Hanoi (VNA) – The diplomatic sector should detect opportunities and challenges in a timely manner, contributing to the successful implementation of the country’s 100-year strategic goals, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said at a working session with the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 29.

Noting that the country has gained great achievements in national construction and defence throughout 79 years of the Vietnamese revolution and 40 years of “Doi Moi” (Renewal), the leader said that never before has the country integrated so deeply and made such positive contributions to the international community as it does today.

From a poor and backward country suffering embargoes, Vietnam has become a developing country with middle income, and deeply and extensively integrated into the world politics, the global economy and humankind civilisation.

The top leader attributed the results to the wise and talented leadership of the Party, and the solidarity and unity of the entire Party, people and armed forces. He said those results are evidence of the correct and suitable foreign policy, in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays the core, pioneering, active and proactive role.

The diplomatic sector has strongly promoted its pioneering role in creating and maintaining an environment of peace, stability, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, which is instrumental for national construction and development, he underlined, noting that Vietnam has expanded friendly and cooperative relations with neighbouring and regional countries and traditional friends, as well as set up strategic partnerships and comprehensive partnerships with 30 countries.

The sector has coordinated closely with the defence, security and other sectors to firmly safeguard the country, made active contributions to peace, cooperation, development in the region and the world, he said, adding that at the same time, the diplomatic sector has worked to strengthen national unity, care for the Vietnamese community abroad, and promote the country's "soft power" through cultural diplomacy and external information.

Emphasising that the world is experiencing epochal change and the country is standing at a new historical starting point for a new era of the Vietnamese people, Lam asked the diplomatic sector to detect opportunities and challenges in a timely manner, contributing to the successful implementation of the 100-year strategic goals under the leadership of the Party.

The leader noted that the sector should strive for the ultimate goal of "ensuring to the most national interests for a strong Party, a prosperous and strong country with an important position and role in the world politics, the global economy and humankind civilisation, and people's wellbeing and happiness".

ꦐ He urged the sector to leverage and expand Vietnam's contributions to peace, cooperation, development and progress of humankind, and focus on building and reinforcing foreign relations in the new era based on the close combination of three pillars of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people diplomacy./.