Diplomacy in service of national development in the new epoch

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Taking stock of the Party’s foreign policy line throughout the 35 years of Doi Moi

Through a profound understanding of the Doi Moi philosophy initiated at the 6th National Party Congress in 1986, the foreign policy line of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of international relations, active and proactive international integration in the interest of the nation-state has been the main thread of Viet Nam’s diplomacy throughout Doi Moi. This policy line has been increasingly and deeply perceived.

President Ho Chi Minh once said: “Apart from the interest of the nation and the Fatherland, the Party has no other interest". Our Party is deeply aware that the interest of the nation-state is the paramount goal of foreign relations.

The Resolution of the 8th Plenum of the 9th Party Central Committee in 2003 for the first time elaborated on the primary elements of what constitutes the interest of the nation-state. Since the 11th National Party Congress (2011), the Party has held the view that the interest of the nation-state is the ultimate goal of foreign relations, among which, class interest, state interest and national interest stand in unity within the interest of the nation-state.

During Doi Moi, the foreign service has constantly pursued an overarching and perennial mission, namely to safeguard an environment of peace and stability, to harness international factors that are conducive for Doi Moi and national defense, and to raise Viet Nam’s national standing. This mission has become more deeply understood from one Party Congress to the next. Resolution 13 of the 6th Politburo of the CPV central committee in 1988 commenced the renovation of thinking and policy of foreign relations, and set up the mission of harnessing international support and the internationalization trends for national development. At the 12th Congress in 2016, the Party clearly set out the task for foreign relations, consisting of three elements: security, development and national standing.

Building upon the policy of “more friends, fewer foes”, our Party has developed a system of overarching guiding principles for the Vietnamese diplomatic service in Doi Moi. This involves the consistent execution of a foreign policy line of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of international relations, “to be a reliable friend and partner and a responsible member of the international community”. It calls for grasping the duality of partner - objective and cooperation - struggle in simultaneity, and requires persevering with matters of principle and strategic goals while exercising flexibility and maneuverability in tactic, or “to be firm in principles but flexible in their implementation” as the saying goes. The mechanism for conducting diplomacy is the close and smooth coordination between Party, state and public diplomacy under the united leadership of the Party and consolidated administration of the State.

Being aware that Viet Nam is a part of the world, international economic integration (approved by the 9th National Party Congress) has been effectively realized and then expanded into other areas, thus forming the policy line of “active and proactive international integration” (endorsed by the 11th National Party Congress). This line of action is a major orientation for national development and defense, the cause of the entire people and political system. Our understanding of the relationship between independence, self-reliance and international integration grows deeper, with a consistent philosophy of combining the strength of the nation with the power of the times, wherein internal power is decisive and external resources serve as an important factor.

Bilateral and multilateral diplomacy have both been gradually adjusted, amended and ameliorated. There has been a shift from “strengthening the bond of friendship and comprehensive cooperation with the Soviet Union and countries within the socialist community” (passed by the 6th National Party Congress) to cooperating with all countries on the basis of international law, equality and mutual benefit. Another shift has also been made from “participation in international forums” to “making efforts to rise to key, leading or mediating roles at multilateral forums and organizations of strategic importance.”

Implementing a sound foreign policy line as set by the Party has been an important contributor to the maintenance of a peaceful, stable and conducive environment for the Doi Moi process, the steadfast defense of national independence, sovereignty and territorial unity and integrity, and the promotion of national standing. At present, Viet Nam enjoys diplomatic relations with 189 out of 193 members of the United Nations, including 30 strategic and comprehensive partners encompassing all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), all seven members of the Group of Seven, (G7) and 17 out of 20 members of the Group of 20 (G20).

From a centrally-planned and closed economy, today Viet Nam is a socialist-oriented market economy, with an extensive network of economic relations. It has signed and is a party to 17 free trade agreements (FTAs), including next-generation FTAs. The country enjoys foreign trade turnover equivalent to 200% of its GDP, and has attracted some 400 billion USD in registered foreign direct investment (FDI) thus far.

Viet Nam is a member of almost all important international and multilateral forums, and has successfully hosted a wide range of major international events and assumed many international responsibilities. For instance, it has served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 2008-2009 and 2020-2021, hosted the ASEAN Summits in 1998, 2010 and 2020, the ASEM Summit in 2004, the APEC Summits in 2006 and 2017, the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in 2018, and the US - DPRK Summit in 2019. Hundreds of Vietnamese men and women in uniform have been dispatched to UN peacekeeping forces.

These achievements in foreign relations have been crystallized from the efforts of the entire Party, people and army. They are truly a beacon among the accomplishments of the entire nation, as reflected by the 13th National Party Congress: “Never before has our country had such fortune, power, standing and international prestige as we do today”. A large part of this is thanks to the very important contribution of the foreign service, consisting of the Party, State and public diplomacy.

From a centrally-planned and closed economy, today Viet Nam is a socialist-oriented market economy, with an extensive network of economic relations.

Continuation and new elements in the foreign policy line of the 13th National Party Congress

Grounded in a comprehensive evaluation of the achievements, lessons learnt and the standing and power of Viet Nam after 35 years of Doi Moi, the domestic and international landscapes, and strategic opportunities and challenges for Viet Nam, the 13th National Party Congress continued to build upon the overarching foreign policy line of our Party during the Doi Moi process, with new developments and additions to meet the needs of national development in the new period.

1. On evaluating and predicting international developments, the 13th National Party Congress built upon the major evaluations of the previous Congresses, especially the 12th Congress, on the fundamental characteristics and long-term trajectory of the world, and provided updates and adjustments to match the new landscape. The 13th Congress held that peace, cooperation and development will remain the prevailing trend, and globalization and international integration will continue to advance. It stressed, however, that these tendencies are facing numerous challenges and adversities, as “the world is undergoing immense changes, developing very rapidly in a complex and unpredictable manner”. It pointed out that the Asia-Pacific plays an increasingly important role, but that this region “potentially contains much instability”, among others. Against the backdrop of complex non-traditional security challenges, our Party saw that the impacts of COVID-19 may continue to rise and fall, “profoundly changing the global order, economic structure, governance method, economic mode and the way society is organized all over the world". The reality of the international landscape since the 13th National Party Congress has proven this evaluation true.

As a new feature, based on its evaluation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the 13th National Party Congress placed emphasis on harnessing the achievements of this Revolution into the philosophy for national development. Accordingly, the Party clearly pointed out that “accelerating industrialization and modernization on the basis of scientific and technological progress and innovation” constitutes a major direction in the national development strategy until 2030.

In addition to the continued awareness that advantages and opportunities intertwined with challenges and adversities, the 13th National Party Congress also pointed out that the international landscape “poses new, more burdensome and complex issues and requirements” for national construction and defense. This calls for a redoubling of innovation in thoughts, an accurate projection of the situation, and the ability to seize the initiative in every situation. As such, the role of foreign relations becomes increasingly important and its tasks become progressively more daunting, especially as the vanguard in defending the Fatherland from an early stage while threats remain afar, and in garnering external opportunities and resources for national development.

2. On the goals of foreign relations, the 13th Congress named “ensuring to the highest degree the interest of the nation-state” as the goal, placing the interest of the nation-state above and before all. The Congress also identified a fundamental principle of making constant effort to achieve the interest of the nation-state as best as possible. Ensuring the highest interest of the nation-state does not mean pursuing selfish nationalism. The 13th National Party Congress stressed that the promotion of national interest must be “on the basis of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, and equality, cooperation and mutual benefit”, and in the common pursuit of peace, national independence, democracy and social progress in the world.

In the current period, the highest interest of the nation-state is in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial unity and integrity. It also lies in protecting the Party, State, People and the socialist regime, defending an environment of peace and stability conducive for national development, maintaining an environment of peace and stability conducive for national development, protecting the process of Doi Moi, industrialization and modernization, and defending political security, public order and safety, and the national culture. In addition, the 13th Party Congress also added ensuring human security, economic security, cyber-security, and an orderly and disciplined society as key interests of the nation-state. These elements are closely interrelated as a complete whole, and none can be taken lightly. They also serve as the most important ground upon which to identify partners - objectives and cooperation - struggle in the context of foreign relations. These are the “unchangeable” in order to respond to a complex and rapidly changing situation.

3. With regard to the position, role and mission of the diplomatic service, a new, striking feature in the foreign policy line set out at the 13th National Party Congress is that this is the first time the Party identified the position and role of the diplomatic service as a vanguard in “creating and maintaining an environment of peace and stability, mustering external resources for national development, and raising Viet Nam’s international standing and prestige”. These tasks are closely interrelated, and among them, maintaining peace and stability is a vital mission, serving national development is a central assignment, and raising the standing and prestige of Viet Nam is a prominent task.

Throughout our history of nation-building and defense, our forefathers have always seen peaceful and amicable foreign relations as the top strategy for national defense. In the struggle for national liberation and reunification, and the course of nation-building and defense, foreign relations took the lead in creating the simultaneity of fighting and negotiating, calling upon international support, breaking out of isolation and embargo, and opening up a new landscape for national development. During Doi Moi, diplomacy “takes the lead in building peace, defending the Fatherland, and attracting resources for national development".

As such, the assertion of the pioneering role of foreign relations in the documents of the 13th National Party Congress is a new development in the Party’s thinking on foreign relations. This development is based on the creative application of the active-oriented national defense philosophy of the nation, tempered through the reality of national development and international integration and the selective reception of international experiences, and is well in line with the trend of peace, cooperation and development in the world.

First, this pioneering nature is evident in the foreign service’s evaluation and forecasting of the situation. It must identify opportunities and challenges in order to protect the Fatherland from an early stage while threats remain afar. It should be sharp-witted to notice and understand new issues, provide strategic advice, fuel innovation in thoughts, and seek a suitable path for national development.

Therefore, the 13th National Party Congress stressed the need for “stepping up strategic research, forecasting and advice on foreign relations so as not to be caught by surprise”. This is exceedingly important, as only through “knowing oneself”, “knowing others” and “knowing the times” shall we be able to harness opportunities and advantages for national development and defense in a world of endless, complex and unpredictable motion.

Second, maintaining a peaceful, stable and conducive environment for national development and defense is a common task for the entire political system and the people at large, including the foreign service. A feature specific to the foreign service is the use of peaceful measures to prevent, neutralize and turn aside the risk of war and conflict from an early stage while threats remain afar, thus contributing to the steadfast defense of national independence and sovereignty.

Reflecting the tradition of national defense of our forefathers - “harmony within means less needs for arms, harmony at the border means no fear for sudden alarm”, the 13th National Party Congress maintains the line of continually advancing and deepening ties with Viet Nam’s partners, especially neighboring countries, strategic, comprehensive and other important partners, and traditional friends. The Congress also stressed the need “to create a state of interwoven interest” and “to build confidence”. Fulfilling this mission will help bolster a stable diplomatic landscape conducive for national development and defense.

In addition, the foreign service, alongside the defense and security branches, contribute to the maintenance of a borderline of peace, cooperation and development. These forces should work closely together to ensure the steadfast and resolute struggle in defense of the independence, sovereignty and territorial unity and integrity of the Fatherland. The diplomatic service must also seek and advance commonalities of interests to promote cooperation, and should flexibly and creatively address disputes on the basis of the interest of the nation-state and international law, including the continued efforts to address issues at seas in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Third, the foreign service is a pioneer in calling upon external resources for national development. A fundamental interest of Viet Nam today is to make all efforts to realize national development goals until 2030 with a vision for 2045. To this end, national development is an overarching goal across all diplomatic endeavors. Accordingly, all pillars and branches of the foreign service shall endeavor to contribute to the realization of the vision and targets of national development, in which economic diplomacy is at the core. Therefore, along with the pioneer philosophy, the development philosophy is a new feature in the Party’s thoughts on foreign relations at the 13th National Party Congress.

Deeply aware that “socio-economic development is a central task”, the foreign service continues to make good use of conducive international factors, including the already signed FTAs and international agreements and treaties in order to expand markets, draw in knowledge, technology and investment to help transform the growth model, advance national industrialization and modernization, and contribute to advancing economic self-reliance and the aggregate strength of the nation. Foreign service is also a channel to make use of good political relationships to address complex issues in international economic cooperation and integration.

Against the backdrop of the complicated COVID-19 pandemic, the role of diplomacy as a trailblazer was harnessed and shown through “vaccine diplomacy”, calling upon the timely and effective assistance from the international community for vaccines, medical equipment and treatment drugs. This has been a key contributor to the fight against and the safe adaptation to COVID-19, and the pursuit of socio-economic recovery and development.

Fourth, diplomacy shall pioneer and open new paths, alongside and in service of the people, localities and businesses in the process of international integration. A new feature in the 2021-2030 Socio-Economic Development Strategy is the following line of action: “to build an economic diplomacy service to support development, placing the people, localities and businesses at the center stage”. This is an innovative application of the philosophy of “the people are the roots to all things” to diplomacy.

Ultimately, the exercise of diplomatic missions serves the purpose of achieving an affluent people and a strong nation that enjoy democracy, equality and civilization. Deeply immersed in Uncle Ho’s teaching: “Anything that benefits the people must be done and anything that does harm to the people must be avoided at any cost” and staying true to the policy line for diplomacy and socio-economic development, the foreign service shall create a conducive international environment, and open new paths, work with the people and in support of the people, localities and businesses, enabling them to make the best use of opportunities, maximize benefits, minimize risks and overcome the challenges of international integration. The foreign service shall also stand in defense of the legitimate interests of the Vietnamese State, people and business community in international integration.

Fifth, the diplomatic service takes the lead in enhancing national standing and prestige through spearheading Viet Nam’s core, leading and mediating role in its fulfillment of international responsibilities and active and responsible contributions to the common interest of the world. The 13th National Party Congress set the task of advancing and elevating multilateral diplomacy, and expanding Viet Nam’s role both within multilateral mechanisms, especially the ASEAN, UN, APEC, Mekong sub-regional cooperation, and other cooperation frameworks, and in matters of strategic importance, in a manner consistent with Viet Nam’s needs, capability and condition. In addition, continual innovation and improvement of external communication, citizen protection, cultural diplomacy, and a more comprehensive and vigorous conduct of works related to overseas Vietnamese will also be an important contributor to promoting the image and standing of Viet Nam.

As President Ho Chi Minh once taught us: “All successes are thanks to commonality”, foreign relations may only fulfill its role as a vanguard if placed within the larger domestic - foreign context, and if it can draw on the close cooperation, solidarity and consensus from the various echelons, sectors and the public at large. The “commonality” here refers to the shared effort to ensure to the highest degree the interest of the nation-state. Only in this way shall we be able to harness the combined strength of the entire nation in conjunction with the power of the time in the interest of national development and defense.

4. To implement diplomatic endeavors in a cohesive, innovative and effective way, and to actively engage in comprehensive international integration are the overarching orientation of foreign relations in the country’s new stage of development. First, the cohesive nature is evident in the close and smooth coordination between the pillars of diplomacy - Party, State and public diplomacy, between relationships with different partners in different areas - with special importance given to defense and security diplomacy, and between bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

Second, being innovative means the diplomatic service must constantly seek self-improvement, be flexible and skillful in maneuvering difficult issues, seek new paths and new ways forward with “a spirit of initiative to press home the advantage, to dare to break out of old routines and comfort zones, in order to think and act beyond the capacity of one country and achieve region- and world-class”.

Naturally, innovation must be grounded in principles and the upholding of strategic goals. Third, being effective means adding depth, substance and practicality to foreign relations, and effectively combining external resources with internal assets to best serve national development and defense. The development of Viet Nam in the new stage creates an increasingly greater need for enhancing cohesiveness, innovation and effectiveness in conducting foreign relations.

With regard to international integration, the 13th National Congress set out the requirements of being “comprehensive” and “intensive”. This means that international integration must be conducted through all channels - Party, State and public, bilateral and multilateral, across every echelon, sector and area. Not merely being expansive, international integration will also be further intensified, through the implementation of international commitments, including the effective enforcement of next-generation FTAs and “active participation and contribution in order to raise Viet Nam’s role in the making and shaping of multilateral institutions and the international political and economic order”, to serve the interest of the nation-state and the common good of the international community on the basis of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law.

5. For the diplomatic service to fully live up to its role as a pioneer and fulfill the aforementioned lines of action and missions, the 13th National Party Congress set the policy target: “to establish a comprehensive and modern diplomatic service, with three pillars: Party, State and public diplomacy.” This new target reflects the maturity of the revolutionary diplomatic service of Viet Nam, established by President Ho Chi Minh. This is also a new, strategic and long-term requirement that is also an urgent necessity for foreign relations and the diplomatic service against a new backdrop.

The comprehensiveness of the Vietnamese diplomatic service is reflected in the actors of diplomatic activities, which include the entire political system, social organizations, the business community, and the people at large. It is demonstrated in the fields of diplomacy, encompassing every area from the political, defense and security domains to socio-economic dimension. It is evident in the partners of Vietnamese diplomacy, covering every partner, area and region, focusing on advancing and deepening relations with neighbors, strategic, comprehensive and other important partners, and traditional friends, and taking an active part and advancing Viet Nam’s role at multilateral forums of strategic importance.

The modernity is manifested in the nature of the Vietnamese diplomatic service, where there is a harmonious combination between the diplomatic tradition and character of the nation, Ho Chi Minh Diplomatic Thought, and the Party’s foreign policy line throughout history, and the quintessence of diplomacy in our age. It is evident in the operation of the diplomatic service within an increasingly complete and cohesive institutional framework, with a close inter-operability between Party, State and public diplomacy. It is expressed through a streamlined and effective organizational structure, with a scientific, standardized and digitized methodology, capable of innovation, creativity and adaptability given the rapidly changing landscape.

Viet Nam’s diplomatic service is pillared by Party, State and public diplomacy, under the consolidated leadership of the Party and the centralized administration of the State. Though these pillars differ in their positioning, function, role and strength, they are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing, as they all aim to realize the Party’s foreign policy line and serve the common purpose of the interest of the nation-state. This reflects the nature of Vietnamese diplomacy, where there is synergy and unity between the Party character, nationhood-statehood, and the characteristics of democracy and the people. The cohesive implementation of and smooth coordination between Party, State and public diplomacy will draw on the strength of each pillar to forge a combined power of Vietnamese diplomacy. This is all at once a tradition, a valuable lesson, and an art of mustering forces of the Vietnamese revolutionary diplomatic service, and must be continually preserved and built upon in a new stage.

To build a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomatic service, in addition to continually reinforcing and ameliorating an effective coordination mechanism among different foreign relations pillars and bodies, it is critical to have a pool of diplomatic staff that is well-rounded, modern in style and working method that is capable of innovation and creativity to match the march of time. Viet Nam’s history witnessed many brilliant diplomats, true exemplars when it came to patriotism, mettle, moral strength, wit and diplomatic style and art.

Facing new requirements for building a comprehensive and modern diplomatic service, we must continue attaching special importance to personnel work, in particular policies for and training of well-rounded diplomatic staff, endowed with virtues, skills and capability alike. The foreign relations and diplomatic staff of today must inherit the glorious tradition of the past, be wholly loyal to the Party, the Fatherland and the people. At the same time, they should make every effort to temper their political will and moral strength, tirelessly bolster their knowledge, and remain committed, confident, devoted and innovative in service of national development and defense.

***

The foreign policy line of the 13th National Party Congress is a continuation, development and amelioration of our Party’s foreign policy line in the Doi Moi period, and is a guiding compass for the cohesive, innovative and effective conduct of foreign relations in the future. For the policy and action line of the 13th Congress to be streamlined in everyday life, we must soon arrive at a master strategy for diplomacy that is well-linked to the national defense and socio-economic development strategies. This strategy would serve as a basis to form a concert of philosophy and action, and chart out and conduct diplomatic strategies, projects, plans and measures tailored to each area and partner. In so doing, we shall be able to harness the overall power of the entire political system, various echelons, sectors and the public at large, so that the foreign service may make commensurate contributions to the successful realization of the vision and objectives for national development set out by the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

Bui Thanh Son

Member of the Party Central Committee

Minister of Foreign Affairs

1. Ho Chi Minh, Complete Works, National Political – Truth Publisher, 2011, Vol. 5, p. 290.

2. The Communist Party of Viet Nam: Documentations of the National Party Congresses in the Doi Moi era, National Political – Truth Publisher, 2019, Part I, p.97.

3. Directive 25 of the 12th Party Secretariat.

4. 2021-2030 Ten-Year Socio-Economic Development Strategy.

5. Speech by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 28th Diplomatic Conference, 2013.

6. Speech by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 30th Diplomatic Conference, August 2018.

7. “The diplomatic service” should be understood to be the same as foreign relations, consisting of Party, State and public diplomacy.

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