[Live] General Secretary, President To Lam attends opening session of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference—the first diplomatic gathering of the new era

Party General Secretary and President To Lam speaks at the opening session of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference in Hanoi on August 1, 2026. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

On the morning of August 1, the opening ceremony of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference took place in Hanoi with the theme “Promoting the pioneering role and fulfilling the crucial and regular tasks of Vietnam's external affairs in the new era.”

The conference was attended by Party and State leaders. Party General Secretary and President To Lam attended and delivered a keynote address at the opening session of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference.

Also in attended was Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Organization Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc; Politburo Member, Head of the Commission for Information and Education Trinh Van Quyet; Politburo Member, Head of the Commission for Policies and Strategies Nguyen Thanh Nghi; Politburo Member, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc; Politburo Member, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang; Politburo Member, Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Do Van Chien; Politburo Member, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang; Politburo Member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang; Politburo Member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Doan Minh Huan; Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council Nguyen Xuan Thang.

The 33rd Diplomatic Conference (held from August 1-7, 2026) holds special significance for the diplomatic sector, marking the first diplomatic conference in the new era – an era of national growth and prosperity. In January 2026, the 14th National Party Congress outlined major guidelines and directions for national development in the new period, with strategic goals to become a modern industrialized, high-middle-income developing country by 2030 and a high-income developed country by 2045.

In July 2026, the 3rd Plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee approved a resolution on renewing the country's development model, along with other strategic resolutions of the Party and State, setting out a comprehensive plan to achieve this vision. These heavy yet honourable tasks are set for all sectors and levels, including the diplomatic sector.

General Secretary, President To Lam attends and delivers a directive speech on foreign affairs. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

The conference also had the participation of Party Central Committee members, leaders of central departments, ministries, sectors, and mass organizations. Leaders from the Party Committees, People's Councils, and People's Committees of 34 provinces and centrally-governed cities. Leaders of major and prominent corporations. At online locations in localities, there were Central Committee members, Standing Committee members of the Provincial Party Committees, and leaders of departments, agencies, and sectors of 34 centrally governed provinces and cities.

Delegates observe the flag-raising ceremony. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conference was attended by Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung; former Party Central Committee Member, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien; former Politburo Member, former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem; former Party Central Committee Member, former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

Also attending from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were Party Central Committee members, leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former leaders of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Affairs, former Deputy Ministers, former Assistants to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, former leaders of the Party Committee outside the country, and the Overseas Party Committee through various periods. Heads of units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Retiree Club, and all diplomatic staff attended at online locations at the No. 2 Le Quang Dao Office in Hanoi.

Notably, the conference was attended by 103 Ambassadors, Heads of representative missions designated and Ambassadors from 90 countries and territories attending the conference.

Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung delivers the opening speech at the Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

The 33rd Diplomatic Conference is an opportunity for all officials and Party members in the diplomatic sector to grasp and implement the new strategic guidelines and directions of the Party, to embrace and promote the new mindset and spirit that is driving the entire political system to vigorously implement the 14th Party Congress Resolution. This mindset will motivate and urge the entire Party to innovate and enhance Party building work in the diplomatic sector, laying the foundation for success in implementing foreign policy in the new era, enhancing Vietnam's contribution to global politics, the international economy, and human civilization.

In his opening speech, Politburo Member, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung emphasised: The 33rd Diplomatic Conference takes place at a very important time for the country and the diplomatic sector. This conference follows the successful organization of the 14th National Party Congress and the successful election of the 16th National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels. Based on 40 years of renovation, the Congress assessed that the country's position, potential, and prestige have been elevated, forming an important foundation for the country to rise in the new era. The 14th National Party Congress, the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and State under the leadership of Party General Secretary, President To Lam have outlined important historical guidelines and policies in various fields to achieve the two centennial development goals (by 2030 and 2045).

The 14th National Party Congress also identified foreign affairs and international integration, along with ensuring national defence and security, as crucial and regular tasks. Vietnam is actively and comprehensively implementing the completion of the political system, two-tier local administration, socio-economic development, renewing the development model, promoting breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, social, cultural, and human development, strengthening national defense and security, promoting foreign affairs, and international integration. In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has merged with the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Affairs and taken on some tasks from the former Foreign Affairs Committee (of the National Assembly), operating under the comprehensive leadership mechanism of the Party.

Notably, the Politburo has decided to establish the Central Steering Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Integration, with General Secretary, President To Lam as its Head.

According to Minister Le Hoai Trung, with the theme: “Promoting the pioneering role and fulfilling the essential and regular tasks of Vietnam's foreign affairs in the new era,” the 33rd Diplomatic Conference will focus on assessing the regional and global situation, the results of implementing foreign affairs and international integration.

Overview of the opening ceremony of the Diplomatic Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

This conference has two important requirements: to grasp and organize the implementation of the foreign policy of the 14th Party Congress, specifically to innovate thinking and organizational methods to achieve the overarching goal of best fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Party, State, and people in the new era of the nation.

The 33rd Diplomatic Conference will have 18 sessions over 9 days, with direct guidance from key leaders; participation from departments, ministries, sectors, localities, heads of Vietnamese representative missions, and all staff in the diplomatic sector.

The sessions of the conference will discuss and assess the world and regional situation in the coming years, including relations with major countries, neighbouring countries; territorial borders; building a comprehensive foreign strategy at a new height; diplomacy serving development, scientific and technological development, innovation, accompanying businesses; Party building work, sector building.

The conference will closely follow the key objectives and tasks and include new content such as sessions on Party diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, content on parliamentary diplomacy, and for the first time, a meeting between the three Ministries: National Defence, Public Security, and Foreign Affairs during the Conference. The conference will also discuss improving the quality and effectiveness of the work of Vietnamese representative missions.

The conference is expected to adopt a resolution and action program to implement the results of this Diplomatic Conference.

According to the directive of General Secretary, President To Lam on implementing the 14th Party Congress Resolution, it is necessary to understand deeply, do correctly, and do thoroughly. The conference will focus on researching and discussing three issues related to awareness:

Firstly, understanding the country's development path and tasks, especially regarding the two centennial development goals, the guidelines and policies approved by the 14th Party Congress, the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Government, and the National Assembly. Along with that are the guiding thoughts and viewpoints of General Secretary, President To Lam on the new development model, foreign affairs, and international integration, and many other important fields.

Secondly, correctly understand that foreign affairs and international integration are crucial and regular tasks. Thirdly, correctly understand and grasp the major guiding thoughts and viewpoints of the Party and State, and Party General Secretary, President on foreign affairs and international integration in the new phase. Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized learning, grasping, and disseminating these contents on the Party and State's guidelines and policies in various fields; including initial materials summarizing the thoughts and viewpoints of General Secretary, President on foreign affairs and international integration, which have been sent to be presented to the delegates attending the Conference.

General Secretary, President To Lam delivers remarks at the 33rd Diplomatic Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

In his directive speech at the Conference, General Secretary, President To Lam emphasized that this Diplomatic Conference is held at a significant time as the country enters a new development phase after 80 years of national founding and 40 years of renovation.

For the first time, the Party Congress Resolution has identified foreign affairs as a crucial and regular task. Now, foreign affairs are not merely about external relations but have become a component of the nation's comprehensive capacity. Foreign affairs are not just the task of the foreign affairs agency but the cause of the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army, and the entire political system.

“Therefore, this Diplomatic Conference is very special, very broad, beyond the framework of a diplomatic sector conference, and is an important occasion to discuss the external affairs work of the entire political system,” General Secretary, President pointed out.

According to the Head of the Party and State, since the 32nd Diplomatic Conference, the world has changed rapidly and complicatedly, far beyond previous forecast scenarios. In this context, foreign affairs and international integration have been proactively and synchronously implemented, achieving many important results.

Foreign affairs have coordinated with national defence and security to maintain a peaceful, stable environment, protect independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests from early, from afar, from when there is no risk. The foreign affairs landscape continues to expand and elevate. Since the 32nd Diplomatic Conference, Vietnam has established and upgraded relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with 9 partners, Strategic Partnership with 11 countries, and Comprehensive Partnership with 5 countries. These new frameworks demonstrate political trust and Vietnam's increasingly high position, opening up more possibilities for cooperation in the economy, science and technology, national defense and security, and people-to-people exchanges.

Relations with neighbouring countries, major countries, ASEAN countries, important partners, and traditional friends continue to be strengthened. Diplomatic channels are more closely coordinated. Multilateral diplomacy also leaves many marks: Vietnam successfully organized the ASEAN Future Forum, the P4G Summit, and the opening ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime Prevention. Re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term with the highest votes in the Asia-Pacific group; holding many important positions at the United Nations, at UNESCO, and contributing positively to peacekeeping and addressing common global and human issues.

General Secretary, President To Lam emphasises that this Diplomatic Conference is very special, very broad, beyond the framework of a diplomatic sector conference. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Besides, economic diplomacy has been more closely aligned with development needs. Vietnam has signed 17 free trade agreements with over 60 countries and territories. The import-export turnover in 2025 reached over 734 billion USD, placing Vietnam among the top 20 economies with the largest trade scale in the world. Registered foreign investment capital also reached over 38 billion USD, with implemented capital over 27 billion USD, the highest level in the past 5 years. Foreign affairs have contributed to expanding markets, diversifying supply chains, attracting capital, technology, and national governance.

Scientific and technological diplomacy has also been given more attention. Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad have connected and assisted research centers, technology corporations, Vietnamese experts, and intellectuals abroad with domestic needs. Cultural diplomacy, external information, promoting the image of a peaceful, innovative, dynamic, and responsible Vietnam. The work of overseas Vietnamese continues to strengthen the great national unity. Citizen protection has been promptly implemented in complex areas.

The General Secretary and President affirmed that these achievements reaffirm the soundness of Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, resilience, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, as well as its policy of multilateralisation and diversification of external relations and proactive, comprehensive, extensive, effective, and sustainable international integration.

Vietnam remains steadfast in its goals and principles, flexible in methods and steps, maintaining national interests, respecting international law, and gaining the consensus of the people and international partners.

Above all, these achievements are attributable to the Party Central Committee's unified and centralized leadership, directly exercised by the Politburo and the Secretariat; the State's effective governance and administration; the close guidance of Party and State leaders and the concerted engagement of the entire political system; and the increasingly close coordination among the pillars of foreign affairs, between the central and local levels, and between foreign affairs, national defence, security, and development.

Notably, according to the General Secretary, President, in these common achievements, the important contribution of the diplomatic staff cannot be overlooked. In all circumstances, in all international locations, they have always demonstrated courage, responsibility, and loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the people; placing national interests above all else.

General Secretary, President To Lam presents a gift to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

However, General Secretary, President To Lam also pointed out the remaining limitations. Specifically, research and forecasting work sometimes lag behind developments. Some reports are heavy on description, not clearly indicating the impact on Vietnam, and especially not proposing handling options. The quality of advice is uneven. The capacity to research new issues on technology, digital economy, energy, supply chains, and international law is limited. Digital transformation in the diplomatic sector is slow, and data sharing is limited.

The concretization of some resolutions and conclusions into agreements and international commitments is slow. Some issues are not followed through to the end, responsibilities between agencies are not clear, and obstacles are not promptly addressed. Good political relations in some places have not been correspondingly transformed into markets, projects, technology, and benefits for people and businesses. Some activities focus more on the number of meetings and signed documents than on the final results. Inter-agency coordination is sometimes not synchronized. Many agencies participate in some tasks, but no agency takes final responsibility. Some bottlenecks have been identified but are slow to be resolved due to overlapping regulations, prolonged procedures, or reluctance to decide. The connection between the Central and local levels, between representative missions and ministries, sectors, and businesses is not tight, and some places are not prepared in time to seize the opportunities created by foreign affairs and diplomacy.

Addressing the rapidly and highly complex world, with increasingly fierce strategic competition among major countries, the Head of the Party and State emphasized that now is the time for foreign affairs to play a pioneering role, to see early, advise correctly, act promptly to contribute to protecting the Fatherland from early, from afar; to open the way, connect, and take advantage of development resources. Pioneering also means following through to the end, proactively resolving difficulties, and taking responsibility for results.

General Secretary, President To Lam takes a commemorative photo with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leadership. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

To bring the foreign policy of the 14th National Party Congress and the Party's resolutions to life, General Secretary, President proposed that the entire diplomatic sector and external affairs agencies focus on six key tasks: First, continue to innovate thinking, improve the quality of research, forecasting, and strategic advice; second, deepen and enhance the effectiveness of foreign relations; third, bring diplomacy serving development into depth, using practical effectiveness as a measure; fourth, elevate multilateral diplomacy and implement comprehensive, synchronized, and effective international integration; fifth, strongly innovate coordination, inspection, and implementation mechanisms, focusing on removing bottlenecks that are slowing down the implementation of tasks; sixth, particularly important is to focus on building a diplomatic staff with sufficient qualities, capabilities, and prestige to meet the requirements of tasks in the new phase.

General Secretary, President To Lam takes a commemorative photo with Politburo Members, Ministry of Foreign Affairs leadership, and former Ministry of Foreign Affairs leaders. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

According to the General Secretary, President, the results of foreign affairs are not only measured by the number of visits, meetings, or signed documents but must consider whether the peaceful environment is strengthened, national interests are protected, relations with partners are deepened and sustainable, which commitments have been fulfilled, which bottlenecks need to be resolved, which resources need to be brought in, and whether the people and businesses are better served. Absolute numbers should not be the sole focus, nor should procedures be underestimated.

General Secretary, President To Lam takes a commemorative photo with the delegates. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Therefore, the General Secretary, President proposed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the standing agency of the Central Steering Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Integration, preside over, summarize the conference results, monitor implementation, and periodically report to competent authorities. Coordinating agencies should also provide complete information and be responsible for progress. By doing so, the Conference will create changes, new resolutions will come to life, and new foreign achievements will become strength and resources for national development.

Receiving the directive of General Secretary, President To Lam at the 33rd Diplomatic Conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung affirmed that the entire sector will seriously grasp, concretize the directives into action programs, create changes in thinking, implementation methods, and enhance the effectiveness of foreign affairs work in the new development phase of the country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung expressed gratitude to General Secretary, President To Lam for showing deep affection and concern by attending and delivering a directive speech at the 33rd Diplomatic Conference. According to the Foreign Minister, the very important speech of Party General Secretary, President To Lam pointed out the rapid and complex developments of the international situation; provided major assessments of achievements in foreign affairs and diplomacy, and encouraged cadre working in foreign affairs and diplomacy. The Minister stressed that the General Secretary, President also provided new orientations on foreign affairs thinking in the new development phase, giving comprehensive, profound, and specific directions on work directions, tasks, and implementation methods for the entire political system, the foreign affairs sector, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad. These directives are concretized through six key tasks, with many “heavy but very honourable” tasks.

At the Opening Session, representatives from ministries and sectors presented discussions related to implementing the foreign policy of the 14th National Party Congress.

Some images from the opening ceremony of the Conference:

Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung welcomes General Secretary, President To Lam to the Opening Session of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

General Secretary, President To Lam shakes hands with delegates attending the Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

General Secretary, President To Lam reads the World and Vietnam Report displayed at the Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Delegates attending the Conference. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Delegates attending the Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

General Secretary, President To Lam attends opening session of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference, meeting with staff of the World and Vietnam Report at the Press Corner. (Photo: WVR)

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