Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. Photo: VOV.
* Could you please tell us about the most outstanding and meaningful foreign and diplomatic milestones in the past year? What are the factors leading to the success of foreign affairs in 2023?
– 2023 is an exciting year in foreign affairs with many outstanding marks. Firstly, Foreign relations on bilateral and multilateral levels continue to be expanded and deepened, in which relations with many important partners have been raised to new heights with new qualitative and outstanding developments. is relations with neighboring countries, China, America, Japan and many other partners.
Foreign affairs activities, especially high-level foreign affairs, take place vibrantly across continents and at many important multilateral forums and mechanisms such as ASEAN, the United Nations, the Mekong Subregion, APEC, and AIPA. , COP 28, BRI…
In the past year, we have successfully organized 15 foreign visits of key leaders and 21 visits of senior leaders of countries to Vietnam, affirming Vietnam’s new stature and position in the world.
We continue to play a role in important international organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNESCO, etc. as well as contribute actively and responsibly to common world issues such as combating change. climate, peacekeeping in Africa, sending rescue forces to Turkey, etc.
Research, consultation and forecasting work on foreign affairs achieved many important results. Faced with the very complicated developments of the international situation, the diplomatic sector, along with other branches and levels, advises the Politburo, the Secretariat and the Government through many important projects on foreign affairs, especially the project Developing relations with a number of important partners, cooperation in ASEAN, the Mekong sub-region, policies on dealing with other countries’ initiatives, etc.
Economic diplomacy continues to be promoted on the basis of thoroughly grasping the spirit of Directive 15 of the Secretariat, taking localities, businesses and people as the service center.
Economic diplomacy activities have made an important contribution to promoting economic growth, import and export in 2023 will reach nearly 700 billion USD, over 30 items have export turnover of over 1 billion USD, FDI attraction will increase by 14%. .8%, accessing many new quality capital sources in a difficult world economic context.
A peaceful and stable environment continues to be maintained for the country’s development. In the face of fluctuations in the international situation, the diplomatic sector, national defense, security and other sectors and levels persistently promote dialogue and negotiations to resolve border and territorial issues, properly and promptly handling them. during activities that infringe on Vietnam’s independence, sovereignty, rights and legitimate interests.
The fields of foreign information, cultural diplomacy, work for Vietnamese people abroad, and citizen protection also achieved many important results. In 2023, Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba archipelago will be recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage, with two more cities, Dat Lat and Hoi An, recognized as UNESCO creative cities; Trusted to be elected to important UNESCO bodies such as Vice Chairman of the UNESCO General Assembly, Vice Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Convention on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, member of the World Heritage Committee term 2023-2027… We have promptly protected and safely brought home many citizens, especially from areas with conflicts and natural disasters.
* Based on the results achieved, please let the Minister know what the focus and orientation of Vietnamese diplomacy in 2024 will be and how it will be implemented?
– The year 2024 is important in successfully implementing the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress. In the coming years, the unstable and uncertain nature of the international situation will continue, and new and more complicated factors may appear. Domestically, the socio-economy continues to recover and develop, but there are still many difficulties and challenges.
However, the country’s potential, position, international reputation and the foreign achievements achieved in 2023 are a solid foundation for Vietnam’s foreign affairs and diplomacy to overcome difficulties and challenges. contributing to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress.
On the basis of organizing and properly implementing the foreign policy of the 13th National Congress and the resolutions, conclusions and directives on foreign affairs that the Party Central Committee, Politburo and Secretariat have issued since the beginning of the term until now, Strongly promoting the identity of “Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy”, the diplomatic sector focuses on the following focuses:
The first, continue to promote innovative thinking on foreign affairs. With the new position and strength our country has never had like today, we need to boldly go beyond old-fashioned thinking and find new ways to innovate for the benefit of the nation. To do so, it is necessary to promote the organization and implementation of research, consultation, and strategic forecasting on foreign affairs; Sensitively detect new issues, accurately identify opportunities, correctly position the country’s strategic position and take advantage of international trends to proactively have appropriate policies, policies and foreign policy steps. fit.
Monday, promote its pioneering role, At the same time, closely coordinate with Party foreign affairs, people’s foreign affairs, branches and levels to synchronously deploy foreign affairs and diplomacy to firmly consolidate the environment of peace, stability and national defense. Early on, from afar, mobilize new external resources for socio-economic development and enhance the country’s position and reputation.
The focus is on effectively promoting the relationship frameworks that have just been upgraded in the past year, implementing well the cooperation agreements that have been reached, and continuing to deepen and elevate relationships with partners. other cooperation to expand markets, attract high-quality investment, transfer new technology, create new development space for the country, localities, businesses and people, as well as further promote Vietnam’s new role and position in strategically important multilateral forums and mechanisms.
Tuesday, Focus on creating a new step in building and developing a strong, comprehensive and modern diplomatic sector. In particular, the focus is on organizing and implementing well projects and plans on innovation in training, fostering, planning and staff placement; Gradually improve facilities and policy mechanisms for foreign affairs; Continue to innovate working methods and practices towards professionalism, efficiency, modernity, etc.
* Could the Minister please analyze the meaning of the “bamboo diplomacy” school and its importance for Vietnam in the current context?
– Speaking at the 29th Diplomatic Conference in 2016, the General Secretary for the first time mentioned “Vietnamese bamboo” diplomacy, and came to the National Foreign Affairs Conference in December/ In 2021, the General Secretary has generalized the basic connotations of foreign affairs and diplomacy imbued with the identity of “Vietnamese bamboo”.
This is a very high summary and generalization of the core content and throughout the foreign policy of the Party and State as well as the unique identity of Vietnam’s revolutionary diplomacy built and developed on the basis of inheriting and creatively applying Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, style, diplomatic art, cultural identity and The nation’s diplomacy has endured through a history of thousands of years of building and defending the country.
The image of “Vietnamese bamboo” has vividly, but very simply and easily understood, the core contents and throughout our Party’s foreign policy as well as the unique identity of Vietnam’s revolutionary diplomacy. Nam, that is solid roots is a principle for the benefit of the nation and nation, an independent and self-reliant foreign policy, based on real strength, multilateralism, diversification of foreign relations and comprehensive and deep international integration. wide to create position, establish time…
Solid body is a method of creating strength, in which the strength of great national unity is a fundamental and vital factor; is to combine national strength with the strength of the times; is to raise high the flag of justice, humanity, fidelity, and respect for the law…
Flexible branches is the style and art of flexible behavior based on the principle of “what is constant, adapt to all changes”; is the behavior of “knowing yourself, knowing others”, “knowing the time, knowing the situation”, “knowing to advance, knowing to retreat”, “knowing to stop, knowing to change”…
The General Secretary’s direction is the guiding principle for Vietnamese diplomacy carrying out tasks during the term of the 13th Congress and has been deeply and thoroughly grasped throughout the entire industry, determined to build a comprehensive, modern, strong Vietnamese foreign policy and diplomacy, with a strong identity of “Vietnamese bamboo”. “.
Under the leadership and close direction of the Politburo, Secretariat and Government, the diplomatic sector has closely followed the foreign policy of the Party and State, promoting the identity of “Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy”, closely monitor developments in the world and regional situation, “know yourself, know others”, “know the time, know the situation”, be flexible and creative in strategy, handle foreign affairs according to the motto “of course”. immutable, adaptable to all changes”, from which appropriate implementation measures are taken, taking advantage of opportunities and resolving challenges to successfully complete foreign affairs tasks.
