Continuing the mission of contributing to the country's rising era

On the afternoon of October 14, the Department of Economic Synthesis (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) organized a seminar on "Economic diplomacy 50 years accompanying the country's development". Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended and delivered an opening speech at the seminar.

Ngoại giao kinh tế - Nhìn lại hành trình 50 năm đồng hành với sự phát triển của đất nước

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended and delivered the opening speech at the seminar 'Economic diplomacy 50 years accompanying the country's development'. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Attending the Seminar were former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem, former leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leaders of the Department of Economic Synthesis through the periods, newly appointed Ambassadors, heads of units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and generations of officials of the Department of Economic Synthesis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son expressed his joy at witnessing the formation and development of economic diplomacy over the past half century; at the same time, he emphasized that officials working in economic diplomacy have the right to be proud of having made great contributions to the pioneering process of serving the country's development.

Looking back at the difficult history of formation, when the work of Economic Diplomacy had not yet clearly defined its content and had not been recognized, generations of diplomatic officers, the core of whom were officers of the General Economic Department, were constantly creative, dedicated, and made efforts to excellently complete difficult tasks, from breaking the embargo to deep integration to make the Vietnamese flag fly high and far on the world map as it is today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son emphasized: "After 50 years, economic diplomacy has established a worthy position in the country's socio-economic development value chain. In particular, economic diplomacy was first included as a policy in the 13th National Congress documents, which is a fundamental and central task of Vietnamese diplomacy and an important driving force for national development."

Overview of Session 1 with the theme of Economic Diplomacy: 50 years of a journey. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son asked delegates to focus on discussions to clarify issues serving the development of economic diplomacy in the next 30 years. With the following issues:

Firstly , the delegates discussed to inspire the Seminar, to assign the task to the Department of Economic Synthesis to conduct a research project summarizing 50 years of economic diplomacy. In which, the development process of thinking, actions, results, limitations, causes, lessons and recommendations for future development orientations will be evaluated.

Second , what should economic diplomacy do to avoid missing opportunities, slowing down in transformation, falling behind economically, catching up with technology, and getting stuck in the middle-income trap? How can we contribute to helping the country achieve its strategic development goals for 2030 and 2045? Especially in closely following the draft Resolution of the 14th Party Congress to find strengths, thereby determining the tasks and responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the economic diplomacy work that contributes to the country.

Third , how can economic diplomacy contribute to ensuring and enhancing the country's economic security, enhancing strategic autonomy, and building an independent and self-reliant economy; while for rapid and sustainable development, it is necessary to take full advantage of opportunities, opportunities, and external resources, and promote international integration. Economic diplomacy is not only the work of one unit but of the entire diplomatic sector, all diplomatic pillars serve the country's economic development.

Fourth , how can economic diplomacy make economic content and economic benefits become a tool to effectively implement an independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy, ensuring the highest national and ethnic interests; so that we can "master the game" in bilateral relations and in multilateral forums in the context of fierce competition like today?

The seminar "Economic diplomacy 50 years accompanying the country's development" includes two sessions. Session 1 with the theme Economic diplomacy: 50 years of a journey. Session 2 with the theme Economic diplomacy: Towards the future.

Ngoại giao kinh tế: Tiếp tục sứ mệnh đóng góp cho kỷ nguyên vươn mình của đất nước

Delegates participating in the discussion at Session 1. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs chaired Session 1, with speakers: Former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem; Ambassador Nguyen Tam Chien, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung, former Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Director of the Americas Department; Ambassador Bui Xuan Nhat, former Director of the Economic Department; Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung, former Director of the General Economic Department.

At this session, the speakers reviewed the process of economic diplomacy perfecting its content and developing into a pillar of comprehensive diplomacy. The delegates' opinions focused on assessing the contributions and achievements of economic diplomacy from the following perspectives: Breaking the embargo, creating a favorable environment for development; researching/advising, deeply participating in the country's integration process; mobilizing resources for development, responding to and handling complex issues.

Session 2 was chaired by Director of the Department of Economic Synthesis Doan Phuong Lan with speakers: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs directly in charge of economic diplomacy Nguyen Minh Hang; Director of the Department of Americas Le Chi Dung; Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy Nguyen Hung Son; Deputy Director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation Luyen Minh Hong.

Delegates attending Session 2 at the Dialogue. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

At this session, speakers repositioned economic diplomacy in the new context; innovated thinking, approaches and ways of implementing economic diplomacy to more effectively support ministries, localities, businesses and associations; directions for promoting economic diplomacy with key partners; new forms of economic diplomacy such as vaccine diplomacy, technology diplomacy; new generation of cadres and the responsibility of inheriting the legacy of economic diplomacy...

In her concluding remarks at the seminar, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang expressed her gratitude and deep thanks to generations of leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leaders and staff of the Department of Economic Synthesis through the periods who have contributed to economic diplomacy over the past 50 years.

Over the past 50 years, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang emphasized that economic diplomacy has truly affirmed itself as a pillar and fundamental center of Vietnamese diplomacy, of the entire political system, and an important driving force for national development.

Throughout the past journey - whether in the position of the Post-War Economic Group, the Economic Cooperation Department or the Economic Synthesis Department today, the Deputy Minister realized that the members have made continuous efforts and contributed their best to complete the assigned tasks, for the common cause of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for the country.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang delivered a concluding speech at the seminar. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Through the sharing of the speakers, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang summarized the lessons in implementing economic diplomacy:

Firstly, closely following the country's development policies and guidelines, closely following the country's reality.

Second, put national interests and ethnic interests first and foremost.

Third , promote the spirit of initiative, creativity, daring to think, daring to do, being quick-witted, timely, the more difficult and complicated the situation, the more courageous, calm and persistent.

Fourth, promote the combined strength of the foreign affairs pillars to serve economic diplomacy and national development.

Fifth , promote solidarity, unity and consensus of the entire political system.

In the coming period, when the world enters a new era of development, the era of intelligent artificial intelligence, the era of science and technology, the country also enters a new era of development. Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang emphasized that economic diplomacy is determined to continue promoting the tradition and foundation that have been achieved to continue the mission of contributing to the country's rising era.

Some pictures at the seminar: