Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh speaks at the conference (Photo: VNA)– 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.
Addressing a conference to review the MoFA’s
performance in 2020 and set out tasks and orientations in 2021, Minh launched
this year’s theme for the ministry “Building a comprehensive and modern
diplomacy and successfully implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party
Congress”.
Participants agreed that Party and State’s foreign affairs have bravely and creatively
overcome challenges, as well as built and took advantage of opportunities in
the context of emerging complicated and unprecedented developments in the world
and the region in 2020, especially impacts posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,
which has widely impacted on all aspects of the global life and international
relations.
The external affairs have been implemented synchronously, comprehensively and flexibly,
and achieved important results, they said.
The foreign affairs continued
to be a bright spot among achievements of Vietnam in the year, helping to create
a favorable environment for the national construction and defence as well as
raising the nation’s position.
In 2020, Vietnam successfully assumed great international responsibilities,
especially its role as the ASEAN Chair, a non-permanent member of the UN Security
Council for the 2020-2021 term. The country has maintained and promoted the
momentum of relations with other countries through the flexible adjustment of
modes for external activities by combining both online and in-person formats.
International integration, with its core being international economic
integration, continued to make new breakthroughs with the ratification and signing
of free trade agreements (FTAs), including the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA), the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, the UK-Vietnam
FTA (UKVFTA), thereby creating new impetus for the nation’s economic recovery.
Economic diplomacy has been enhanced, assisting localities and businesses in connecting
with partners and expanding their markets.
The external affairs have also made important
contributions to safeguarding Vietnam’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in line with international law, participants
said.
The citizen protection work has been implemented effectively, especially for Vietnamese
citizens abroad. Meanwhile, the cultural diplomacy and external information
have well applied new communication methods to promote Vietnam’s image of renovation,
successful integration, and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regarding the sector’s development, delegates agreed
that the personnel appointment, rotation, planning and training have become
more and more efficient, while attention has been also paid to moderlising the ministry.
Minh affirmed that efforts of the ministry’s officials and staff have
contributed to proud external achievements in 2020.
He asked the diplomatic sector to focus on
effectively implementing the foreign policy of the upcoming 13th National Party Congress; continue developing Vietnam’s relations with
neighbouring countries, world powers, important partners and traditional
friends in an intensive, stable and sustainable manner with innovative and
effective methods; and well carrying out diplomatic economic and cultural
affairs and overseas Vietnamese-related work.
The ministry will step up the implementation of the
directions of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on boosting and
heightening multilateral diplomacy until 2030, keeping 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, as well as coping with
traditional and non-traditional security challenges, Minh stressed.
Attention will be also paid to the citizen
protection and overseas Vietnamese-related work and bettering coordination among
the Party, State, people and defence-security external affairs, he said./.