Hanoi (VNA) – General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong left a profound mark in terms of both theory and practice on the foreign affairs of Vietnam, which can be seen in important achievements in the field, according to Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung.

Trung noted that since 2011, Party General Secretary Trong, together with the Party Central Committee, Politburo and Secretariat, has made early and correct assessments of the situation as well as complex and rapid developments as seen over the past 10 years, setting out proper and timely policies, including in foreign affairs, to implement the Platform for building the country during the transition period to socialism (revised in 2011).

Major policies that have been mentioned from the 11th through to 13th National Party Congress include “ensuring the highest interest of the country and nation,” “Vietnam is a friend, a trustworthy, active and responsible member of the international community,” and “continuing to build a comprehensive, modern diplomacy on three pillars of party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy”.

Since 2011, under the leadership of the General Secretary, Vietnam has established comprehensive partnership, strategic partnership or comprehensive strategic partnership with 25 countries, including world powers and countries with important positions in regions, Trung noted.

In bilateral aspects, Vietnam has firmly consolidated relations with neighbouring countries of Laos, Cambodia, and China, with increasing political trust and mutual understanding, expanding economic relations and strengthened cooperation in a number of other fields.

Within only nine months, Vietnam welcomed leaders of three world powers – US President Joe Biden (September 2023), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping (December 2023), and Russian President Vladimir Putin (June 2024). This year, for the first time, the Vatican Secretary visited Vietnam.

At the same time, external relations have been expanded in all fields not only politics and security but also economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and overseas Vietnamese affairs, he said, stressing that the achievements Vietnam has gained have not only maintained national independence and sovereignty but also resolved many border and territorial issues. Vietnam has worked together with Laos, Cambodia, and China to improve the effectiveness of border management, fight against criminals, promptly settle arising problems, producing many new results in building a borderline of peace, cooperation and development.

Vietnam has promoted its achievements in the fields of democracy and human rights, effectively dealt with schemes and actions causing socio-political instability, while maintaining relations with other countries at the same time, Trung said.

Under the leadership of the General Secretary, the Politburo and the Secretariat approved and deployed specific projects and plans on the Party's foreign relations in the new period.

To date, the Communist Party of Vietnam has set up relationships with nearly 260 political parties around the world in nearly 120 countries, of which about 70-80% of political parties are either ruling parties or participating in ruling coalitions.

Another imprint left by the Party leader is the "Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy”, which is highly valued by international friends, according to the head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.

He said that General Secretary Trong first mentioned the concept of "foreign affairs - diplomacy imbued with the identity of Vietnamese bamboo” at the 29th National Diplomatic Conference in 2016.

At the first-ever National Conference on Foreign Affairs in 2021, General Secretary Trong highlighted the school of foreign affairs and diplomacy imbued with the identity of "Vietnamese bamboo" along with its goals, viewpoints, major ideas, content, mottos, and methods.

The marks of the “bamboo diplomacy” can also be seen in the important and historic achievements in external relations of the Party and State over the years.

Recalling his memories of Party General Secretary Trong, Trung said in the last time he reported on the international situation and external work to the Party chief several days ago, the leader reminded him that the important thing currently is to maintain the development trend of external relations.

Trung noted that his strategic vision, high determination, and wholehearted working spirit are among his strong impressions of the late leader.

“Party General Secretary Trong is very decisive in his work. After carefully exploring the matter and listening to ideas on it, he was very decisive, especially on important issues," said the official./.