Vietnam to continue improving external work in 2019
Maintaining a peaceful environment for development; safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; speeding up international integration; and attracting resources to serve national development are the main tasks of Vietnam’s foreign affairs in 2019.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the meeting (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Maintaining a peaceful environment for development; safeguardingindependence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; speeding up internationalintegration; and attracting resources to serve national development are the maintasks of Vietnam’s foreign affairs in 2019.
The statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham BinhMinh on March 11 when he co-chaired a joint meeting on the Party, State and NationalAssembly (NA)’s external work in 2018 and orientations for 2019 between theForeign Ministry, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for ExternalRelations and the NA Committee for External Affairs.
Minh stressed the needto increase the efficiency of external activities, develop the country’srelations with partners in a deep, stable and effective manner, well implementthe Secretariat’s Directive No.25 on stepping up and elevating multilateraldiplomacy, and effectively perform citizen protection.
It is also essentialto intensify canvass for a seat of a non-permanent member of the UN SecurityCouncil in the 2020-2021 tenure, make good preparations to assume the ASEANChair in 2020, and push up the signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement, he said.
To that end, hesuggested the three offices step up official training, along with closercoordination.
Last year, in thecontext of complicated regional and global developments, under the leadershipof the Party and State and with close coordination between the three offices,external work gained outstanding achievements in all aspects, contributing toraising the country’s position and strength.-VNA
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had a meeting with press agencies of Vietnam in Hanoi on January 15, expressing appreciation for their contributions to the success of the external work last year.
Vietnam has actively participated in international activities and organized several important multilateral international events in 2018, which were the important achievements of the country last year, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
The most important task for external work in 2019 is to intensify established relations and enhance the mutual interests between Vietnam and its key partners, especially neighbouring, regional, and major countries, along with strategic and comprehensive partners.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh has said foreign diplomats and heads of international organisations contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic development in 2018.
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.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the meeting (Source: VNA) 
