Comrade Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central External Relations Commission.
Comrade Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central External Relations Commission, gave an interview to the press, reviewing the outstanding results in 2023 and the orientation of foreign affairs in 2024. Reporter: Could you please outline the context and outstanding results of the country's foreign affairs in 2023? Comrade Le Hoai Trung: In 2023, we witnessed a number of positive international events. Notably, the international community has basically controlled the Covid-19 pandemic so that countries can focus on restoring socio-economic development domestically. The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached agreements that are considered to signal the "beginning of the end" of the fossil fuel era, which is the biggest cause of climate change. Or achievements in artificial intelligence (AI) have opened up great new potentials for the development of human life. At the same time, as the 13th National Congress of the Party, the Mid-term Conference as well as the recent 8th Central Conference of the Party Central Committee have assessed, the world situation continues to evolve very rapidly, complicatedly, unpredictably and with more difficulties and challenges. Competition between major powers is still fierce, comprehensive, even confrontational. Conflicts and tensions are increasing in both quantity, geographical scope and impact on both the conflicting parties and internationally. Specifically, while the fierce conflict in Ukraine continues, the conflict between Israel and Hamas forces has broken out, the situation on the Korean peninsula, the Taiwan Strait (China), the East Sea has become complicated and instability has occurred in many places in Africa. The arms race has been accelerated again, including the nuclear arms race and in outer space. Meanwhile, the world economy is recovering slowly, facing many risks both in the short and long term. Non-traditional security challenges continue to manifest themselves severely, such as severe natural disasters occurring in a number of countries. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened his New Year's message 2024 with the assessment: "2023 is a year of much suffering, violence and climate change". In such a difficult international context, foreign affairs in 2023 achieved important results, creating new breakthroughs. As General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong assessed, foreign affairs and diplomacy achieved historic achievements, becoming an impressive bright spot in the overall results and achievements of the country over more than half of the 13th National Congress term. Firstly , following the XIII Congress's guidelines of attaching importance to development with neighboring countries, over the past year, we have continued to strengthen political trust, expand cooperation, create new marks, and firmly consolidate relations with neighboring countries. For China, the successful visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and his wife (December 12-13, 2023) along with the visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong right after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (October 30-November 1, 2022) are historic marks in the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries. Many high-ranking leaders of the Party and State of China also participated in the visit of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping. The Party and State of China affirmed that Vietnam is a priority direction in China's neighborly diplomacy, and arranging the visit to Vietnam is a successful conclusion to the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. These particularly important events deepened and elevated the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, built a Community of Shared Future of strategic significance, and created many new important favorable conditions for the development of Vietnam-China relations in a more solid, stable, and practical manner. Senior leaders of the two countries, ministries, sectors, and localities met and discussed to implement high-level perceptions and agreements reached during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China. Cooperation between the two countries has expanded, with many new points in the past year. With Laos and Cambodia being neighboring countries of special position and importance, the second Summit after 30 years between the three leaders of the three Parties of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (September 7, 2023), meetings between the senior leaders of the two Parties, between the Prime Ministers of the three countries and the first Summit of the National Assembly of the three countries (December 5, 2023) have strongly affirmed the tradition of special solidarity, solidarity and mutual assistance as an objective necessity, a law of survival, and a leading important factor for the security and development of each country. Economic cooperation is identified as a breakthrough field and defense-security cooperation is a pillar, both of which have achieved new progress. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, key leaders, senior leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam and senior leaders of all other Southeast Asian countries have conducted many mutual visits, exchanges and meetings in various forms to enhance mutual understanding, propose directions for bilateral cooperation and within the ASEAN framework to meet the requirements of each country and ASEAN in the new situation. Those agreements are demonstrated by specific results in many fields. Vietnam has worked with China, Laos and Cambodia to improve the effectiveness of border management, combat crime, promptly resolve emerging issues, and achieve many new results in building a peaceful, cooperative and developing land border. We have also expanded maritime cooperation in various fields with neighboring countries at sea, promoting communication mechanisms on maritime issues. Vietnam also persistently and resolutely fights to protect Vietnam's legitimate rights in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), actively contributing to maintaining peace, stability and enhancing cooperation in the East Sea. Second , we actively implement the 13th National Congress's guidelines to promote and deepen bilateral cooperation with partners, especially strategic partners, comprehensive partners and other important partners, including upgrading and creating breakthroughs. First of all, during the visit to Vietnam by US President Joe Biden at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (September 10-11, 2023), the two sides established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. Accordingly, for the first time in history since the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and also the founding of the United Nations in 1945, Vietnam is a strategic partner or comprehensive strategic partner with all countries that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The two sides affirmed that the foundation of the Vietnam-US relationship is the fundamental principles of international law, the United Nations Charter and respect for each other's political institutions. They agreed to further deepen political-diplomatic relations, identifying economic-trade-investment cooperation and inclusive economic growth based on innovation as the core foundation and important driving force of the bilateral relationship. In particular, promoting cooperation in science, technology and innovation in the digital field is identified as a new breakthrough of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Previously, Chairman of the United Russia Party, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federal Security Council Dmitry Medvedev visited Vietnam (May 21-23, 2023) and held talks with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Through the visit, Vietnam expressed its respect for the tradition of good relations, Russia's effective and valuable assistance to Vietnam in the resistance war, national construction and defense, the strategic importance of the Vietnam-Russia relationship, and continued to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in accordance with the specific conditions of each country, contributing to ensuring peace, cooperation and development in Asia-Pacific and the world. The Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to develop in many areas, including politics, trade, and defense; India identifies Vietnam as one of the "leading partners" in the region. At the end of last year, Vietnam and Japan upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world. During the visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to Vietnam (June 22-24, 2023), the two countries exchanged 111 cooperation documents in the directions of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in December 2022. Cooperation with Australia was expanded, continuing to create conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship to a new height. Relations with New Zealand and other countries in the South Pacific also had new developments. Vietnam promoted political relations and new cooperation contents in various fields with the EU, the UK, countries playing an important role in the EU such as Germany, France, Italy, deepening cooperation in areas where some countries have strengths such as Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Luxembourg, and traditional friends such as Bulgaria. Relations with traditional friendly countries have been given attention and promoted, especially relations with Cuba, the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and the completion of diplomatic relations with all 33 Latin American countries. Vietnam has promoted cooperation with countries that are playing new roles in the Middle East and Africa such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye, South Africa, and Tanzania. During the visit to the Vatican by President Vo Van Thuong in July 2023, the two sides recognized the Agreement on the Regulations of the Permanent Representative and the Permanent Representative Office of the Holy See in Vietnam. In December 2023, the Pope appointed the first Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam. Third, other important areas and tasks of foreign affairs and diplomacy have been given attention and promoted and achieved many positive results. In particular, economic diplomacy actively and proactively contributes to the recovery of socio-economic development after the pandemic, seizing opportunities to meet the country's new development requirements. Developing political relations to facilitate cooperation in various fields. Economic issues, trade, investment, official development assistance (ODA), science-technology, labor, and protection of legitimate economic interests of the State, enterprises, and Vietnamese people are also major contents in exchanges between Vietnam and partners, especially in high-level exchanges and visits. Many agreements in those directions between the Government, localities, Vietnamese enterprises, and partners have been signed and implemented. Vietnam continues to be a leading country in participating in multilateral trade, economic, and investment frameworks and initiatives, thereby expanding economic cooperation opportunities with many partners. Multilateral diplomacy in the relations between the Party, the State and the people has made an important contribution to promoting the role of international institutions and laws, strengthening cooperation to solve common problems, and promoting the country's interests. Vietnam's multilateral diplomatic policies and activities in the past year also demonstrated that Vietnam is an active and responsible member of the international community, such as Vietnam's participation in international efforts to respond to negative climate change, an issue of top concern to the international community, or Vietnam's new contributions to multilateral diplomacy in the fields of defense and security. Vietnam has also been elected to important new positions in international organizations. Foreign information and cultural work has made many timely contributions to foreign affairs requirements, has been implemented proactively and systematically, with more synchronous coordination, with many innovations in content and methods, and increasingly effective combination with domestic information. The new demands of the overseas Vietnamese community have been promptly promoted by the Party and State domestically and with international partners. Fourthly , research, forecasting, and strategic advice on foreign affairs are conducted regularly, with close coordination between relevant agencies, which is an important basis for implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State and promptly responding to emerging issues. Notable results include Resolution No. 34-NQ/TW dated January 9, 2023 of the Politburo on a number of major orientations and policies to implement the foreign policy of the 13th National Congress, the new Resolution on the National Defense Strategy of the Central Executive Committee (October 2023), resolutions, directives, and conclusions on economic diplomacy, international integration in the fields of defense and security, strengthening relations with important partners, and policies on emerging complex issues. Advisory, research and theoretical agencies have carried out the summary of theory and practice of 40 years of renovation, carried out research, and served the construction of the foreign policy of the 14th National Party Congress. Along with that is the research on the "Vietnamese bamboo" school of foreign affairs and diplomacy, the book Building and developing a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese foreign affairs and diplomacy, imbued with the "Vietnamese bamboo" identity has been published, attracting widespread attention domestically and internationally. The important foreign affairs results in 2023, along with the achievements considered "bright spots" of the last half term of the 13th National Congress, have strongly promoted the role of foreign affairs, which the 13th National Congress identified as a pioneer in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilizing external resources for development, enhancing the country's position and prestige, creating new strategic opportunities for foreign affairs in the process of innovation for our country to strengthen relations and a favorable foreign situation, taking advantage of new important conditions according to the requirements of industrialization and modernization of the country according to the development goals set by the 13th National Congress. It is certain that the results of implementing Vietnam's foreign policy will have many international impacts, not only related to the relationship between Vietnam and its partners, Vietnam's contribution to the work of the international community, strengthening the role of ASEAN countries, developing countries and the significance of the policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations in today's world. After Vietnam's major foreign affairs activities, especially in the last days of 2023, politicians in many countries, many prestigious international press agencies and scholars assessed 2023 as a very successful year for Vietnam's foreign affairs and diplomacy, especially in the context of the current very complicated world situation; highly appreciated the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations, mentioned a lot about the foreign policy school, "bamboo Vietnam" diplomacy and analyzed in depth about the foreign policy and activities of Vietnam. International comments also highlighted that Vietnam is the only country in the world to welcome the highest leaders of the two leading powers, China and the United States, in the same year. The basis for the success of Vietnam's foreign affairs is first of all the foundation, potential, position and international prestige that have never been as good as today, as the 13th National Congress recognized, consolidated by important and quite comprehensive results over the half term of the Congress. President Ho Chi Minh commented: "Real strength is the gong and diplomacy is the sound. The louder the gong, the louder the sound." Those successes also stem from the Party's correct foreign policy, the foreign policy school, diplomacy imbued with the identity of "Vietnamese bamboo" and the leadership of the Party Central Committee, directly and regularly the Politburo, the Secretariat headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The General Secretary, President, Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Assembly and the Standing members of the Secretariat, Politburo members, Secretariat members, Vice Presidents, Deputy Prime Ministers, and Vice Chairmen of the National Assembly have directly participated in important foreign affairs activities, creating orientations and strongly promoting the implementation of the Party and State's foreign policy, especially with major and important partners. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that "any country or nation in the process of its formation and development must deal with two basic issues: domestic and foreign affairs" and foreign affairs today "is not only a continuation of domestic policy, but also a strong driving force for the development of nations and peoples". In fact, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is the leader, together with the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat, deciding on major policies, breakthrough decisions, directing important foreign affairs activities and handling complicated issues, creating successful marks in building and implementing Vietnam's foreign affairs and international integration policies in 2023 as well as in recent years. In 2023, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong directly participated in nearly 50 foreign affairs activities, wholeheartedly and wholeheartedly in foreign affairs work. Foreign affairs in 2023 will also demonstrate more clearly the coordination of the three pillars of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people's diplomacy, including National Assembly diplomacy and defense-security diplomacy, in the combined strength of the entire political system with the active participation of sectors, levels, and localities. Reporter: Could you please tell us about the effectiveness of the coordination of the three pillars of foreign affairs in 2023 and the major orientations for foreign affairs in 2024? Comrade Le Hoai Trung: The 13th National Party Congress for the first time determined to build a comprehensive and modern diplomacy, including three pillars: Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people's diplomacy. Resolution No. 34-NQ/TW of the Politburo clearly states the position and role of each pillar of foreign affairs in implementing the Party's foreign policy. In particular, the Party's foreign affairs play a role in guiding the overall strategy, determining major policies to implement the Party's foreign policy, contributing to building a solid political foundation and favorable conditions for Vietnam's relations with other countries. State diplomacy plays a core role in institutionalizing and organizing the implementation of the Party's foreign policy. People's diplomacy plays a core role in strengthening friendship and cooperation with people of other countries, creating a social foundation and supporting Party diplomacy and State diplomacy. At the same time, after the 13th National Congress, the Secretariat issued Directive 12 on enhancing the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy (January 5, 2022) and Project 01 on strengthening and improving the effectiveness of Party foreign relations (March 3, 2022). The coordination between the three pillars of diplomacy is first of all demonstrated through the work of researching, advising, and concretizing the Party's foreign policy, such as the coordination between the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, many departments, ministries, branches, and people's and local foreign affairs organizations in building policies and guidelines expressed in Party and State documents. In 2023, on the basis of the Party's policies and guidelines as mentioned above, foreign affairs activities will be deployed increasingly synchronously according to the general directions of the foreign policy in general and policies towards partners and in different fields. The above activities of relevant agencies and organizations will strengthen the building of foreign affairs strategies and plans according to general directions. Foreign affairs activities will be organized synchronously, complementing each other, continuing to have innovations in content and form. Politburo members and Secretariat members working in the system of Party agencies and socio-political organizations have visited and worked in about 50 countries, receiving and meeting hundreds of leaders and representatives of international partners. Many activities were carried out with governments and political parties in traditional friendly countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Central Committee members who are Secretaries of provincial and municipal Party Committees directly under the Central Committee also participated in many foreign affairs activities at the central and local levels. Through this, our Party has strengthened the support of political leaders in other countries for the development of bilateral relations, promoted cooperation opportunities in various fields, exchanged experiences and theories, and enhanced the position of our Party and country. In fact, our Party leaders and representatives at all levels have not only met and worked with leaders and representatives of political parties but also with governments and people's organizations in other countries. International partners who visit and work in Vietnam through the State channel all wish to meet and contact our Party's leaders. That also shows that international partners are very knowledgeable about and respect Vietnam's political institutions and the position, role and prestige of our Party and our Party leaders. People's foreign affairs activities have been promoted, following the priority directions of Directive 12 of the Secretariat, specifically with neighboring countries, important and traditional partners, with the participation of many political-social organizations, unions and people's organizations. Specifically, the activities of our unions and people's organizations on the occasions of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, US President Joe Biden, Chairman of the United Russia Party Dmitry Medvedev visiting Vietnam and commemorating the 50th anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro's visit to Quang Tri. People's foreign affairs actively participates in activities celebrating the full and even years of establishing diplomatic relations with many countries. The mobilization of aid of non -foreign organizations reached over 200 million USD. Our organizations also through diverse forms to take advantage of experience and knowledge in the fields, deepen relations with people in other countries, information about the country and protect the interests of Vietnam. Thu Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Conference of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Conference 32. In which, the top task is to maintain the peaceful, stable environment, firmly protect independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Thereby, foreign affairs will continue to contribute positively to the development, improving the position and prestige in the international arena. Foreign affairs also need to serve the preparation for the XIV Congress of the Party . .People
source![[Photo] Moment of love: Myanmar people are moved to thank Vietnamese soldiers](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/4/3/9b2e07196eb14aa5aacb1bc9e067ae6f)
![[Photo] Special relics at the Vietnam Military History Museum associated with the heroic April 30th](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/4/3/a49d65b17b804e398de42bc2caba8368)
![[Photo] General Secretary To Lam receives Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/4/3/3a5d233bc09d4928ac9bfed97674be98)
Comment (0)