This is the second theme of a series of three themes addressed during a seminar on diplomatic skills for development, organized by the Department of Organization and Personnel in collaboration with the Diplomatic Academy. The aim is to cultivate and enhance the capacities of officials working in foreign affairs in key strategic areas of the country.
During the seminar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van presented a thorough analysis of the evolution of Vietnam’s foreign policy thinking over time, emphasizing the need to prioritize a diplomacy that serves current development needs.
According to the deputy minister, to successfully conduct diplomatic action for development, it is essential to unify the concept of the role of foreign affairs. Throughout the Vietnamese revolution, foreign policy has always been closely linked to the strategic imperatives of each historical period and has constantly evolved to meet the country’s development goals.
The deputy minister highlighted that Vietnamese diplomacy has progressed to a higher level of demand: serving the country’s overall development. The three fundamental pillars of foreign policy remain: maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; attracting external resources for development; and strengthening the nation’s position and prestige. However, the focus is now on how foreign policy activities can directly contribute to growth and development at the local, sectoral, and enterprise levels.
The vice-minister emphasized that the current concept of local foreign affairs has greatly evolved. Previously, local authorities mainly received guidance and directives from the central government without much room for maneuver. Now, it is essential to promote the central role of local authorities and enterprises in the integration process.
The vice-minister emphasized that the motto “Placing citizens, local authorities, and enterprises at the heart of service” does not mean a total decentralization of foreign policy competencies in favor of local authorities. Instead, it emphasizes the diplomatic sector’s responsibility to provide direct support for local development.
From a practical perspective of implementing foreign policy for local authorities, Vice Minister Ngo Le Van also shared some important principles for building and maintaining relationships with international partners. He stressed that the first and most fundamental principle is ensuring harmonious and mutually beneficial interests.
The presentation of Vice Minister Ngo Le Van not only traced the evolution of Vietnam’s foreign policy thinking across different periods but also emphasized the need for strong innovation in diplomatic methods for this new phase of development. In this context, the primary goal of foreign policy is to contribute directly to socio-economic development, improve people’s quality of life, and enhance the competitiveness of each territory within the framework of international integration.
In his concluding remarks during the thematic session on “Sharing experiences and skills in building and maintaining relationships, networking with partners, supporting local authorities, and implementing diplomacy for development,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van emphasized the need to improve the content, efficiency, and sustainability of partner networks for local development.
According to the vice-minister, the essential competence in implementing development diplomacy is to adequately match partners’ needs with the territory’s strengths. He believes this is not only a professional competence but also a fundamental principle for promoting international cooperation.
The vice-minister urged Vietnamese representation agencies abroad and foreign affairs officials to maintain a constant service mindset for local communities in all their foreign policy activities.
He stressed that all foreign affairs work must consider local interests, emphasizing that this is a continuous task for the diplomatic sector during the current period.
Further analyzing the success factors of international cooperation, Vice Minister Ngo Le Van stated that the principle of “sharing benefits and risks” must be fully integrated throughout the cooperation process. He believes that cooperation can only be sustainable and yield long-term results when all parties perceive concrete benefits.
Today, local diplomatic action should not only focus on networking but also supporting local communities in solving difficulties and overcoming obstacles between cooperating parties. International relations agencies must proactively provide information and advice, promote exchanges, and facilitate the implementation of international cooperation projects and programs.
The deputy minister declared that a good understanding of the role, nature, and limits of responsibility of the liaison agency is essential to ensure effective coordination between parties and to help development-oriented diplomacy become more in-depth, substantial, and sustainable in the future.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ngoai-giao-phuc-vu-phat-trien-moi-hoat-dong-doi-ngoai-phai-huong-toi-loi-ich-dia-phuong-391213.html
