A ceremony to announce the decision was held in Hanoi on August 22 to mark the 66^th anniversary of the diplomatic sector.

In his speech, President Sang said the Party and State greatly appreciate the contributions of Vietnamese diplomats to external affairs and national development.

Vietnam’s international integration and the complex global situation pose huge challenges for the diplomatic sector. Ambassadors need to make greater efforts to implement foreign policies, and promote the country’s industrialization, modernization and international integration, as well as defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and raise its status in the world.

On behalf of the newly appointed ambassadors, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh thanked the President and Party and State senior leaders for their attention to the diplomatic sector, and promised to effectively implement the external policies adopted at the 11^th national Party congress and fulfill all its tasks entrusted by the Party, State and people to ensure peace, stability and national development.