Diplomacy helps raise Vietnam’s position in international arena: veteran diplomat
Over the past five years, Vietnam’s external affairs have produced outstanding results, thus helping consolidate national security, create favourable conditions for economic development and elevate the country’s position in the international arena.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Over the past five years, Vietnam’s external affairshave produced outstanding results, thus helping consolidate national security,create favourable conditions for economic development and elevate the country’sposition in the international arena.
The affirmation was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to IndiaPham Sanh Chau in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency onachievements of the diplomatic sector during the 12th National PartyCongress tenure and expectations for the upcoming 13th tenure.
In the 12th tenure, the diplomatic sector has completedmany great tasks, notably its effective response to changes in the world,creating a new position and strength to safeguard sovereignty over sea andislands and territorial integrity, consolidating a peaceful, stable andfavourable environment for development, and amicably handling arising problems.
The relations with other countries, particularlyneighbouring nations and big powers, have been further deepened, whilemultilateral diplomacy has witnessed an important transition, from activelyparticipating in to proactively getting engaged in building and formingimportant multilateral institutions, Chau said.
He went on to say that international integration andeconomic diplomacy have been stepped up, with the signing of the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement a highlight, and citizenprotection has been carried out promptly and effectively.
The sector has also worked proactive and resolutely in thefields of democracy and human rights, and made efforts to improve theefficiency of cultural diplomacy and external information.
The sector has truly turned risks into opportunities and transformedopportunities into advantages for the country, Chau affirmed.
A street decorated to welcome 13th National Party Congress (Photo: VNA)
Regarding the diplomatic work as mentioned in the 13th Congress’s draft documents, the diplomat said that the content continues toinherit the Party’s wisdom from the previous tenures and contains newdevelopment steps in conformity with the country’s new position and power, itscurrent diplomatic environment, as well as the complicated and unpredictablesituations of the world and the region.
According to him, the draft documents highlight the key roleand important contributions of external affairs to national construction,defence and development, and for the first time affirm the diplomatic sector’spioneering role with three main targets of creating and maintaining a peacefuland stable environment, mobilizing outside resources to develop the country,and improve its position and prestige.
An important new point of the 13th Congress’sdraft documents is defining national interests as the lodestar for externalaffairs, Chau added./.
Images of Vietnam’s flag flying at the Army Games 2020, UN peacekeeping operations, and ASEAN meetings over the years prove the significant role of defence diplomacy in improving the prestige and position of the army and the country in the international arena.
International economic integration was a bright spot in Vietnam’s external affairs activities in 2020, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to keep a close watch on, and resolutely and persistently fight to firmly protect Vietnam’s sea and islands sovereignty and legitimate interests in the East Sea.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung on January 15 called on correspondents from foreign press agencies and cultural and press attachés as well as representatives from foreign agencies in Vietnam to help in promoting the country’s image among international friends.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau (Photo: VNA) 
A street decorated to welcome 13th National Party Congress (Photo: VNA) 
