Important developments were seen in Vietnam’s external affairs in2013 with numerous exchanges of high-level visits. The successes are asource of encouragement for the country to continue on the path ofinternational integration in the Year of the Horse. Analysis by Nhan Dan(People) online newspaper.
International trust in the development strategy
In 2013, Vietnamese leaders were invited to make keynote speeches atglobal conferences and forums on politics, security and economics,helping Vietnam’s voice be heard on international issues and convey thecountry’s policies to friends and partners.
Notably, leadersbrought the message ‘Building Strategic Trust’ for peace and developmentto the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and the Shangri-LaDialogue, and also during high-level visits to many countries across theglobe.
Strategic trust should be incessantly nourished in atruthful, sincere and practical manner at a time when the world isfacing traditional and non-traditional challenges which are creatingnegative impacts for common peace, stability and development. Trustoriginates with friendship and co-operation, and hinders any attempts tocause conflicts so that strategic trust construction and consolidationfor peace and prosperity and in accordance with international law isneeded.
The Vietnamese people have an ardent desire for peace andprosperity as they have experienced poverty and hardship during thecountry’s history of national construction and defence. Internationalprestige has resulted from tireless efforts in enhancing exchanges andinternational cooperation sincerely and willingly in a spirit of mutualtrust and respect and in appreciation of peace protection. This hascreated a strong appeal to friends and partners, causing them to tightenrelations with Vietnam and to build further strategic and sustainablerelations.
Through Party and State leaders’ visits to othercountries and foreign leaders’ visits, Vietnam has now establishedstrategic partnerships with France, Italy, Indonesia, Singapore andThailand, whilst managing to enhance the relationship with the US to acomprehensive partnership. As a result of these new developments,Vietnam now has 13 strategic partners and 11 comprehensive and so hasfulfilled the target of establishing strategic and comprehensivepartnerships with all the five powers which are the permanent members ofthe UN Security Council.
Trust has also helped the countrybecome a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2014-2016 with 184approval out of the 192 votes, the highest received among candidatecountries, proving clearly Vietnam’s confidence index.
Joiningthe Human Rights Council is an important step in the roadmap ofrealising the foreign policy, ‘be a trusted and responsible friend andpartner of the international community’, which reflects the viewpoint ofthe Party and State considering human rights as a common value andaspiration of mankind and affirming the policy of respecting andpromoting human rights, and making contributions to internationalcooperation in this field.
Furthermore, by fulfilling all of theUN Millennium Development Goals before the 2015 target, Vietnam hasgained even greater trust from the international community particularlyfrom the early fulfillment of the UN’s Millennium Goals in poverty andhunger eradication. From a hunger stricken country, Vietnam has becomethe largest rice exporter, helping ensure the world’s food security.This effort was recognised by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation2013 awards, where Vietnam and 37 other countries were recognised fortheir advanced approaches.
Firm integration
Success in political diplomacy is part of the ongoing overall success ininternational cooperation which is a result of the comprehensiverenewal cause initiated and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam overthe past 30 years. Among important developments in internationalintegration is the Politburo’s Resolution 22 dated April 10, 2013, whichlays a firm foundation and creates new stimulus for the country’sefforts to navigate proactively and confidently. Focusing onneighbouring countries, big partners and regional and internationalforums becomes a target and a lodestar of all external relationchannels.
The global economy is still in crisis but Vietnam’seconomy maintained sustainable growth in 2013. This is valued by theinternational community and deepens the trust from potential partners inVietnam. Economic cooperation is important to the country’sinternational integration targets, which focus on growing relations withneighbouring countries, strategic partners, traditional friends and bigeconomic centres in the world.
Following the global trend ofeconomic connectivity, Vietnam has actively participated in negotiationsfor six free trade agreements (FTA), notably new-generation FTA; theTrans-Pacific Partnership; ASEAN+6, which includes 10 ASEAN membercountries, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand andAustralia; and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Theestablishment of these FTA will provide Vietnam with a network of 56partners, laying strategic, political and economical foundations forlinks with the world’s leading economic centres. The successfulorganisation of the economic cooperation forum between Vietnam and theMiddle East – North African partners - potential markets - fosteredlinks between Vietnam and the region, especially in economics, trade,investment, oil and gas and labour.
Culturally, Vietnam has alsosucceeded with the completion of its four-year term as a member ofUNESCO's Executive Board and also with the election, for the first time,to be a member of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee. This is anopportunity for Vietnam to directly participate in the process ofdeliberation over heritage recognition, whilst protecting and promotingthe world’s heritage values.
Vietnam’s participationin the UN’s peacekeeping activities was applauded this year. It is saidthat the Vietnamese fully understand values of peace and strive tomaintain economic stability and ensure social welfare in order toconsolidate the country’s peace and prepare for its contributions to theworld’s common affairs.-VNA
International trust in the development strategy
In 2013, Vietnamese leaders were invited to make keynote speeches atglobal conferences and forums on politics, security and economics,helping Vietnam’s voice be heard on international issues and convey thecountry’s policies to friends and partners.
Notably, leadersbrought the message ‘Building Strategic Trust’ for peace and developmentto the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and the Shangri-LaDialogue, and also during high-level visits to many countries across theglobe.
Strategic trust should be incessantly nourished in atruthful, sincere and practical manner at a time when the world isfacing traditional and non-traditional challenges which are creatingnegative impacts for common peace, stability and development. Trustoriginates with friendship and co-operation, and hinders any attempts tocause conflicts so that strategic trust construction and consolidationfor peace and prosperity and in accordance with international law isneeded.
The Vietnamese people have an ardent desire for peace andprosperity as they have experienced poverty and hardship during thecountry’s history of national construction and defence. Internationalprestige has resulted from tireless efforts in enhancing exchanges andinternational cooperation sincerely and willingly in a spirit of mutualtrust and respect and in appreciation of peace protection. This hascreated a strong appeal to friends and partners, causing them to tightenrelations with Vietnam and to build further strategic and sustainablerelations.
Through Party and State leaders’ visits to othercountries and foreign leaders’ visits, Vietnam has now establishedstrategic partnerships with France, Italy, Indonesia, Singapore andThailand, whilst managing to enhance the relationship with the US to acomprehensive partnership. As a result of these new developments,Vietnam now has 13 strategic partners and 11 comprehensive and so hasfulfilled the target of establishing strategic and comprehensivepartnerships with all the five powers which are the permanent members ofthe UN Security Council.
Trust has also helped the countrybecome a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2014-2016 with 184approval out of the 192 votes, the highest received among candidatecountries, proving clearly Vietnam’s confidence index.
Joiningthe Human Rights Council is an important step in the roadmap ofrealising the foreign policy, ‘be a trusted and responsible friend andpartner of the international community’, which reflects the viewpoint ofthe Party and State considering human rights as a common value andaspiration of mankind and affirming the policy of respecting andpromoting human rights, and making contributions to internationalcooperation in this field.
Furthermore, by fulfilling all of theUN Millennium Development Goals before the 2015 target, Vietnam hasgained even greater trust from the international community particularlyfrom the early fulfillment of the UN’s Millennium Goals in poverty andhunger eradication. From a hunger stricken country, Vietnam has becomethe largest rice exporter, helping ensure the world’s food security.This effort was recognised by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation2013 awards, where Vietnam and 37 other countries were recognised fortheir advanced approaches.
Firm integration
Success in political diplomacy is part of the ongoing overall success ininternational cooperation which is a result of the comprehensiverenewal cause initiated and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam overthe past 30 years. Among important developments in internationalintegration is the Politburo’s Resolution 22 dated April 10, 2013, whichlays a firm foundation and creates new stimulus for the country’sefforts to navigate proactively and confidently. Focusing onneighbouring countries, big partners and regional and internationalforums becomes a target and a lodestar of all external relationchannels.
The global economy is still in crisis but Vietnam’seconomy maintained sustainable growth in 2013. This is valued by theinternational community and deepens the trust from potential partners inVietnam. Economic cooperation is important to the country’sinternational integration targets, which focus on growing relations withneighbouring countries, strategic partners, traditional friends and bigeconomic centres in the world.
Following the global trend ofeconomic connectivity, Vietnam has actively participated in negotiationsfor six free trade agreements (FTA), notably new-generation FTA; theTrans-Pacific Partnership; ASEAN+6, which includes 10 ASEAN membercountries, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand andAustralia; and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Theestablishment of these FTA will provide Vietnam with a network of 56partners, laying strategic, political and economical foundations forlinks with the world’s leading economic centres. The successfulorganisation of the economic cooperation forum between Vietnam and theMiddle East – North African partners - potential markets - fosteredlinks between Vietnam and the region, especially in economics, trade,investment, oil and gas and labour.
Culturally, Vietnam has alsosucceeded with the completion of its four-year term as a member ofUNESCO's Executive Board and also with the election, for the first time,to be a member of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee. This is anopportunity for Vietnam to directly participate in the process ofdeliberation over heritage recognition, whilst protecting and promotingthe world’s heritage values.
Vietnam’s participationin the UN’s peacekeeping activities was applauded this year. It is saidthat the Vietnamese fully understand values of peace and strive tomaintain economic stability and ensure social welfare in order toconsolidate the country’s peace and prepare for its contributions to theworld’s common affairs.-VNA
