'Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh - an outstanding 'industry commander' on the diplomatic front'

On the morning of July 15, in Vinh City, Nghe An, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee jointly organized a scientific seminar: "Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh - A typical senior leader of the Party and the Vietnamese revolution".

Comrade Pham Binh Minh - Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered an opening speech at the workshop reviewing the life and revolutionary career of Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh, especially his contributions to the country's diplomatic sector. Nghe An Newspaper quoted the speech:

Comrade Pham Binh Minh - Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered the opening speech at the Workshop. Photo: Thanh Duy

... In the context of the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people competing to achieve achievements to celebrate the 130th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh, the 75th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, to welcome the Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 13th National Congress of the Party, this Workshop is an opportunity for us to review our vibrant working life, especially to express our deep gratitude for the great contributions of Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh to the glorious revolutionary cause of the nation; at the same time, this is also an opportunity for us to study, exchange and draw lessons from the revolutionary life of Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh in the fields of economic - planning, socio-cultural, scientific, technological work to foreign affairs, contributing to the cause of perfecting the Doi Moi policy, proactively integrating deeply into the international community and carrying out the task of building and defending the Fatherland in the new situation.

… Born in Nghe An province, a land of outstanding people with a rich revolutionary tradition, the homeland of the great President Ho Chi Minh and many famous people and national heroes, comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh continued the patriotic spirit and glorious tradition of his homeland, early awakened to the revolution and became a brave communist soldier participating in the struggle for national independence and freedom.

Leaders of the Party, State and Nghe An province exchanged on the sidelines of the workshop. Photo: Thanh Duy

As a member of the first generation of our Party, comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh had the opportunity to hone his mettle, along with comrades who turned imperial prisons into revolutionary schools, to meet and learn directly from President Ho Chi Minh and fellow revolutionaries to remain steadfast in the ideals of Communism, the spirit of struggle and proletarian solidarity.

During nearly 60 years of revolutionary activities and nearly 30 years as a member of the Central Executive Committee, member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Deputy Prime Minister, he devoted all his heart and mind to leading the revolutionary cause of national liberation and the construction of socialism in our country with the Central Executive Committee.

Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh was trusted by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh to hold many important positions such as: Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Planning Commission, Member of the National Defense Council and Chairman of the State Science Commission.

Comrade Pham Binh Minh - Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs presented the book: "Portrait of the late Minister of Foreign Affairs" to Comrade Nguyen Xuan Thang - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council. Photo: Thanh Duy

He was also the Vietnamese Foreign Minister with the longest tenure, 15 years (1965 - 1980), spanning a turbulent period, with major turning points for the country, leaving many profound marks on the diplomatic sector.

In any position, he has always demonstrated the qualities of a staunch communist soldier, an excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh, an excellent diplomat of the Party and State, always demonstrating the role and mettle of a leader with vision and broad thinking, always being thorough and decisive in leadership and management.

In the field of foreign affairs, we are extremely proud to remember and follow the example of comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh, the outstanding "industry commander" on the diplomatic front. As the chief architect of the diplomatic front during the anti-American war for national salvation, comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh creatively applied Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic ideology and the Party Central Committee's guidelines and policies, successfully implementing the strategic policy of opening a diplomatic front to create a combined strength with the political front and the military front; at the same time, he skillfully applied the strategy of "fighting and negotiating at the same time", the diplomacy of "two but one, one but two", the art of "winning step by step", creating momentum and strength for the Vietnamese revolution, contributing to the great victory of the historic Spring of 1975.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy visit the exhibition on comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh. Photo: Thanh Duy

In the 1960s, the US created the so-called “Gulf of Tonkin incident” to bomb and shell the North while carrying out a diplomatic campaign to blame the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh led the diplomacy of the two regions to act promptly, actively mobilize support and propagate to the world the justice of our nation’s struggle.

The 5-point statement of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the 4-point statement of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam condemned the new war act of the US, strongly affirmed the will and aspirations of the people of the two regions for peace, independence, sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity, creating the basis for a correct political solution regarding Vietnam.

When mentioning comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh, we must mention his very important role and mark in the process of negotiating and implementing the Paris Agreement. Through 202 public sessions and 45 private meetings between Vietnam and the US, the Paris Conference was a fierce battle of wits and mettle between the young revolutionary diplomacy and the experienced diplomacy of the world's leading superpower.

This was the peak of the Vietnamese diplomatic front during the anti-American war to save the country, demonstrating the important, active and proactive role of the diplomatic front in close coordination with the military and political front; on the basis of upholding the principles of peace, independence and autonomy; contributing to the formation of a world people's front supporting the just struggle of our people. On January 27, 1973, Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh officially signed the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

After the country's reunification, comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh directed the Foreign Affairs sector to seek support from socialist countries and friendly countries around the world to overcome the consequences of war and to fight against the embargo. During this difficult time, in July 1976, Vietnam quickly established and strengthened relations with neighboring and regional countries with a four-point policy. In September 1977, Vietnam officially became a member of the United Nations, marking the international community's recognition of the legality and representative status of our country at the world's largest multilateral organization. These were the first steps of Vietnam's open-door policy, integration, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations.

Along with leading the implementation of political tasks, Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh always paid attention to building and arranging the organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with revolutionary practice, attaching importance to improving working methods, expanding democracy, promoting discipline. He also left a deep impression in the hearts of generations of cadres who had the opportunity to work with him with a democratic working style, always caring and deeply caring for cadres, and valuing talents.

It can be said that the revolutionary life, moral character and spirit of dedication of comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh are an example of exemplary intelligence, personality and morality for every cadre and party member to follow.

Comrades: Pham Binh Minh - Member of the Politburo, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nguyen Xuan Thang - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council took souvenir photos with representatives of the family and clan of comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh attending the Conference. Photo: Thanh Duy

… The country’s socio-economic development and international integration in recent years have achieved great and proud achievements. However, in the context of the complicated and unpredictable developments in the world and the region, coupled with the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we need to be more deeply aware of the need to proactively research and flexibly apply previous lessons to the current situation, turning challenges into opportunities.

In particular, the rich revolutionary life of comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh needs to continue to be researched and discussed; from there, lessons can be drawn on thinking and style for the leadership, direction and administration of the Party and State today.

The imprints and experiences in foreign affairs of comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh are also valuable assets for generations of diplomats, especially when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is implementing activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Diplomatic Service. With that meaning, I believe that the conference will receive many valuable and dedicated comments from comrades to make the conference a great success!

(Title by Nghe An Newspaper)

Pham Binh Minh