They were speaking on the sidelines of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference and the 22nd National Conference on External Affairs, taking place from August 1–7.
Commenting on the significance of this year's Diplomatic Conference, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi said the event stands out for three particularly important features.
First, it provides an opportunity for the entire foreign affairs sector to thoroughly grasp the Party's and the State's foreign policy guidelines and resolutions.
Second, the conference takes place as Viet Nam enters a new era of development with a long-term strategic vision towards the milestones of 2030 and 2045.
Third, the country's foreign affairs leadership mechanism has been further consolidated with the establishment of the Central Steering Committee for Foreign Affairs and International Integration, headed by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam.
Khoi stressed that the Party and the State now regard foreign affairs as a crucial and regular task on par with national defence and security. This places both a great honour and a significant responsibility on the diplomatic service.
Sharing his views on the guiding principles for Viet Nam's diplomacy amid profound global changes, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh said the diplomatic sector should focus on three key pillars: proactiveness, shaping and capability.
On “proactiveness”, he said the sector should proactively adapt to and manage risks arising from major-power competition, supply chain disruptions and regional crises, while strengthening its capacity for strategic forecasting and policy advice. At the same time, it should proactively safeguard a peaceful and stable environment and continue placing economic integration at the centre of its efforts.
Regarding “shaping”, he said Viet Nam's diplomacy should take the initiative in shaping a favourable strategic environment by deepening relations with key partners and neighbouring countries, thereby creating sustainable interwoven interests.
It should also maximise the benefits of existing free trade agreements (FTAs), expand Viet Nam's development space to regions such as Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and to strategic areas including science and technology, digital transformation, green transition and the attraction of new-generation foreign direct investment (FDI).
At the multilateral level, Viet Nam should actively contribute to shaping emerging international rules, such as those governing artificial intelligence (AI), while upholding the rule of law.
In terms of “capability”, Vinh stressed the need to build a streamlined and effective foreign affairs system suited to new thinking and new position, capable of translating policies into concrete cooperation programmes and projects. He also called for closer coordination among the three pillars of foreign affairs, national defence and security, while strengthening links with economic agencies, localities and the business community.
The ambassador said that Viet Nam's enhanced standing, capacity and confidence after four decades of Doi Moi (Renewal) provide a solid foundation for the diplomatic sector not only to maximise external resources for national development, but also to make active and responsible contributions to international peace and security.
