Hanoi (VNA) –President Tran Dai Quang presented appointment decisions to six ambassadors toforeign countries for 2018-2021 at a ceremony in Hanoi on March 26.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc has been appointed as the new ambassador ofVietnam to the US, and Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy is the newambassador and head of Vietnam’s permanent representative mission to the UN inNew York.

Ta Van Thong has beenappointed as the new ambassador to New Zealand, along with the Republic of Fijiand the Independent State of Samoa. Pham Vinh Quang is the new ambassador to Indonesia,and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Independent State of Papua NewGuinea. The new ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique, and the Republic ofMadagascar, the Republic of Seychelles and the Republic of Mauritius is Le HuyHoang. The new ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the SyrianArab Republic and the Republic of Iraq is Nguyen Manh Hien.

Following the hand-over ceremony, President Quang had a meeting withthe newly-accredited ambassadors.

Pointing to difficulties and challenges facing Vietnam, the leaderasked the ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative offices overseasto flexibly apply late President Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic thought and payattention to reforming working methods in order to serve the country’ssustainable development, and maintain national defence and security.

He also stressed the need to effectively implement resolutions anddirectives on external relations and international integration of the Party andState.

The leader asked the diplomats to utilise the support of internationalfriends for Vietnam’s construction and defence, and focus on research andanalysis of the situation to propose solutions to the Party and State in orderto deepen the country’s external relations.

It is necessary to persistently pursue peaceful measures in line withinternational law and the code of conduct in the region, and promote love forpeace of Vietnamese people, while preparing plans to resolutely protectnational sovereignty, territorial integrity and other interests of Vietnam atsea.

The PM also highlighted the diplomats’ role in economic diplomacy,urging the them to boost the efficiency of signed new-generation free tradeagreements as well as seeking measures to diversify and expand export marketsfor Vietnamese goods and attract high-quality foreign investment.

The ambassadors were also asked to promote Vietnam’s initiatives atmultilateral mechanisms and forums, especially the UN and the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), given the fact that Vietnam is running for anon-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and about to assumethe post of ASEAN Chair in 2020.

Another regular task of the diplomats is to deal with issues related tothe overseas Vietnamese communities abroad, he said, stressing that the OVsform an integral part of the nation. -VNA