Entering the renewal period, external relations took the lead in breaking isolation, promoting deep international integration, effectively mobilizing external resources for development, and enhancing Vietnam’s position and prestige on the global stage.

Nguyen Manh Cuong, a member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a presentation on the theme “Proactively and actively fulfilling the key and regular task of advancing external relations and international integration in service of the country’s strategic objectives.”

On January 21, on behalf of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Manh Cuong presented the paper on “Proactively and actively fulfilling the key and regular task of advancing external relations and international integration in service of the country’s strategic objectives.”

Steering external relations into a new era

Expressing strong agreement with the Central documents submitted to the Congress, Nguyen Manh Cuong stressed that a review of Vietnam’s revolutionary journey clearly shows that, under the leadership of the Party, external relations and international integration have consistently played a vital role and made significant contributions.

During the struggle for national liberation and reunification, external relations worked in close coordination with political and military struggle, forming a posture of “fighting while negotiating,” contributing to historic milestones such as the Geneva Agreement of 1954 and the Paris Peace Accords of 1973, which opened decisive turning points toward national reunification.

Entering the renewal period, external relations spearheaded efforts to break isolation, promoted deep international integration, effectively harnessed external resources for development, and elevated Vietnam’s standing and credibility in international affairs.

Notably, during the term of the 13th National Party Congress, despite complex and unpredictable global developments, external relations and international integration achieved many important results. A peaceful and stable environment was maintained; independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity were firmly safeguarded. The external relations landscape became increasingly open, balanced, and harmonious. Diplomacy in service of development was strengthened, while Vietnam’s international role, standing, and prestige continued to rise.

These achievements represent the collective efforts of the entire political system under the Party’s leadership, with the active and effective contributions of ministries, sectors, localities, and the business community.

The Party has consistently affirmed that external relations constitute an integral component of the overall revolutionary line, contributing to safeguarding the Homeland early and from afar, while serving as a key driver of development and enhanced national standing.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh, a visionary leader and the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, early articulated the organic relationship between Vietnam and the world. He stated that Vietnam is a part of the world, everything in the world relates to Vietnam, and everything in Vietnam relates to the world.

That thinking laid the foundation for the Party’s open foreign policy and international integration. As early as 1946, in a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, he affirmed Vietnam’s desire to pursue a policy of openness and cooperation across all fields an early and consistent declaration of integration-oriented thinking, reflecting aspirations for peace, cooperation, and development.

Over successive Party Congresses, the Party has continuously renewed its thinking and refined its foreign policy. In the renewal era, Vietnam progressed from aspiring to be a friend, to being ready to be a friend, to becoming a friend, a trusted partner, and an active, responsible member of the international community; from economic integration to proactive and comprehensive international integration; from participation to active contribution, and further to assuming a more core and leading role in multilateral mechanisms.

External relations and international integration as key, regular tasks

On this basis, the documents of the 14th National Party Congress emphasize strategic autonomy and self-reliance as the foundation for deep integration without dependence, and clearly identify the task of developing external relations in the new era in a manner commensurate with the nation’s historical stature, cultural depth, and international position.

In particular, the documents affirm that, alongside national defense and security, advancing external relations and international integration constitutes a key and regular task, recognized as a strategic pillar in the cause of national construction and defense.

Defining external relations and international integration as key and regular tasks stems from objective requirements amid profound, complex, and unpredictable changes in the international environment. This also marks an important evolution in strategic thinking. Accordingly, external relations and international integration become an essential approach and a continuous, regular endeavor in national construction and defense; a shared mission of the entire political system, requiring proactive participation and close, coordinated, and synchronized action across all levels, sectors, and localities.

In that spirit, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified several priority tasks for the period ahead.

First, to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the foreign policy line of the 14th National Party Congress, and to carry out a comprehensive foreign policy strategy at a higher level, aligned with an era of prosperous and strong national development.

Second, to closely monitor developments and coordinate tightly with relevant agencies and forces, particularly the Vietnam People’s Army and the People’s Public Security; to proactively provide policy advice, avoid passivity or surprise, contribute to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, and resolutely and persistently safeguard independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as political stability and national security.

Third, to implement in a coordinated and effective manner the pillars of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy, while working closely with parliamentary diplomacy, defense diplomacy, public security diplomacy, and local-level external relations.

Fourth, to place diplomacy in service of development at the center; to strengthen economic, cultural, science and technology, and innovation diplomacy, using effectiveness in serving citizens and businesses as the primary benchmark.

Fifth, to build a comprehensive, modern, and professional diplomatic service; to accelerate digital transformation; and to focus on developing a diplomatic cadre that combines integrity, resilience, and competence, upholding a strong sense of dedication to the Homeland and service to the people.

Under the glorious banner of the Party, under the leadership of the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat, with State management and the coordination and active participation of all levels and sectors, officials and Party members across the diplomatic service firmly believe that external relations and international integration will continue to achieve even greater accomplishments, contributing to the building of a prosperous, strong, civilized, and happy nation in the new era.