Promoting the role of Vietnamese students as 'People's Ambassadors' in the context of international integration
WVR - On the morning of December 19, in Hanoi, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese and the Vietnamese Students' Association in Australia co-organized a seminar titled 'Students with Public Diplomacy and Diplomatic Protocol', under the patronage of the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia.
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| Delegates take a commemorative photo at the seminar. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Attending the seminar were Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese; Mr. Luong Thanh Nghi, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia and Denmark; Mr. Nguyen Dong Anh, Secretary of the Youth Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Deputy Head of the State Protocol Department and Foreign Language Interpretation; and Mr. Ngo Ba Hoang Hai, Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On the student organization side, there were Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Member of the Central Secretariat of the Vietnamese Students' Association, President of the Vietnamese Students' Association in Australia; Mr. Nguyen Phuc Binh, President of the Vietnam-Australia Innovation Network; along with representatives from the Central Vietnamese Students' Association, Vietnamese Student Associations in various countries, and a large number of students from the Diplomatic Academy.
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| Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Member of the Central Secretariat of the Vietnamese Students' Association, President of the Vietnamese Students' Association in Australia, believes that Vietnamese students studying, researching, and living abroad are "people's ambassadors" carrying the image, values, and identity of Vietnam in a multicultural environment. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
In his opening remarks, Mr. Huynh Tan Dat emphasized that the event is not only a diplomatic knowledge exchange but also a space for connecting young Vietnamese generations at home and abroad, sharing awareness, responsibility, and aspirations to contribute to the country's foreign affairs and international integration.
In the context where "international integration is no longer a choice but a necessity", Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo states: "International integration must be comprehensive, deep, proactive, with people at the center, where young, knowledgeable, and capable human resources play a pivotal role".
In this spirit, Mr. Huynh Tan Dat believes that Vietnamese students studying, researching, and living abroad are not only knowledge recipients but also "people's ambassadors" carrying the image, values, and identity of Vietnam in a multicultural environment.
However, from the practical activities of the Association and the experiences of the overseas student community, the President of the Vietnamese Students' Association in Australia recognizes that many students, despite being dynamic and well-integrated academically and socially, still have limitations in understanding diplomatic protocols and foreign affairs etiquette, as well as lacking systematic knowledge about the laws, policies, and guidelines of the Party and State for overseas Vietnamese.
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| Overview of the seminar. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
"In an international environment, students may inadvertently become representatives, be questioned, or participate in dialogues on issues related to Vietnam, from culture and society to policy and foreign affairs. Lacking foundational knowledge and necessary tools, they may find themselves confused, passive, or unable to fully represent Vietnam's stance, courage, and positive image appropriately and properly," Mr. Huynh Tan Dat asserted.
Therefore, the seminar "Students with Public Diplomacy and Diplomatic Protocol" was organized to equip the younger generation with the necessary knowledge, skills, and toolkit for integration. Mastering public diplomacy and legal knowledge will help students be more confident in deep integration, proactive in communication, and resilient to the impacts of globalization.
Believing that the insights shared by experienced diplomats will help students transform knowledge into concrete actions, Mr. Huynh Tan Dat committed that the Vietnamese Students' Association in Australia will always accompany young Vietnamese on this journey, as "each Vietnamese student abroad, through their knowledge, attitude, and actions, is contributing directly to Vietnam's soft power and national position in the new era".
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| Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, speaks at the seminar. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien shared that diplomacy and dialogue are often viewed as broad, highly specialized concepts, but in reality, foreign affairs activities are very close and present in daily life.
Conversations, exchanges, activities, or social relationships of students in an international environment can all be seen as forms of public diplomacy, contributing to building Vietnam's image and reputation.
"The overseas Vietnamese community, including young people, plays an important role in public diplomacy activities, contributing to strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and host countries," he emphasized.
Particularly, the Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese expressed that knowledge about the country and people of the S-shaped land, understanding of science and technology, culture and society, along with adaptability in the host environment, are "assets" and also "tools" for each student to effectively participate in foreign affairs activities.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien believes that public diplomacy is not only an outward activity but also a process of self-awareness and self-enrichment of identity, thereby contributing to strengthening the great unity of the Vietnamese community in the context of globalization.
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| Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi chairs the session "International Integration Skills for Vietnamese Students". (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Also within the framework of the seminar, the session "International Integration Skills for Vietnamese Students" chaired by Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi provided many practical lessons on behavior and dialogue in an international environment.
From his experience working in Japan and Australia, Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi emphasized that diplomacy is not only limited to the activities of specialized agencies but is present in everyday life, through communication, behavior, and introducing the country's image to international friends. Everyday stories related to culture and cuisine are considered effective methods to promote public diplomacy, thereby highlighting the connection between Vietnam and host countries.
Within the seminar framework, the Youth Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Students' Association in Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation and exchange between the Ministry's youth and Vietnamese youth and students in Australia.
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| The Vietnamese Students' Association in Australia signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Youth Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Following the program was a diplomatic protocol practice session led by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Deputy Head of the State Protocol Department and Foreign Language Interpretation.
The basic principles of diplomatic etiquette and behavior, from addressing, greeting, handshaking to exchanging business cards, attire, and seating arrangements at international events, were clearly explained through specific situations, emphasizing that these small details reflect respect and professionalism in diplomatic communication.
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| Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha shares about diplomatic protocol. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
He shared that diplomatic protocol is not only about common conventions but is also linked to the customs, culture, and foreign policies of each country, reflecting the level of relations between partners.
Mastering the regulations on hierarchy, seating, speaking order, along with understanding culture, religion, and taboos is considered a mandatory requirement for those involved in organizing and conducting foreign affairs activities, even in a student environment.
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| Mr. Nguyen Dong Anh, Secretary of the Youth Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highly appreciates the significance of the seminar. (Photo: Hien Anh) |
In an exchange with World & Vietnam Report, Mr. Nguyen Dong Anh, Secretary of the Youth Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assessed that the seminar is a practical activity meeting the need to understand and equip students with foreign affairs knowledge in the context of increasingly deep international integration.
The event not only creates a space for direct exchange between young people and experienced officials and experts but also helps students better understand the requirements for skills, demeanor, and courage when studying and working in an international environment.
The highlight of the seminar is the combination of sharing orientations, practical experiences with the content of diplomatic protocol practice, thereby helping students visualize more clearly their role and responsibility in future foreign affairs activities.
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| Nguyen Nam Bao Ngoc, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union. (Photo: Hien Anh) |
Sharing from a young participant's perspective, Nguyen Nam Bao Ngoc, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union, a student in International Relations (Diplomatic Academy) and International Trade Law (Foreign Trade University), stated that the seminar holds special significance for students, especially those studying foreign affairs-related fields.
According to Bao Ngoc, the insights shared by experienced diplomats provided many practical perspectives that textbooks and classrooms may not fully convey, thereby helping students accumulate more knowledge and experience for their studies and training in becoming a bridge between Vietnam and international friends through public diplomacy.
