Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnam has actively participated in international activities and organized severalimportant multilateral international events in 2018, which were the importantachievements of the country last year, according to Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

In an interview granted to thepress on January 15, the Deputy PM and FM noted that the events hosted by Vietnamhad attracted the participation of many high-ranking leaders and large numbersof businesses from other countries.

He quoted the evaluation made byParty General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong at the 30th diplomatic conference that external affairs were a bright spot in Vietnam’s overallsuccess in 2018.

Besides, economic diplomacy has madevarious imprints on the country’s economic development, he said, stressing thatVietnam has actively joined negotiations for the signing of many free tradeagreements (FTAs). The country has so far become a member of, or is negotiating tojoin, 16 FTAs, both bilateral and multilateral.

Deputy PM Minh stressed that Vietnamposted a decade-high growth rate of 7.08 percent last year, with external economicrelations being an important factor. Total foreign trade value was almostdouble the country’s GDP, demonstrating the fact that Vietnam has an openeconomy

However, he noted that besidesthe opportunities, the FTAs also bring numerous challenges. Only when domesticfirms improve their competitiveness can they make full use of the opportunitiesand gain an advantage over other competitors.

Asked about Vietnam’spreparation for assuming the chair of the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) in 2020, Minh said the country already established a nationalcommittee for the task at the end of December 2017, of which he is thechairman. Noting that this is not the first time Vietnam takes the helm ofASEAN, he stressed that the country always makes early and thoroughpreparations before each event in order to ensure success.

Mentioning the country’s bid tobecome a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Deputy PM Minhrecalled that Vietnam had been elected to the council in the 2008-2009 tenurewith high votes. Ten years later, considering the country’s performance in theprevious tenure along with its current role and position, there will be highertrust and expectations for Vietnam. The Asia-Pacific group has selected Vietnamas the only candidate of the region in the council during the 2020-2021 tenure.

According to the diplomat, thecandidacy will give Vietnam a bigger voice and higher position in theinternational arena, and allow the country to involve deeper in the handling ofglobal matters, which suits the national interests. Furthermore, it will help buildVietnam’s image as an active and responsible member of the international communitybesides its dynamic economic growth.

He added that Vietnam’s participationin the UN peacekeeping mission also demonstrates that the country is aresponsible member of the UN, and wants to contribute to building peace not onlyin the region but also on the world.-VNA