According to the Deputy PM, President Ho Chi Minh gave prominence to basic national rights, stressing that independence and self-reliance must be closely associated with international solidarity and cooperation. The President attached great importance to friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries sharing borders with Vietnam, alongside expanding relations with countries in the region and the world, and handling relations with powerful countries appropriately fin the interests of the revolution.

In the President’s view, diplomacy is a front, and the national strength should be combined with the strengths of the international arena to create an overall strength. He always put Vietnam in the world’s flow, and paid great attention to world centres of power as well as major trends.

Deputy PM Minh underlined that Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on diplomatic relations also reflect the peace-loving tradition of the Vietnamese nation, and harmoniously combines national and international values.

He asserted that the President’s diplomatic thought is an invaluable heritage, the foundation of strength and key for Vietnam to successfully implement the Party’s policy on external relations through different periods of the revolution.

According to Deputy PM Minh, it is thanks to the creative application of President Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic thought that Vietnam’s diplomatic sector has made so many important achievements, contributing to maintaining a peaceful environment and attracting resources for national development, defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and enhancing the country’s position in the international arena.

The Deputy PM and FM said Vietnam attaches great importance to relations with neighbouring countries sharing the same border, and with strategic and comprehensive partners. At the same time, Vietnam has strived to develop substantial relations with neighbouring countries in the region as well as traditionally friendly countries.

He highlighted that with its new position and power, Vietnam has participated in and actively contributed to most important international organisations and forums, successfully performed many important missions and positively contributed to the settlement of many important international issues.

In an increasingly complicated international situation, the external affairs sector has contributed effectively to firmly defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The sector has made great efforts in building a land border of peace, friendship and development with Laos, Cambodia and China. Amid the complex situation in the East Sea, the sector has timely and judiciously handled issues arising, resolutely and consistently defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam at sea, the Deputy PM said.

He went on to say that as the world is witnessing great, profound and unpredictable changes, Vietnam should continue to apply Ho Chi Minh thought on diplomacy in a creative manner in order to stay inside the “era’s flow”, thus creating great power to take the country’s revolution to new heights.

The top diplomat stressed that Vietnam’s diplomacy must uphold its role as a pioneering front to maintain a favourable international environment and attract all sources of investment serving national development, elevating the country’s position and defending the country.

“We must persist with a constant goal which is the supreme interest of the country and nation, while building strategies and acting in a smart and flexible manner to respond to changes in the situation,” Minh wrote.

Regarding the complex developments in the East Sea, the Deputy PM and FM said Vietnam will persevere with peaceful measures to settle disputes while at the same time is resolute to protect its most noble rights which encompass the territorial integrity of the Fatherland and independence of the country.

Deputy PM Minh also made clear that Vietnam will continue to promote and enhance the efficiency of international integration, treasure relations with countries sharing the same border, deepen ties with countries in the region and the world, as well as elevate multilateral diplomacy.

Source: Nhan Dan online