Diplomatic Conference scrutinizes implementation of foreign affairs

• 30th Diplomatic Conference to be held on August 12-17
• President asks new ambassadors to promote economic diplomacy
• Diplomats seek to improve consular affairs, citizen protection

Present at the conference were Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Tran Quoc Vuong, Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of Public Security To Lam and other Politburo members.

DPM Pham Binh Minh speaking at the event.

Also attending were the secretaries of the CPVCC, the leaders of ministries, departments and centrally run cities and provinces, chief representatives of the Vietnamese rep. offices overseas along with more than 300 foreign ministry leaders and officials.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh emphasised the significant timing of the conference, which reviewed the mid-term implementation of the guidelines and foreign policy set out at the 12th National Party Congress in the aim of successfully carrying out the 12th National Party Congress’s Resolution and the socio-economic development plan for the 2016-2020 period.

There have been many developments in both regional and international politics and security while policy adjustments and strategic competition among powerful nations coupled with increasing populism and pragmatism are creating an unstable security environment. There is an intense struggle between the tide of the new and older structures as new trends emerge with ever greater rapidity. Complicated situations in the East Sea threaten the regional security and stability as well as legitimate rights and interests of many countries, including Vietnam.

In pursuit of the foreign policy adopted at the 12th National Party Congress, the diplomatic sector has persisted with its principles and targets, and stayed active and flexible in actualizing its goals to obtain a range of significant results.  To ensure important national interests, Vietnam has capitalized on opportunities and overcome challenges to successfully fulfill key tasks of foreign relations as set by the 12th National Party Congress.

Notably two of the major groups of tasks directed by Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong at the 29th Diplomatic Conference are those to take full advantage of external sources for national development and to protect national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while preserving a peaceful and stable environment for continued development, Deputy PM Minh said.