Hanoi (VNA) - Party General Secretary To Lam attended a ceremony to mark the diplomatic sector’s 80th founding anniversary (August 28, 1945-2025) on August 25, during which he showed his belief that Vietnamese diplomacy will help establish and preserve a peaceful and stable environment, pioneer in fostering cooperation, unlock and attract development resources, and constantly enhance the country’s standing.

The event also saw the presence of former Politburo member and former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; former Politburo member and former State President Truong Tan Sang; Politburo members: Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Information, Education, and Mass Mobilisation; Nguyen Xuan Thang, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh; Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang; and Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang; and former officials such as Pham Gia Khiem, former Politburo member, former Deputy Prime Minister, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Nguyen Thi Binh, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Vice State President, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.

Ambassadors, Chargés d'affaires, and Chiefs of international organisations’ representative offices in Vietnam also attended the ceremony.

Hailing the sector’s outstanding achievements and contributions, General Secretary Lam stressed that the Vietnamese diplomatic service is now facing a historic mission. He called on the sector to focus on building a comprehensive, modern, and professional diplomacy imbued with Vietnamese identity; ensuring comprehensiveness across all three pillars of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy; closely integrating diplomacy with national defence, security, economy, science and technology, culture, and foreign service information; and modernising itself in terms of mindset, methods, and tools.

It is essential to promote the distinctive identity of Vietnamese diplomacy: steadfast in principles, flexible in strategy, and firmly committed to safeguarding the highest interests of the nation and the people, he stated, stressing the importance of continuously enhancing the country’s international standing while upholding the values of peace, embracing noble humanism, and actively making responsible contributions to the common values of humanity and the international community.

The Party leader requested to ensure the highest national interests on the basis of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, firmly uphold independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

On the basis of the UN Charter and international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), maritime and land-related issues must be addressed appropriately with a strategy of both cooperation and struggle, with emphasis placed on promoting cooperation and dialogue, and seeking common ground with relevant parties, he said.

Comprehensive diplomacy in service of national development must be further advanced, with a focus on economic and technological diplomacy to actively attract high-quality resources, continue to expand markets and upgrade or sign new-generation, high-quality Free Trade Agreements (FTAs); connect infrastructure, logistics, supply chain, and green finance initiatives; and enhance Vietnam’s position in the global value chain.

Citizen protection must be carried out effectively, providing care and serving as a reliable support for Vietnamese communities abroad, wherever they are, at any time, while also effectively harnessing the potential of the global Vietnamese intellectual network.

The General Secretary emphasised the need to elevate Vietnam’s contributions to global politics, the world economy, human civilisation, and to peace, cooperation, and development both regionally and globally.

Vietnam must take a proactive and active role in putting forward initiatives at international and regional multilateral forums; strive to assume core and leading roles at multilateral forums and organisations of strategic importance, in line with the country’s requirements, capabilities, and specific conditions; and contribute more to fostering common ground, narrowing differences, and advancing multilateral diplomacy in both breadth and depth.

The top leader emphasised that, through the upheavals of history, Vietnamese diplomacy has continuously risen, affirming the spirit of a peace-loving nation with aspirations for development, displaying resilience and tactfulness in foreign relations.

The country has every reason to be proud that the diplomatic service, embodying the bravery, intelligence, spirit, and character of the new-era Vietnamese people, not only serves the Fatherland and the people but also helps illuminate the belief in a world of peace, cooperation, and development, he affirmed.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary Lam presented the first-class Labour Order to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recognition of its exceptional and outstanding achievements in advising and implementing the foreign affairs activities of the Party and the State, contributing to the cause of building socialism and safeguarding the Fatherland during the 2023-2025 period.

ꦕ He also conferred the title of “Hero of Labour” upon former Vice State President Nguyen Thi Binh in recognition of her immense contributions in the field of foreign affairs and her service to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation./.