Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the UN General Assembly (Photo: VOV)

With the establishment of diplomatic relations with Tonga, within the framework of the high-level general discussion session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last Thursday, Vietnam has so far established diplomatic ties with 193 countries and comprehensive partnerships, strategic partnerships, or comprehensive strategic partnerships with 30 countries, including 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and all other major countries.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly Rosen Zhelyazkov held a press conference (Photo: VOV)

Significant events, figures

During 8 days in the US and Brazil, Prime Minister Chinh participated in more than 70 activities in San Francisco, Washington D.C, New York, São Paulo, and Brasilia. During his visits to Bangladesh and Bulgaria, National Assembly Chairman Hue also carried out more than 70 activities to promote cooperation between Vietnam and Bangladesh and Bulgaria in multiple fields, including culture, tourism, and locality cooperation.

With these activities, Vietnam has left its mark on many regional and global forums and summits including the UN, the Group of 7 industrialized countries, the ASEAN Summit, the East Asia Summit, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. Vietnam has signed 16 Free Trade Agreements with 60 other economies, including developed countries. Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations over the past 9 years has been acknowledged internationally.

All these figures and activities reflect Vietnam’s expansion of relations and growing international status. Promoting multilateral diplomacy has enhanced the Vietnam brand in the international arena and in bilateral relations with important partners and major countries, which creates a foundation for Vietnam to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Head of the Bangladeshi National Assembly's External Relations Committee (Photo: VOV)

New mindset in diplomatic strategy

Vietnam is enhancing its foreign policy with a new mindset. Vietnamese Party and State leaders’ visits and meetings and their participation in high-level meetings have become multi-purpose, integrating politics, security, diplomacy, economics, science, technology, culture, and education.

Foreign affairs activities of the Party General Secretary, the President, the Prime Minister, and the Chairman of the National Assembly with China, the US, Laos, Russia, and Japan recently have proved Vietnam’s effort.

Most recently, right after Vietnam and the US established a comprehensive strategic partnership, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended several meetings with American officials and organizations to boost bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, and human resource training for high-tech development.

Vietnam has also signed several bilateral and multilateral agreements. The international support for Vietnam's participation in UN agencies and other international organizations and support for Vietnam in difficulties is vivid evidence of the success of Vietnam's diplomacy. The support is particularly important in a rapidly-changing, complex, and unpredictable world.

The success of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s trips and Vietnam’s recent diplomatic activities delivers the message that Vietnam is a country with dynamic development, innovation, and comprehensive, extensive, and effective international integration, and a country that contributes positively and responsibly to the international community’s efforts to address global problems.