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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attends the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Could you please evaluate the role of State diplomacy in the overall three pillars of foreign affairs?
The 13th National Party Congress has determined to “build a comprehensive and modern diplomacy with three pillars: Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy”. This is a new policy, both meeting urgent requirements and demonstrating a strategic vision, reflecting the maturity and new development steps of Vietnamese diplomacy.
Despite their different positions, functions, roles and advantages, the three pillars of foreign affairs have a very close, organic and mutually complementary relationship , creating a solid tripod. The synchronous and smooth implementation of Party foreign affairs, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy helps promote the strengths of each foreign affairs pillar, creating the combined strength of Vietnamese diplomacy.
As the main subject in international relations, State diplomacy is the official and main channel of relations in the foreign relations of countries around the world. Accordingly, State diplomacy plays a core role in institutionalizing as well as in organizing and effectively implementing the Party's foreign policies and guidelines . With the mission of being the official diplomatic channel between the State of Vietnam and other countries, State diplomacy has the task of concretizing and realizing these policies and guidelines in the relations between the State and the State, between Vietnam and other countries and between Vietnam and international organizations.
Could you please tell us about the outstanding contributions in recent times, especially since the beginning of the 13th Party Congress term until now, of the State diplomatic pillar to the country's general foreign affairs, contributing to creating a peaceful and stable environment to serve development?
The world situation has recently changed dramatically, with some aspects even becoming more complex and worrying than in the previous period. In this context, foreign affairs have been proactive, positive, flexible and creative in effectively responding to these new difficulties and challenges.
Under the leadership and close direction of the Politburo, the Secretariat and the leaders of the Party, State, Government and National Assembly, since the beginning of the 13th Congress term , the pioneering role of foreign affairs has been strongly promoted; close coordination between the pillars of foreign affairs , between foreign affairs and national defense and security, between high-level foreign affairs and foreign affairs at all levels and sectors, between bilateral and multilateral, between politics, economics and culture...
In his closing speech at the mid-term Central Conference (May 2023), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: "Foreign affairs and international integration activities continue to be expanded and achieve many important results; continue to consolidate and enhance the position and prestige of our country in the international arena". Foreign affairs in general and State diplomacy in particular have contributed to firmly consolidating the open and favorable foreign situation; thereby maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, protecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, mobilizing external resources for socio-economic recovery and development, continuing to enhance the position and prestige of the country . Notably:
Immediately after the 13th Congress, diplomacy focused on concretizing the Congress's foreign policy into important resolutions, directives, and conclusions of the Party and State in many fields. For the first time, a National Foreign Affairs Conference was held, comprehensively assessing foreign affairs work in 35 years of renovation and thoroughly disseminating the 13th Congress's foreign policy to the entire political system and the entire people.
On that basis, proactively and synchronously deploy focused bilateral foreign affairs activities , establish relations with 3 more countries, bringing the total number of countries with which we have relations to 192, and deepen relations with partners, focusing on neighboring countries, important partners and traditional friends. Party and State leaders have conducted nearly 180 important bilateral and multilateral foreign affairs activities, creating an important shift in relations, contributing to creating a favorable foreign situation and framework for the cause of national construction and defense.
Vietnam's role and position as an active, trustworthy and responsible member continue to be strengthened . Vietnam has successfully assumed the role of a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly, and was elected to the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term... Peacekeeping activities and participation in search and rescue are highly appreciated by countries. Many complex international issues in multilateral forums are handled properly and appropriately.
Diplomacy has also made practical contributions to the recovery and socio-economic development of the country . Vaccine diplomacy has contributed to bringing our country to a stage of safe adaptation to Covid-19; economic diplomacy has promptly seized opportunities, restored trade, negotiated, signed and effectively implemented new-generation free trade agreements, taken advantage of high-quality FDI sources and new-generation ODA, and attracted more external resources to priority areas of infrastructure development, such as digital transformation, green transformation, etc.
In the context of a complex and volatile external security environment, diplomacy has resolutely and persistently cooperated and fought to firmly protect sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security on both land and sea borders ; promptly and properly handled cases of infringement of sovereignty over seas and islands, and promoted negotiations on maritime delimitation with relevant countries. At the same time, it has fought and properly handled issues of democracy and human rights, contributing to maintaining stability, security and social order.
Foreign information and cultural diplomacy continue to strongly promote the image of the country, culture and people of Vietnam to the world, refuting false information. The work of Vietnamese people abroad both demonstrates the Party and State's policy of caring and concern for overseas Vietnamese, and mobilizes resources for the country's development. Citizen protection work is promoted, protecting the rights and legitimate interests and ensuring the safety of our citizens abroad.
The quality of research, forecasting, and strategic consulting work has been improved , contributing to the development of a system of projects, programs, and plans to concretize and create a foundation for implementing a methodical foreign policy, as well as responding appropriately and appropriately to emerging issues such as the East Sea, the conflict in Ukraine, relations between major countries, and new cooperation initiatives, etc.
Finally, it is necessary to build a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomacy in the spirit of the 13th National Congress, improve the quality of diplomatic staff in terms of political mettle, ethics, capacity and qualifications to meet the requirements of foreign affairs tasks in the new situation, in which the spirit of service for the interests of the nation and people is promoted.
Thank you, Minister!
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