General Secretary: Foreign affairs is a bright spot in the country's overall achievements

The General Secretary affirmed that with the efforts of the entire political system, foreign affairs work over the past three years, especially in 2017, has achieved many important results, becoming a bright spot among the overall achievements of our country, notably reflected in the following aspects:

Foreign affairs have made a very important contribution to maintaining and strengthening a peaceful and stable environment, creating favorable conditions for the cause of national construction and defense.

Faced with multifaceted and complex changes in the world and the region, unfavorable developments in the surrounding security environment, and negative impacts from the outside, we have continued to make correct decisions and take appropriate steps to serve economic development, maintain a peaceful environment, and ensure security and national defense, and maintain the country's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Vietnam has proactively promoted negotiations and cooperation to resolve disagreements and existing issues related to maritime boundary demarcation, both to protect our sovereignty and jurisdiction, and at the same time, together with other countries, to conduct demarcation, marker planting, and opening of new border gates; to manage borders and cross-border cooperation activities, making land borders both peaceful and friendly borders and development borders.

Overview of the Conference. Photo: dangcongsan.vn

Foreign affairs have practically served the task of economic development, especially foreign economic affairs. From 2016 to present, economic growth has always been higher than the average of the period 2011-2015, macroeconomic indicators are all positive, especially foreign investment and import-export.

Notably, despite the rising protectionist trend in many parts of the world, trade turnover and investment and tourism attraction from key partners still increased year after year. Total foreign direct investment in 2017 reached nearly 36 billion USD, up 44.4%, the highest in the past 10 years, of which disbursed capital reached 17.5 billion USD, up 10.8% compared to 2016.

Partners have pledged more than $3 billion in aid to Vietnam between now and 2020. The number of international tourists to Vietnam has reached a record high of more than 13 million people.

To date, a total of 71 countries have recognized Vietnam as a market economy. Vietnam has signed 13 free trade agreements, of which 10 have come into effect. Economic integration continues to create more resources for our country's economic development.

Foreign affairs continue to make an important contribution to enhancing Vietnam's position in the international arena, bringing Vietnam's relations with other countries, especially priority and important partners, into depth, stability and sustainability; relations with major countries continue to be consolidated and promoted in harmony, taking advantage of positive factors, limiting disagreements to serve the task of building and developing the country, enhancing the nation's position.

To date, Vietnam has established strategic partnerships with 16 countries, comprehensive partnerships with 11 countries, and special strategic relations with Laos and Cambodia. Strategic partnerships and comprehensive partnerships continue to be promoted and developed, bringing into play positive aspects.

We have strengthened and deepened relations with partners, especially those of strategic importance to the development and security of the country. We have concretized and brought the established framework into depth and substance, creating interweaving and connection between our interests and those of other countries.

Promote international integration in all aspects, continue to promote an active role in regional and global institutions, notably participating in building a strong, united, cooperative and self-reliant ASEAN Community.

In particular, Vietnam successfully organized APEC Vietnam Year 2017, took advantage of its position as host country, and affirmed Vietnam's role and ability in handling international and regional issues.

Proactively deploy foreign strategies on defense and security in line with new thinking on protecting the Fatherland and national security; effectively exploit external resources and the country's position to serve the goal of firmly protecting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The work of protecting citizens and fishermen continues to receive attention, and foreign information and propaganda work and cultural diplomacy are implemented synchronously and effectively. We have been proactive and determined in the fight for democracy and human rights.

Work for overseas Vietnamese has been well done, with more and more overseas Vietnamese actively contributing to the country's development and strengthening the great national unity bloc.

Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh delivered the opening speech at the 30th Diplomatic Conference. Photo: dangcongsan.vn

Party foreign affairs, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy have been implemented quite synchronously and closely and achieved many important results...

The above results have affirmed the correctness of the 12th Congress's foreign policy and policies related to foreign affairs of our Party.

We have consistently implemented a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of relations, proactively and actively integrating internationally for the national interest.

In complex situations, we have been steadfast in principles, flexible in strategies, closely following the requirements of protecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, combined with the requirements of protecting the socialist regime, and maintaining a favorable international environment for national construction and development.

In our policies and steps, we always have the consensus and support of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army. These results are thanks to the close and regular leadership of the Party Central Committee, directly the Politburo and the Secretariat, the proactive and flexible management of the State, the participation and active implementation of all levels, localities and sectors, especially the diplomatic sector.

According to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, those results have very important contributions from foreign affairs staff in general and Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff in particular.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, the General Secretary commended, congratulated and thanked the great and meaningful contributions of the staff working in foreign affairs in general and the diplomatic sector in particular.