Hanoi (VNA) – ▨The 29th Diplomatic Conference concluded in Hanoi on August 26 after five days of sitting, outlining multiple tasks for the diplomatic sectors in the time ahead.

The conference heard speeches delivered by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan. The diplomats debated the external relations policy adopted at the 12 th National Party Congress. They also compared notes on regional and global situations at present and forecast developments in years to come, as well as opportunities and challenges to Vietnam’s security and development. They pointed to achievements and limitations of the diplomatic work over the past years, and withdrew lessons to improve the work. The conference assessed that amidst the complicated diplomatic climate, the external work has completed tasks set at the 11th National Party Congress and the 28th Diplomatic Conference. The diplomatic sector has made the best use of opportunities and managed challenges to create a favourable position for the country in the world arena, the participants said. The conference rolled out key tasks for the diplomatic sector in coming time, which are maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, contributing to protecting national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, raising Vietnam’s position and prestige to serve national construction and defence. The sector will work to deepen relations with the country’s partners, especially strategic ones and powers important to the country’s development and security; step up international integration, improve the efficiency of international economic integration, effectively implement free trade areas with partners, and mobilize external resources to serve the country’s sustainable development. The tasks also include improving the efficiency of multilateral diplomacy, actively and proactively joining activities of regional and international organisations and multilateral forums, especially ASEAN, the UN and sub-region mechanisms, taking the initiative in contributing to forming multilateral institutions, fruitfully realising signed agreements, affirming and carrying forward the country’s role as a responsible member of the international community. At the same time, it is important for the sector to improve the efficiency of foreign news service, overseas Vietnamese affairs and citizen protection work, promote the Party’s external relations and people-to-people diplomacy, combine diplomacy and national security and defence. The sector will strive to train virtuous and competent diplomats to meet higher requirements of comprehensive international integration. The conference adopted a resolution and a plan of action, demonstrating their high consensus and resolve on the implementation of the tasks set by the 29 th Diplomatic Conference and the 12 th Party Congress’s Resolution. In his closing remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stressed that the diplomatic sector has thoroughly grasped directions and strategic orientations of the 12 th Party Congress, and will spare no effort to raise the efficiency of the external work and international integration.-VNA