Việtnam to Place Foreign Affairs at Heart of National Development: Deputy FM

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: The Party Committee of Việtnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will place foreign affairs at the centre of national development efforts, with a strong focus on economic and cultural diplomacy as well as science, technology and innovation diplomacy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Mạnh Cường said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the plenary discussion of the ongoing 14th National Party Congress, Cường said the orientation fully aligns with the draft documents submitted to the congress. He noted that the documents affirm the promotion of foreign affairs and international integration—alongside national defence and security—as a key and regular task and a strategic pillar in national construction and defence.

Cường said that through successive Party congresses, the Communist Party of Việtnam has continuously renewed its thinking and refined its foreign policy. During the Đổi mới (renewal) period, Việtnam progressed from “wanting to be friends” to “being ready to be friends,” and further to becoming “friends, reliable partners and an active, responsible member of the international community.”

He added that the country has evolved from international economic integration to proactive and comprehensive international integration, and from participation to active contribution, thereby enhancing its core and leading role in multilateral mechanisms.

On that basis, the documents of the 14th National Party Congress underscore strategic autonomy and self-reliance as the foundation for deep integration without dependence, while clearly defining the development of foreign affairs in the new era.

Designating foreign affairs and international integration as key and regular tasks reflects objective requirements amid profound, complex and unpredictable changes in the international environment, Cường said, describing this as an important advance in thinking.

He stressed that foreign affairs and international integration have become essential methods and continuous endeavours in building and safeguarding the Fatherland, requiring the proactive participation and close, synchronised coordination of the entire political system across all levels, sectors and localities.

Cường said the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified several key tasks for the coming period, including thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing the foreign policy line of the 14th National Party Congress and carrying out a comprehensive foreign affairs strategy at a higher level in the new era of prosperous and powerful national development.

He added that the ministry will synchronously advance Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, while closely coordinating with parliamentary diplomacy, defence diplomacy, public security diplomacy and local-level external relations.

The deputy minister also pledged to build a comprehensive, modern and professional diplomatic service, accelerate digital transformation, and focus on developing a contingent of foreign affairs officials with strong ethics, resilience and professional competence.