Mid-term review of external relations activities since 13th Party National Congress
WVR - External relations activities have been implemented in various fields, reaching the goals set out by the Resolution of the 13th Party National Congress.
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During the first half term of the 13th Party National Congress, the world and regional situation has been changed rapidly, complicatedly, unpredictably and unprecedented, profoundly affecting the world and numerous countries, including Vietnam.
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| Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivers a keynote speech at the first National Conference on Foreign Affairs, December 2021. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
During the first half term of the 13th Party National Congress, the world and regional situation has been changed rapidly, complicatedly, unpredictably and unprecedented, profoundly affecting the world and numerous countries, including Vietnam.
Reviewing 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 22 - NQ/TW on international integration, it is necessary to elaborate achievements and lessons learned in order to keep on moving forward.
The Covid-19 pandemic lasted until the beginning of 2023. US-China tensions show no signs of reducing. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has entered its 16th month, with no end in sight. The confrontation between Russia and the West has culminated with 11 rounds of sanctions and the cancellation of several strategic treaties for military force and arms control. The trend of "multipolar, multi-centre" is increasingly evident. Traditional and non-traditional security challenges are intensifying. Supply and production chains are disrupted and the global economy is at risk of recession. All of these factors affect Vietnam's foreign affairs and international integration process.
Imprints and outstanding achievements
In that context, work of foreign affairs and international integration have basically achieved the goals and fullfilled the tasks set out by the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, with impressive outcomes as following.
Firstly, to deploy external activities of all three pillars (Party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people to people diplomacy), at various levels and fields vigorously, comprehensively and synchronously, creating synergy for the country. Party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people to people diplomacy have been closely combined, mobilizing diverse forces, applying many forms and tools of foreign policy to promote the synergy of Vietnam's diplomacy.
Secondly, to promote the synchronization, harmony and balance of relations with partners, especially with neighboring countries, major countries, important partners and traditional friends. Since the beginning of the term, about 170 high-level foreign affairs activities have taken place, including 32 foreign visits by key leaders, more than 80 phone calls/online talks, and attendance at nearly 30 online international conferences; at the same time, welcome 31 high-ranking delegations from countries and international organizations. Relations with partners, especially with neighboring countries, important partners and traditional friends, are increasingly expanding and deepening, in a substantive and effective manner.
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| President Vo Van Thuong paid an official visit to Laos, April 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
Thirdly, to raise the level of multilateral diplomacy, promote comprehensive, extensive and practical international integration for socio-economic development, enhancing Vietnam's potential, position and prestige in the international arena. Vietnam has successfully fulfilled its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, Vice President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly; being elected and fulfilling the duties of a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2023-2025, the International Law Commission (ILC), the UNESCO Executive Council...
Vietnam is actively contributing in regional and global multilateral institutions, protecting national interests, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation, and settlement of disputes, common challenges such as maritime security, water resources, food and climate change, etc, contributing to a better position for Vietnam's bilateral relations with important partners, especially big countries. Vietnam actively participates in the UN peacekeeping force with a larger scale, composition and tasks, which is highly appreciated by the United Nations and other countries.
Fourthly, continuing to take advantage of economic, scientific - technological, educational - training resources from outside for the development of the country. Vietnam has become more involved and being an increasingly important link in the global supply and value chain. In 2022, Vietnam’s trade turnover exceeded 700 billion USD, contributing to making Vietnam one of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world in the past 5 years and in the group of 20 countries with the largest commercial scale in the world.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam implemented strongly and effectively health care and vaccine diplomacy through bilateral and multilateral channels, receiving more than 151 million doses of vaccines, contributing to repelling the pandemic. We also provided with support materials and finance for more than 50 countries and the World Health Organization, affirming Vietnam as an active and responsible member of the international community.
Fifthly, to coordinate closely between foreign affairs and national defense and security, to contribute to firmly safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development, and preventing risks to protect the Fatherland from early and from afar; continue to promote and improve the effectiveness of forms and measures such as border defense and friendship exchanges; setting up twining sisterhood among agencies, units, localities and people in border areas; participating in joint patrols, rehearsals for rescue at sea, etc. As for historically existing problems, newly arising disputes over sovereignty over seas, islands and borders, we have handled calmly and surely complicated cases, resolutely and persistently fighting by peaceful means.
Sixthly, to keep on implementing cultural diplomacy and external information and communication work, widely promote the image of the country, people and culture of Vietnam to the world; mobilize UNESCO to recognize many heritages of Vietnam, improve the national image and brand, attract many international tourists to Vietnam, actively integrate into the world; actively and resolutely fight against false and distorted information and views.
Seventhly, to continue to implement comprehensively, strongly, synchronously, timely and more effectively the work for overseas Vietnamese and the protection of citizens, promptly and effectively handle many urgent situations and complicated, unprecedented cases, protection of the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Vietnamese, especially during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict; attracting resources of overseas Vietnamese for the cause of national development and national defense.
It is also impossible not to mention that we have cleverly, flexibly and effectively handled many complex and sensitive situations in international relations in a very complicated context. We always insist on the principle of respecting national independence and sovereignty, settling all disagreements and disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law. We do not choose sides but choose the right, justice. On that basis, we handle flexibly, wisely, harmoniously and balance the relationship both at the bilateral and multilateral perspective, not to let the relationship with one partner hinder or affect the relationship with other partners; protect national interests, and at the same time contribute to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world at large.
Causes and lessons learned
The above mentioned outcomes are due to many reasons. The main and most decisive cause is the rightful foreign policy, reflected in the Resolution of the 13th Party National Congress, under the leadership of the Party, in which is engaged directly and regularly by the Politburo, the Secretariat and the Party Central Committee, with unified management of the State.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, May 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
The Party and State clearly define the important role of foreign affairs in firmly protecting independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; pioneering in creating and maintaining a peaceful environment, taking advantage of favorable conditions for national development and enhancing Vietnam's position, from this basic, institutionalizing and legalizing the implementation of the Party resolution in policy making.
Another reason is the solidarity and consensus of the whole political system and its people, the contribution and close coordination of agencies and branches, of which diplomacy is the core and advanced force, creating great synergy of the comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomacy.
Through practice of the work of foreign affairs and international integration in the first half of the term of the 13th National Party Congress, the following lessons have been drawn:
Firstly, the absolute, direct and comprehensive leadership of the Party, the centralized and unified management of the State with foreign affairs and international integration are decisive factors. Coordinate closely the three pillars of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people to people diplomacy, through all channels and fields.
Secondly, organizing the implementation of the resolution is a significant step in determining the effectiveness of foreign affairs and international integration. As General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stated: “The Party Resolution is very important, but above all, it must be well thought and implemented, turning guiding ideas, policies and guidelines into a vivid reality and creating wealth. Only then is the successful implementation of the Resolution.”
Third, to combine the strength of the nation and the strengh of the contemporary times; making the most of internal strength and take advantage of external forces for national development and national defense; building a new position and psychosphere of Vietnam in dealing with and handling relations with other countries, bilaterally as well as multilaterally; create a position to intertwining strategic interests, preventing conflicts and avoiding confrontation, isolation and dependence.
Fourth, to be consistent in principles, flexible in tactics in handling relationships and dealing with situations, ensuring the highest interests of the nation on the basis of international law; handle harmoniously the relationship between national interests and international obligations and responsibilities; maintaining both cooperation and fight, applying the motto "unchanging principles for dealing with ever-changing situations", "knowing oneself, knowing others", "knowing the time, knowing the situation", "knowing to advance, knowing to withdraw", knowing when to be soft when to be strong; being adaptly with changing times, knowing its own strengths as well as others’ strengths; knowing how to advance, when to advance or how to withdraw in the way of “being flexible and improvised".
Fifth, do well in research, making assessment and forecast of the situations, proposing strategic suggestions in making and implementing policies for effective and feasible foreign policy measures, no being passive or being taken by suprise.
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue signed a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Australian Parliament with Senate President Sue Lines and House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick, November 2022. (Photo: VNA) |
Sixth, the uncreasingly volatile the situation, the more difficult and complicated, the more it is necessary to renew thinking, revise content and methods of foreign affairs and international integration work. We need to thoroughly study the direction of the Party General Secretary, be acquisitive and dare to think, dare to do, maintaining the spirit of proactive aproach, being ready to go beyond the framework of an old thinking, moving out from familiar context to think and act with a vision beyond the national boundary, reaching on the regional and international stature; boldly breaking through the ceiling, creating and finding new ways of conducting things, expanding into new fields, looking for new partners and new directions.
Efforts to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress
Achievements in the first half of the term have created a momentum and given lessons learned which are the basis for continuing to strive to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th Party National Congress. However, the world situation continues to change rapidly, with new difficulties and challenges, posing higher requirements. In this context, in order to implement the direction and foreign affairs tasks stated in the Resolution of the 13th Party National Congress, it is necessary to carry out synchronously the following main solutions:
Firstly, to continue to deeply grasp and properly implement the guidelines for foreign policy in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, guiding speech of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the first National Foreign Affairs Conference and the Mid-term Party Central Committee plenary of the 13th National Party Congress, creating a high consensus in thinking and action.
Second, to further expand, closely combine and improve the efficiency of external activities in various fields, especially political, economic, security, defense and cultural cooperation with other countries; continue to deepen relationships with partners, first of all with neighboring countries and major countries, in depth, stability and effectiveness; put priority on maintaining stability of relations, enhancing political trust, promoting cooperation in all fields, and at the same time dealing with differences and issues arising in the spirit of cooperation, friendship, managing any disputes, based on international law.
Third, actively and effectively implementing the policy of proactive and active international economic integration; improve the efficiency of economic diplomacy; prioritizing searching and expanding markets for Vietnamese goods and services; attracting capital, technology and management experience into the country's priority fields; implementing synchronously, effectively and creatively economic diplomacy, putting the locality, businesses and people as the center of all the activities.
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Marcin Czepelak cut the ribbon to open the PCA Representative Office in Hanoi, November 2022. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh) |
Fourth, stepping up the implementation of Directive No. 25 (CT/TW) of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on enhancing multilateral diplomacy, implementing in a more powerful, efficient and innovative way; making the most from all favorable factors of the country, actively and proactively participate in contributing to building and shaping multilateral mechanisms; showing a stronger role in the building of the ASEAN Community; be more proactive in dealing with and handling complex and sensitive issues and situations; continue to actively participate in UN organizations.
Fifth, to improve the quality of research, forecasting, strategic consulting, and external information and communication work; focus on assessing the dynamics of trends in policies and relations between major countries, neighboring countries and the region; invest in modern equipment; apply science, technology and digital technology to improve the quality of information collection, processing, making conclusion and accurate assessment of trends and developments; propose appropriate policies, countermeasures and measures.
Sixth, to keep on vigorouly implementing cultural diplomacy, renovating contents and methods, improving the efficiency of external information and communication work; promoting the image of Vietnam of peace, cooperation and development; actively fighting against fake and misleading information.
Seventh, to step up the building of a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomacy; the school of “bamboo diplomacy”; to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the inter-sectoral coordination mechanism in the field of foreign affairs. The diplomatic missions continue to promote the implementation of the resolution on strengthening the building and rectification of the Party and the political system.
Strengthen management, training and nurturing quality of the staff, promote their bravery thinking, forstering moral standards, professionalism of the diplomatic team, making human resources to meet the requirements and fulfiling the tasks putting by the new situation in the world and the region are also needed.
(Translated by Thai Nguyen)
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