Diplomatic sector's Conference: Promoting pioneering, vital and consistent role of Vietnam’s diplomacy
WVR - The 2024 Year-End Diplomatic Sector Conference, which reviewed the achievements of 2024 and outlined key tasks and directions for 2025, holds significant importance as the nation enters a new era, an era of the nation’s rise.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 2024 Diplomatic Sector Conference. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
On January 6, the Conference was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person participation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters and virtual connections with local hubs and Vietnamese representative missions abroad. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a speech at the event.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a speech at the event.. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The speech by Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, along with presentations from leaders of central and local agencies and Vietnamese representative missions abroad, highlighted Vietnam's external relations and diplomatic achievements in 2024. The discussions emphasized key tasks for 2025 and outlined expectations for the Ministry's role in driving the country's acceleration, breakthroughs, and confident strides into a new era of national growth and global integration.
Embracing a New Mindset in a New Era of Development
In his opening remarks at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son underscored the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's attendance and orientation speech. He emphasized that this "reaffirms the leadership and guidance of the Party, the State, and the Prime Minister in external relations and diplomacy, serving as a profound and invaluable source of encouragement for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to adopt a new mindset in this new era of development."
Reflecting on 2024, the global situation remained highly complex, with many new and unforeseen developments compared to previous years. These changes have significantly accelerated the emergence of a multipolar, multi-center, and multi-layered global order, characterized by instability, unpredictability, and heightened risks. In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that, under the direct and consistent leadership of the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Party, the State, and the Prime Minister, external relations and diplomacy have been proactively, comprehensively, creatively, and effectively implemented. These efforts are crucial in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, fostering an open and favorable external context for socio-economic development, and safeguarding independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Simultaneously, they have significantly enhanced Vietnam's international stature and prestige.
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| Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son delivered opening remarks. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
External relations have been increasingly elevated, strongly demonstrating their pioneering role, fostering greater consensus, and achieving significant progress across various aspects of bilateral and multilateral relations, as well as diverse areas of diplomatic work.
Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized, 'In particular, under the close and decisive guidance of the Prime Minister, economic diplomacy and external economic relations have witnessed transformative advancements across various sectors, including trade, investment, digital transformation, green transition, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence. These efforts have made crucial contributions to maintaining Vietnam's position among the group of high-growth nations, establishing the country as a bright spot for trade and foreign investment attraction amidst global turbulence.”
Further develop diplomatic sector to meet demands of the times
Efforts to build and develop the diplomatic sector have been further intensified to meet the demands of the times. Key priorities include strengthening Party-building initiatives, fostering a diplomatic workforce that is comprehensive, modern, and professional, and preserving as well as promoting the distinctive identity of Vietnamese diplomacy. Additionally, emphasis has been placed on establishing a diplomatic system that is 'streamlined, capable, robust, efficient, and effective.'
The dynamic and rich practice of external relations and diplomatic work over the past year has provided valuable lessons for the diplomatic sector. Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son highlighted these key lessons: Consistently adhere to, closely follow, and creatively and flexibly apply the foreign policy outlined by the 13th National Party Congress, along with the resolutions, conclusions, and directives on foreign relations issued by the Politburo and the Secretariat, as well as guidance from Party, State, and Government leaders. Ensure close coordination among Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy, while fostering collaboration among various branches and forces involved in external relations.Maintain a proactive stance, closely monitor developments, accurately assess the situation, and adopt a strategic approach of 'knowing oneself and others' and 'understanding the time and the trends' to make timely and sound decisions, seize opportunities, and overcome challenges."
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| Overview at the conference. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
"2025 marks a pivotal year for accelerating and achieving the goals set in the 2021-2025 Socio-economic Development Plan. It will also be a year of significant national events, including the Party Congress at all levels, leading up to the 14th National Party Congress.
Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that the overarching mission for external relations and diplomacy in this critical period is to further enhance their pioneering, vital, and consistent role. The key objectives include: Establishing and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment while firmly safeguarding independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity; Mobilizing external resources, particularly breakthrough resources, to fuel the country’s development; Continuing to elevate Vietnam’s international standing and prestige.
These efforts aim to create momentum for the nation to accelerate progress, achieve breakthroughs, and confidently step into a new era, an era defined by the country’s rise.
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| Participants at the Conference. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
To effectively fulfill this mission, the diplomatic sector is focused on several key directions and tasks:
Firstly, thoroughly analyze and accurately forecast the situation. This involves promptly identifying emerging issues and trends and recognizing opportunities to maintain a strategically proactive stance amidst complex and rapidly evolving global developments.
Secondly, enhance comprehensive coordination of diplomatic efforts. This includes strengthening Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy across bilateral and multilateral platforms. It also continues the comprehensive implementation of political, economic, and cultural diplomacy, external information and communication, overseas Vietnamese affairs, and citizen protection.
Thirdly, streamline and modernize organizational structures. Effectively implement the policy of reviewing Central Resolution 18, optimizing the organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and transferring core functions and responsibilities from the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission and the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee. This ensures effective execution of foreign affairs and leverages the combined strength of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy to achieve a breakthrough in building a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomacy.
