Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong addresses the 32nd National Diplomatic Conference. Photo: VOV

Firm principles, flexibility and creativity

In 2024 and the following years, given global uncertainties, Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy" is set to be maximized. "Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy" was first mentioned by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong at the 29th National Diplomatic Conference in 2016 and was shaped at the 32nd National Diplomatic Conference in 2023. These thoughts are the guidelines for Vietnam to build a comprehensive, modern, and strong diplomacy.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said, “We need to be consistent in principles and flexible in strategy. Our principles are national independence and socialism. Our strategy is to be mobile and flexible depending on matter, time, and partner or adversary, adhering to President Ho Chi Minh’s great idea to "Use calmness and steadfastness to respond to all changes". He added, "It’s better to have friends than enemies", and "Befriend all democratic countries and make enemies with none."

"Vietnam is ready to be a friend, and a reliable and responsible partner, to all countries. Implementing correct foreign policy, raising the flag of justice, and effective delivering policies will create strong consensus and solidarity of the entire nation and win widespread sympathy and support of international friends,” Mr. Trong said. 

One of the key tasks of Vietnam's diplomacy in 2024 and beyond is to change the mindset and harmoniously handle the relationship between national interests and international obligations and responsibilities.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said, “With our position and power on the rise, we need a new mindset to serve national interests. We must promote research, consultation, and strategic forecast on foreign affairs, effectively detect new issues, accurately identify opportunities, correctly locate the country's strategic position, and take advantage of international trends to make appropriate foreign policy.”

Becoming a bright spot in protecting peace, stability, and sustainable development, Vietnam continues to persevere on the path of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, defending sovereignty, and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment. In this process, the diplomatic sector has played a pioneering role.

Diplomacy has also been tasked with mobilizing outside resources for socio-economic development and enhancing national position and reputation. Diplomacy has capitalized on the already upgraded relationship frameworks, delivered cooperation agreements, and raised the level of relations with other partners, to expand the market, attract high-quality investment, transfer technology, and elevate Vietnam's role and position in strategically important multilateral forums. 

“Diplomacy closely follows the Party and State’s foreign policy, promotes ‘Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy’, monitors global and regional developments, follows the adage ‘know oneself, know others’ and ‘know the timing, know the situation'. We need to be flexible and creative in strategy, and handle foreign affairs issues according to the motto ‘Use calmness and steadfastness to respond to all changes’, thereby taking advantage of opportunities and resolving challenges to successfully accomplish foreign affairs tasks,” according to Minister Son. 

With the region and the world witnessing fierce strategic competition between major countries, "Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy" has been flexibly applied to support national interests. What Vietnam has achieved is a testament to innovation and foreign policy in the new era.