General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden speak to the press after their talks.
Impressive facts, figures and important messages
By September 2023, Vietnam had established diplomatic relations with 193 countries; upgraded relations to comprehensive partnership, strategic partnership, comprehensive strategic partnership with 30 countries, including 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and all other major countries.
We are present and leave our mark in many forums and summits of the world and the region such as the United Nations, the Group of Seven (G7), the ASEAN Summit, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, etc.
Vietnam has signed 16 free trade agreements (FTAs) with the participation of about 60 economies, including developed industrial countries. Over the past 9 years of participating in the United Nations peacekeeping force, Vietnam has made positive contributions and is recognized as an attractive flag.
Behind those impressive numbers and events are important values and messages.
Firstly, forming a wide network of relationships, creating a solid foundation for positioning, establishing an advantageous national position in the international arena.
Vietnam has established a wide network of diplomatic relations, focusing on 33 "nodes" with a core role. Each "node" connects many countries, forming a system of multilateral, multi-dimensional, multi-level relations. Multilateral diplomacy enhances the "Vietnamese brand" in the international arena, in bilateral relations with important partners, especially major countries. Bilateral relations create a favorable position for Vietnam in multilateral diplomacy. Thereby, firmly positioning, enhancing the national position, creating a foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation with countries; contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world.
Vietnam has an important geostrategic position, an attractive “meeting point” for countries, but it is also a place of fierce competition between major powers. Many countries in similar situations have been caught up in the vortex, becoming “cards”, competitive tools, and even proxy war battlefields between major countries. “Losing oneself” is an expensive lesson, not just for anyone.
Maintaining independence, self-reliance, multilateralizing and diversifying international relations, and increasing the interweaving of strategic interests with partners are the optimal ways for Vietnam to exploit its geostrategic advantages, maintain a favorable international environment, attract external resources for national development and national defense. At the same time, it is necessary to limit and neutralize the "storms and undercurrents" from geopolitical fluctuations, conflicts and strategic competition between major countries in the region and the world.
President of the Republic of Italy Sergio Mattarella and President Vo Van Thuong during their visit to Italy and the Vatican from July 23-28. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)
Second, create a breakthrough and maintain a harmonious "dynamic balance" in relations with major countries in the new context.
High-tech manufacturing, semiconductors, chips, etc. are key areas in investment, cooperation, and global economic development. Cooperation with the United States, the leading power, is the desire of many countries. The Vietnam-US relationship has gone through many challenges and tests, clearly showing similarities, differences, and conditions that are ripe for development to the highest level.
For the first time, the President of the United States visited Vietnam at the state level, negotiated and signed a Joint Statement to elevate relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. This was a test and symbol demonstrating the United States' respect for the political system and its desire to develop relations with Vietnam to a new level.
Developing Vietnam-US relations aims to enhance the effectiveness of deeper and broader cooperation in all fields, for the benefit of both countries; contributing to maintaining a harmonious "dynamic balance" in relations between Vietnam and major countries, avoiding dependence on any one partner.
Vietnam understands the pain of war and embargo, so it strives its best for peace, friendship and cooperation. The motto of “putting the past behind, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, looking towards the future”; building trust, turning confrontation into dialogue, enemies into friends, opponents into partners is the spiritual motivation to resolve conflicts, and Vietnam’s important contribution to the world.
In his opening remarks at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Joe Biden emphasized that the Vietnam-US relationship is a model of overcoming the past, from being rivals to becoming partners to resolve challenges and heal wounds. Although there are some concerns, worries, and warnings related to the conflicts and tense confrontations between the US and China, Russia, and historical and psychological issues. However, the majority of public opinion highly appreciates the international significance of the "leap" in the Vietnam-US relationship, without leading to disruptions in relations with China, Russia, and other major countries.
The comprehensive strategic partnership has a common framework, but each country has its own similarities and differences. Vietnam and Russia have a traditional cooperative and friendly relationship, inheriting good values from the Soviet era, but are also affected by the conflict in Ukraine. China is a large, neighboring country with similar political institutions but still has complex disputes over sovereignty of islands and seas. Relations with the United States require strategic vision and special efforts to be able to "overcome differences" to "promote similarities and move towards the future".
Vietnam proactively exchanges information so that countries understand that the comprehensive strategic partnership is not a military alliance, does not go with one country against another, and does not let one relationship hinder another. Decisions and policies demonstrate the political mettle, independence, autonomy, flexibility, and effectiveness of the Party and State leaders, and the "bamboo" diplomacy of Vietnam.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and heads of ASEAN delegations attend the opening ceremony and plenary session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 5. (Photo: Anh Son)
Third, synchronously deploy pillars and comprehensively implement all diplomatic fields with new thinking and new speed.
High-level foreign relations of Party and State leaders strengthen political trust, long-term sustainable relations, remove “bottlenecks”, sign programs and plans, create development foundations, and determine effective cooperation. Visits, summit meetings, and attendance at high-level conferences are increasingly multi-purpose, integrating many fields, from politics, security, diplomacy to economics, science, technology, culture, education, etc. The recent foreign relations activities of the General Secretary, President, Prime Minister, and National Assembly Chairman with China, the United States, Laos, Russia, Japan, etc. clearly demonstrate that.
Economic diplomacy is the driving force, high-tech cooperation is a breakthrough, contributing to strengthening political trust and relations between states. Political trust creates the foundation to promote economic, technological, defense, security cooperation, etc. Cultural diplomacy, educational and training cooperation are bridges to expand and improve the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy.
Immediately after signing the comprehensive strategic partnership, during his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had many meetings with officials and organizations of the United States to specify the fields and programs of trade and investment cooperation, infrastructure construction, high-tech production human resource training, etc. Never before has the implementation been so synchronous, fast and timely.
Fourth, the transition from quantity to quality and the synthesis of factors.
In 2023, Vietnam's diplomacy will be bustling with many high-level delegations coming and going, including heads of state, on continents and strategic locations. Vietnam will closely coordinate with countries to celebrate the 30th, 40th, and 50th anniversaries of diplomatic relations. Thereby, evaluating the results and orienting the development of relations more effectively and practically.
Establishing comprehensive partnerships, strategic partnerships and comprehensive strategic partnerships with 33 countries; signing many bilateral and multilateral documents; countries supporting Vietnam to join the United Nations and other international and regional organizations with high votes; cooperating and supporting each other in difficult situations... are vivid proofs of the transformation of quantity into quality. That is even more meaningful in the context of the current fast-changing, complex and unpredictable world.
This is the result of many years of continuous and persistent efforts; the combination of many factors. Countries cooperate and develop relations because of Vietnam's geostrategic position, increasing international status and prestige; history, tradition; political and social stability and development potential... The decisive factor is that Vietnam has successfully implemented its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification of relations, proactive and active international integration; is an active and responsible member of the international community; and is ready to participate in shaping and leading important mechanisms.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Cuban National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez during his visit to Vietnam to attend the 50th anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro's visit to the liberated zone of southern Vietnam, September 27. (Source: VNA)
Fifth, a strong message about the Party and State's guidelines and policies; the history, national traditions and development potential of Vietnam.
These impressive events and figures convey a strong message about the typical values of the country and people of Vietnam. These are the traditions of peace, humanity, benevolence, tolerance, and love of peace; the policy of putting the past behind, being ready to welcome and befriend all those who have the good will to cooperate and develop together. A dynamically developing, innovative Vietnam, integrating comprehensively, deeply, and effectively into the international community; making positive, proactive, and responsible contributions to the international community, joining hands to solve global issues. With these values, Vietnam is an attractive "dating destination" for countries.
New situation, new requirements and greater efforts
Achievements in recent years have created for Vietnam potential, position and high prestige in the international arena. Along with opportunities and advantages are new difficulties and challenges. The deep interweaving of trends: multipolarity, fragmentation, the formation of new sets of forces that counterbalance each other; cooperation and conflict, confrontation... Escalating security and political risks; economic stagnation, inflation, broken global supply chains, declining investment; the most complex and fierce competition since the Cold War...
Opportunities must be seized and realized. Existing challenges, if not handled promptly and effectively, will have a major impact on political security, stability, cooperation and development. The new situation poses new requirements, requiring greater efforts.
The overarching goal under the direction of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Foreign Affairs Conference is: to maintain a peaceful, stable and favorable environment for the cause of national construction and defense, to carry out strategic tasks of socio-economic development; at the same time, to resolutely and persistently protect independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and territorial integrity...
To achieve the goal, it is necessary to continue to thoroughly grasp the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress; renew thinking, transform awareness into action, create new motivation, new resources, from inside and outside. Well implement the guiding motto: resolute, bold, breakthrough, substantial, effective, seize every opportunity for national development.
Strive to deepen and substantiate relations, synchronously, comprehensively and effectively implement agreements, programs and cooperation plans; increase intertwined interests and political trust. Grasp the situation, keep up with world and regional trends, and avoid being passive or surprised in any situation. Proactively adapt, prepare countermeasures, and be ready to flexibly and effectively handle fluctuations and complex issues. Preserve national identity, and strongly promote the "Vietnamese bamboo" diplomatic school.
International source
Source
Comment (0)