Chinhphu.vn - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son emphasized that foreign affairs activities in the past year were proactively and actively implemented, achieving many substantive results, creating a new level of foreign affairs, creating favorable momentum for the country to enter the era of national development.
On the occasion of the end of 2024 and preparation for the New Year 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son gave an interview to the press about the diplomatic milestones of the past year, as well as the directions and tasks of Vietnamese diplomacy in the era of national development .
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, could you please give an overview of Vietnam's diplomatic picture in 2024 and the outstanding achievements that the foreign affairs and diplomacy sector has achieved?
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son: In 2024, the world situation will continue to fluctuate in a complex manner with many instabilities and conflicts. Urgent global issues such as climate change, natural disasters, epidemics, food security, water security, etc. have multi-dimensional impacts, seriously threatening the stable and sustainable development of countries. However, we can be proud that in such a world context, Vietnam has maintained a peaceful, stable and developing country and is considered by international public opinion as one of the "bright spots" in the region. Foreign affairs activities have been proactively and positively implemented, achieving many substantive results, creating a new foreign policy stature, creating favorable momentum for the country to enter the era of national development. We can mention the following outstanding marks:
Firstly, on the basis of an independent, self-reliant, multilateral and diversified foreign policy, Vietnam's foreign affairs and diplomacy will become increasingly dynamic, creative and proactive. In 2024, foreign affairs activities, especially high-level foreign affairs, will take place vigorously and widely across continents and at many important multilateral forums and mechanisms. Our key leaders have conducted a total of 59 foreign affairs activities, including 21 visits to countries and participation in multilateral conferences; welcomed 25 delegations of foreign leaders to Vietnam. We have also promoted the implementation of international agreements and commitments, concretized upgraded relationship frameworks, and signed more than 170 new cooperation agreements in many fields, especially in fields where we have needs and interests.
Second, we can see that international friends increasingly value, appreciate, and wish to promote relations with Vietnam. This year, we have upgraded relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with major partners such as Australia, France, Malaysia, upgraded relations to Strategic Partnership with Brazil, established Comprehensive Partnership with Mongolia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) ..., thereby creating a framework for relations with 32 leading partners, including neighboring countries, major countries, important partners, and traditional friends.
By establishing diplomatic relations with Malawi, we have officially established diplomatic relations with all African countries, bringing the number of countries with diplomatic relations to 194, bringing cooperation between Vietnam and other countries increasingly deeper, more effective, strategic, stable and long-term.
Third, economic diplomacy continues to make positive contributions to the country's overall economic achievements despite the world economy still in a difficult period. Economic content increasingly accounts for a large part of high-level and all-level foreign affairs activities, thereby connecting and enlisting partners such as China, the US, Japan, South Korea, India, etc. in digital transformation, green transformation, semiconductor industry, artificial intelligence; we also participate in new supply chains, expand export markets through 17 signed FTAs; catch the wave of investment shift in the region, attract high-quality FDI and new-generation ODA; expand the market for tourism, labor, etc.; promptly advise on policy adjustments, emerging issues in technology, standards to have countermeasures, thereby ensuring economic, financial, and monetary security, etc.
In 2024, import-export turnover is expected to reach a new record of more than 800 billion USD; Vietnam continues to be one of the largest FDI recipients in the world; welcoming more than 15.8 million international tourists in the first 11 months of the year, an increase of 44% over the same period in 2023. This is a signal that Vietnam continues to be an increasingly attractive destination for foreign partners, investors and tourists.
Fourth, in the face of major changes in the world, national defense - security - foreign affairs have truly formed a tripod, contributing to firmly protecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and protecting the Fatherland early and from afar. Diplomacy has worked with other forces to maintain peaceful and stable borders, seas and islands, and national security, achieved many important advances in negotiations with other countries, harmoniously resolved remaining issues, and promoted the development of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea based on international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS...
Fifth, on the multilateral level, Vietnam has increasingly affirmed its role, position, prestige and made many positive contributions to the international community. In international forums such as ASEAN, AIPA, the United Nations, APEC, the Mekong Sub-region, G20, G7, BRICS, the Non-Aligned Movement, Francophonie, and OECD, Vietnam continues to promote its role as an active and responsible contributor to ideas and initiatives that are welcomed and responded to by many countries.
In organizations where we are undertaking important responsibilities such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and 6/7 important executive mechanisms of UNESCO, Vietnam has promoted its image and responsible voice with a comprehensive, holistic and harmonious approach. Along with that is Vietnam's responsible contribution to common global issues such as climate change response, peacekeeping, food security, water security, etc.
Sixth, the country's position and strength are constantly enhanced by the effective resonance of foreign affairs such as foreign information, cultural diplomacy, overseas Vietnamese affairs, and citizen protection. Diplomacy has contributed to successfully lobbying UNESCO to add 6 more titles and heritages, bringing the total number of UNESCO titles to 71, creating a new resource for sustainable economic, cultural, and social development in localities.
Overseas Vietnamese affairs have well implemented the Party and State's care policy for nearly 6 million overseas Vietnamese, mobilizing resources for development with thousands of investment projects and tens of billions of USD in remittances. Citizen protection has actively protected the security, safety, legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens and businesses, especially in war zones, natural disasters and instability. Foreign information has strongly promoted the image of the country, its people, culture and socio-economic development achievements, contributing to creating consensus and support from the people at home as well as the international community for the cause of national construction, protection and development.
With specific and practical contributions to regional and international multilateral mechanisms in recent years, it can be said that Vietnam's role and position in the international arena have been increasingly enhanced; its prestige and political trust have been increasingly consolidated. According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, in what aspects should multilateral diplomacy be further promoted to contribute to enhancing Vietnam's position in the international arena as well as creating a favorable environment for national development?
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son: Promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy is a consistent policy and an important strategic orientation of ours. Multilateral institutions and forums have an important voice and role in many regional and global security and development issues related to Vietnam. In the current rapidly and profoundly changing security and development environment, all countries, large and small, are facing the need to strengthen cooperation and association to jointly solve urgent common problems. In that spirit, we have shifted from the policy of "participation and participation" to promoting the role of "active and responsible member", initiating and leading many initiatives and cooperation ideas and proactively participating in building and shaping global governance, frameworks and rules in many fields.
With many new approaches, multilateral diplomacy in 2024 has left outstanding marks in many important regional and global forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, the Mekong Sub-region, APEC, G20, G7, BRICS, AIPA, the Non-Aligned Movement, Francophonie, OECD, etc. In the region, we have successfully organized the first Future Forum (ASEAN), which is an important factor in strengthening solidarity, ASEAN's central role and strategic orientation in building the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; creating a common voice, improving the effectiveness of Mekong cooperation mechanisms, contributing with partners to promote sustainable development and prosperity in the sub-region. At the global level, Vietnam continues to successfully assume the position of a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, 6/7 key executive mechanisms of UNESCO. In addition, we have actively built and shaped important global processes such as the Future Summit, the Global Agreement on Plastic Waste, the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on essential minerals for energy transition, etc.; Vietnam's responsible contributions to common issues such as combating climate change, maintaining peace in Africa, and combating cybercrime, etc.
The international community highly appreciates Vietnam's capacity, role, practical contributions and responsibility in common issues, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres mentioned in his discussion with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil as "a model of peace and sustainable development". With the country's new position and strength, Vietnam has the conditions and is expected to contribute more as a member of the international community. The country's new position and strength allow us in the new period not only to participate in building and shaping multilateral institutions and participating in initiatives of other countries, but also to promote a core and leading role in important issues and mechanisms of strategic significance, in line with our interests.
2025 is an important year with many major milestones in multilateral diplomacy such as the 30th anniversary of Vietnam joining ASEAN and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Continuing Vietnam's contributions to common world issues, multilateral diplomacy will focus on preparing and organizing well the events that Vietnam hosts such as the ASEAN Future Forum, the 4th Summit of the Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); continuing to successfully undertake important responsibilities and tasks in multilateral organizations and forums such as ASEAN, the Mekong Sub-region, APEC, and United Nations mechanisms, including those of UNESCO and the UN Women Executive Council (2025-2027).
At the same time, Vietnam continues to assume the role of an active and responsible member in multilateral organizations and agencies and continues to run for positions that are consistent with our priorities and interests, such as running for the Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term, and for the first time having a candidate for the position of Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026-2035 term...
Vietnam will also contribute more actively and responsibly to common issues, especially responding to global challenges such as climate change, reducing net emissions, promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); participating more deeply in United Nations peacekeeping activities, search and rescue, humanitarian aid, etc.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, please evaluate the role and specific contributions of economic diplomacy to contribute to the realization of the goal set by the 13th National Party Congress: by 2025 our country will be a developing country with modern industry, surpassing the low middle income level? In your opinion, what must economic diplomacy do to achieve the goals by 2030 when celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding: "a developing country with modern industry, high middle income and by 2045, the 100th anniversary of the country's founding, Vietnam will become a developed country with high income"?
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son: Economic diplomacy has become a fundamental and central task of diplomacy, and economic content has become a focus in foreign affairs activities at all levels, including high-level foreign affairs and sectors, with the motto of taking people, businesses and localities as the center of service. Economic diplomacy and foreign economic activities have truly created momentum for economic recovery and growth in the post-Covid 19 period up to now.
If we look back at the lessons of the previous countries, of the Asian "dragons and tigers", in the era of rising up, the focus of economic diplomacy is how to put the country in an optimal position in the main development trends and movements of the world, thereby expanding the development space and creating new opportunities for the country's strategic breakthroughs.
The world is facing many complex, unpredictable and hard-to-forecast developments, but it also opens up many opportunities for countries to take advantage of new growth drivers such as green economy, digital economy, science and technology, etc. to make breakthroughs.
Domestically, with the new position and strength after nearly 40 years of renovation and facing the urgent demands of the times, it can be said that this is the time of "convergence" to bring the country into a new era as General Secretary To Lam recently stated. To make good use of these opportunities, we need to deeply realize that to enter the new era, economic diplomacy needs to continue to promote its role in serving businesses, people and localities in a more effective, profound, practical, sharper and more creative way of thinking.
To do that, on the one hand, economic diplomacy will have to continue to make the most of traditional growth drivers such as exports, investment, tourism , etc. Accordingly, it will maximize the benefits of existing free trade and investment agreements, especially in untapped markets and sectors; open up new sources of investment, finance, and new markets, especially resources from regions such as the Middle East, Latin America, or from large enterprises and investment funds; resolve large backlog projects, thereby creating leverage to attract new projects; continue to review and urge the implementation of international agreement commitments; concretize the newly upgraded relationship frameworks with partners into practical and effective economic cooperation programs and projects.
On the other hand, to create a breakthrough, it is necessary to promote new growth drivers, breakthroughs in new fields as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has repeatedly emphasized and directed . Therefore, the focus of economic diplomacy in the past and in the future will be to identify and seize opportunities from new trends shaping the world economy such as digital transformation, green transformation, energy transformation; to establish extensive cooperation with the world's innovation centers, including countries and businesses, in breakthrough fields such as high technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum.
Recent cooperation agreements with Nvidia and other digital technology corporations are an example; establishing a position in the emerging supply and production chains, turning Vietnam into a sustainable, important link with an increasingly high position; promoting in-depth, specialized diplomatic activities such as technology diplomacy, climate diplomacy, agricultural diplomacy, infrastructure diplomacy, digital economic diplomacy, etc. to effectively serve the country's economic development in the coming time.
As an inseparable part of the nation, the overseas Vietnamese community is growing stronger, more connected and constantly contributing to the country in many aspects. According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, how can we mobilize the resources of overseas Vietnamese to build the country together?
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son: The community of nearly 6 million Vietnamese people currently living and working in more than 130 countries and territories is always an inseparable part of the nation. The consistent and continuous policy of our Party and State is to care for and support our compatriots to stabilize their lives, integrate with the local community, have a stable economic and legal status, connect overseas Vietnamese, strengthen national unity, and at the same time create conditions for overseas Vietnamese to contribute to the development of their homeland.
We always appreciate the spirit of turning to the homeland and the contributions of overseas Vietnamese to the cause of socio-economic development of the country. Investment, remittances, and knowledge of overseas Vietnamese are truly important resources for the development of the country (with 421 FDI projects and a total registered capital of 1.72 billion USD in 42/63 provinces and cities; remittances are forecast to reach 16 billion USD in 2024). In addition, the overseas Vietnamese community also contributes to the cause of developing science and technology, education, health care and volunteer activities in Vietnam.
The Party and State of Vietnam always deeply recognize and highly appreciate the role of overseas Vietnamese in the development of the country. We are entering an era of national development. Therefore, more than ever, promoting the strength of the overseas Vietnamese community is becoming more important. Promoting the mobilization of overseas Vietnamese to contribute to the construction and protection of the Fatherland; continuing to improve domestic policies and laws to create conditions for overseas Vietnamese to be more closely connected with their homeland; implementing comprehensive and long-term measures to care for and develop the overseas Vietnamese community are key tasks in the coming time.
To mobilize the economic potential and intellectual resources of overseas Vietnamese, the Government has been implementing many policies and strategies to simplify administrative procedures to make it easier for overseas Vietnamese to return to the country to live, invest and do business; promote the application of information technology in community connection activities; foster and support the development of overseas Vietnamese human resources, enhance Vietnamese language teaching and promote national cultural identity, focusing on the younger generation; encourage and apply into practice initiatives and proposals from the overseas Vietnamese community.
Along with that, important legal documents such as the Land Law, Housing Law, Real Estate Business Law and Citizen Identification Law are also increasingly being improved, creating a favorable environment for overseas Vietnamese to live, work and invest in Vietnam.
With breakthrough policies and a favorable environment, I firmly believe that the NVNONN community will continue to maximize its potential and contribute to the country's development.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, could you please share some thoughts on Vietnam's foreign affairs and diplomacy in the era of national growth?
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son: As General Secretary To Lam said, our country is standing at a new historical starting point . Bringing the country into a new era, an era of rising up, is in line with the trend of the times and the reality and experience of previous countries. The history of human development has proven that for a country to rise up in world politics, economy and civilization, it requires a strong breakthrough, creating fundamental changes in quality.
The new era requires the participation of all sectors, fields, forces, the entire political system and the entire nation . Lessons from previous countries show that in that process, foreign affairs play an important role, positioning Vietnam favorably in the flow of the times and combining national strength with the strength of the times to serve the country's rise.
Firstly, in today's interdependent world, the stability and development of nations cannot be separated from the external regional and international environment. The factor that ensures the rise of a nation is a strategic environment of peace, friendship, and cooperation that is favorable for development. Therefore, the task of foreign affairs is how to consolidate and maintain this situation firmly in the face of fluctuations, creating conditions for the country to enter a new stage of development.
Second, foreign affairs can play a role in creating and motivating, opening up new opportunities for the country to rise up. In which, foreign affairs plays the role of connecting internal resources with external resources, in which internal resources are fundamental and long-term, external resources are important and breakthrough. These are resources in trade, investment, ODA, development trends and economic connections, a multipolar, multi-center world order based on international law, the strength of the era of scientific and technological revolution, knowledge economy, globalization and new trends such as green economy, digital economy, circular economy...
Third, the country's new position and strength in terms of economy, security, defense and foreign affairs in the new period pose requirements for Vietnam's new mindset and position in the international arena. Vietnam has the ability and conditions to participate more, but is also expected to contribute more to peace, development and solving common problems of humanity, contributing to building and protecting a fair and equal international order based on international law.
Fourth, the historical and cultural stature, political and economic position of the country create conditions for promoting the "soft power" of the nation, strongly spreading the image of an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, cooperative, friendly and developing Vietnam. That is the combined strength of a culture imbued with national identity, the great achievements of historical significance of the renovation process, the foreign policy of peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralization, diversification, being an active, proactive, responsible member, participating in handling international issues in a harmonious, reasonable, emotional manner, respecting international law, and the consensus and support of the people of the world.
Finally, to bring the country into a new era requires building an increasingly comprehensive, modern, and professional foreign affairs and diplomacy to meet the requirements of the new period. Accordingly, the organization of the foreign affairs apparatus must be streamlined, efficient, effective, and effective, along with favorable mechanisms and policies and strong enough resources for foreign affairs; building a team of foreign affairs and diplomacy cadres who not only have qualifications, capacity, and political courage, but also dare to think, dare to do, dare to innovate, dare to pioneer, make breakthroughs, and have skills and qualifications on par with international standards.
In 2025, we will celebrate a series of important events of the country. How will the Diplomatic Service celebrate its 80th anniversary?
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son: 2025 is an important year of special significance to our nation, the year of celebrating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the country and the 50th anniversary of national reunification, the year of accelerating the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress, and at the same time, the pivotal year entering the era of national development.
In that excited atmosphere, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnamese diplomatic industry (August 28, 1945 - August 28, 2025). The great victory in the revolutionary career of the nation.
For the entire diplomatic industry, this will be a very special occasion for generations of diplomatic cadres to look back without 80 -year -old roads with important contributions to the cause of fighting, defending and building the country. 80 years of Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic diplomacy, aiming to build a strong, comprehensive, modern and professional external and diplomatic affairs, contributing to the successful implementation of the country's development goals and defending the Fatherland.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organize activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the industry in 2025, including the celebration with the participation of the Party, the State, the leaders of the departments, ministries and localities; The rich and diverse commemorative activities of Vietnamese representative agencies all over the world.
Looking back nearly 40 years of work in the diplomatic industry, what are the memories he feels most memorable?
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister Bui Thanh Son: are officials working in foreign affairs, perhaps the deepest memories are also the most proud things in contact and meet international friends, we heard positive assessments, admiration and admiration for our Party, State and people. embargo, become a symbol of peace, friendship, dynamic development and play a positive and responsible role in the international community.
For many decades, Vietnam has been considered a symbol of the national liberation movement, the embodiment of a heroic and resilient country. In the visit of the key leadership, senior leaders to our countries, leaders and international friends also mentioned the struggle for independence of the Vietnamese people, said it was the "conscience" of the era and the value of the world today.
Continuing that pride, Vietnam is also appreciated from a perspective of a country that is rising strongly, developing dynamic and positive contributions and responsibilities to the common problems of the world. A "model of peace and sustainable development".
The officials who work in foreign affairs feel very proud and confident when the external policy is independent, autonomous, peaceful, friendly, cooperative, multilateral and diversified, has contributed to the highest guarantee of national interests, and is highly appreciated by international friends. Fluctuing international context ./.
Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/doi-ngoai-2024-tao-da-thuan-loi-cho-dat-nuoc-buoc-vao-ky-nguyen-vuon-385118.html
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