In the international arena, with profound knowledge in politics and philosophy, he brought the nation into the limelight and supported the region to become stronger and together more prosperity, she stressed.
The demise of General Secretary Trong is a great loss to the country and to its people. She used the opportunity to extend heartfelt condolences and profound sympathies to Vietnamese people. "His legacy and tireless devotion will be highly upheld and always be remembered," stated the Thai diplomat.
Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam G.S. Bezdetko highlighted General Secretary Trong as a great leader of the Party and people of Vietnam, whilst being a great friend to Russia who played a crucial role in strengthening and enhancing the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.
In a statement made to the press following the passing of the Party leader, the Russian diplomat expressed profound sorrow and extended sincere commiserations to his family, as well as to the leaders and people of Vietnam.
Ambassador Bezdetko remarked that the late leader was an outstanding statesman who unconditionally dedicated his life to serving his country. The diplomat expressed confidence that future generations would remember him with gratitude for his contributions to the cause of Vietnamese development, as well as to raising the country's role and influence in the world.
Regarding the Party leader’s role in enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership that exists between both sides, Ambassador Bezdetko stated that Russians will remember the late leader first of all as a great friend who deeply understood Russia’s long-standing history and culture. In various positions in the Party and State, he consistently supported the enhancement of the partnership and accomplished much to step up both sides’ multifaceted co-operation within bilateral, regional, and international frameworks.
The Ambassador also affirmed that the Party General Secretary led high-level delegations to visit Russia multiple times, resulting in important agreements that continue to shape the two nations’ practical co-operation, particularly in key areas such as energy-fuel, trade and investment, defence and security, education and human resources development, science and technology, culture, and tourism.
Concerning President Putin's recent visit to Vietnam, the diplomat said, "We greatly valued the results of the talks between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vladimir Putin in Hanoi on June 20, 2024. The talks reaffirmed the common spirit of both sides to further expand cooperation under the new geopolitical conditions. The two sides underlined the sustainability of the traditional friendship, solidarity, and mutual support between the two countries and people.”
Commenting on the Party leader’s contributions to Vietnamese foreign policy, Ambassador Bezdetko said, “As a seasoned politician, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong has selected the right priorities and seen what is essential.”
According to the diplomat, the General Secretary consistently strived to develop Vietnam into a modern and autonomous centre of power, not only in the region, but also on the global stage. The Party chief’s “Bamboo Diplomacy” policy has garnered both international recognition and respect.
Ambassador Bezdetko emphasised that as the world is undergoing profound changes and established co-operation mechanisms are losing their effectiveness, such a diplomatic policy is particularly necessary. This is because it is based on the development and prosperity interests of all members of the international community, as well as the ideals of peace, friendship, good neighbourliness, and mutual understanding.
