General Secretary: The diplomatic sector needs to courageously look straight at the truth

On the morning of August 22, in Hanoi, the 29th Diplomatic Conference solemnly opened. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended and delivered a speech directing the Conference.

Also attending were Politburo members: Dinh The Huynh, Standing member of the Secretariat; Nguyen Thien Nhan, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Tong Thi Phong, Vice President of the National Assembly; Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defense; To Lam, Minister of Public Security; Truong Thi Mai, Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission; Vo Van Thuong, Head of the Central Propaganda Commission; Nguyen Van Binh, Head of the Central Economic Commission, and many leaders of central ministries, departments, branches and Hanoi city.

The conference was attended by over 700 delegates, including Heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, key officials from units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and officials working in foreign affairs in localities.

Speaking at the Conference, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong warmly welcomed and commended the great and meaningful contributions of the staff working in foreign affairs in general and the diplomatic sector in particular to the country's overall achievements in recent years.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: Over the past 70 years, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, foreign affairs activities have achieved many glorious achievements, building a unique diplomatic school, imbued with the identity of "Vietnamese bamboo" - soft but strong, benevolent but indomitable, knowing the soft and the hard, knowing the times and the situation, knowing oneself and knowing others,... expressing the soul and spirit of the Vietnamese people.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the conference

The General Secretary presented five lessons in implementing foreign affairs for the conference to continue studying and discussing. These are: combining national strength with the strength of the times, harmonizing national interests with international responsibilities; being steadfast in principles and flexible in strategies; building consensus within the entire Party, army and people; industry building and personnel work; the unified and absolute leadership of the Party and the centralized management of the State.

Analyzing the domestic and international situation in the coming time, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong requested the Foreign Affairs sector to give high priority and assign specific responsibilities to representative agencies abroad and functional units under the Ministry to strengthen research and forecasting work, providing information to help leaders make accurate and timely assessments to direct and manage the domestic economy. In addition, it is necessary to make an important contribution to protecting the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out: Within the framework of implementing the foreign policy of the 12th National Congress, we need to pay special attention to relations with neighboring countries, major countries, traditional friends, and enhance the central role of the ASEAN Community. Persistently pursue the policy of strengthening cooperation on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, and mutual benefit.

The diplomatic sector also needs to take the lead in coordinating with people's diplomacy and the cultural, artistic, information and communications sectors to most effectively promote the country's soft power advantages, starting from culture. With culture, there is no high or low, only diversity. Vietnam's soft power is first and foremost expressed in its attractiveness, radiating from cultural values ​​including tangible and intangible values, spiritual values ​​and the values ​​of the Vietnamese people. It is necessary to promote those values ​​to create a "brand" for the country, attracting the outside world, contributing to enhancing national pride, confidence in communication and widely promoting Vietnam's cultural values ​​to the world.

The General Secretary exchanged opinions with delegates attending the conference.

The General Secretary suggested that the Conference should discuss in a constructive and serious spirit whether there are signs of political and ideological degradation within the sector; whether there are signs of "self-evolution" or "self-transformation"; whether words do not match actions, or whether even in foreign relations, there is not enough courage to defend the Party's and the country's viewpoints?... We need to courageously look straight at the truth to see whether there are signs of deviation in ideology, ethics, and lifestyle within the sector; whether there are signs of running for jobs, positions, or areas...; on that basis, propose practical and specific measures to build and rectify the Party and the entire sector's apparatus.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out: The success or failure of diplomacy depends on strength and position. Strength and position here are not only reflected in material strength but also in "soft power". That is the righteousness of our cause; the strength of great national unity; the sympathy and support of people who love peace and justice in the world. That is also the implementation of foreign policies and guidelines in a clever way as an art according to the great thoughts of President Ho Chi Minh.

According to VOV