Mr. Tu addressed the plenary session on Party and people-to-people diplomacy as part of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference in Hanoi, which was connected via video link to 34 provinces and cities, as well as Vietnamese representative missions abroad.
He emphasized the importance of seamlessly coordinating and implementing the three pillars of external relations: Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy. While each pillar possesses its own distinct role, mission, target audience, methods, and operational areas, they all aim for the shared goal of leveraging combined strength to effectively realize the nation's foreign policy objectives, Mr. Tu said.
“Focus on consolidating and deepening relations with political Parties—particularly ruling Parties in neighboring countries and influential Parties in major nations—as well as with countries with which Vietnam has established relationship frameworks. Efforts should be made to expand Party-to-Party relations and foster political consensus within the political landscapes of partner countries regarding their ties with Vietnam. Continue to prioritize innovation and the flexible, effective implementation of cooperation mechanisms via Party channels.”
The Permanent Member of the Party’s Secretariat stressed the need to enhance the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy, calling for a decisive shift in mindset—moving beyond mere friendship exchanges and advocacy toward aligning interests and creating spaces for sustainable cooperation. He urged for efforts to leverage the combined strength of the entire political system, the general public, and various organizations to effectively carry out people-to-people diplomacy activities. It's necessary to proactively contribute to and engage more deeply in regional and international people-to-people networks, forums, and mechanisms, Mr. Tu said.
