Hanoi (VNA) – On the occasion of the diplomatic sector's 80th anniversary (August 28, 1945–2025), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang shared key milestones and contributions of consular and citizen protection affairs to Vietnam’s diplomacy, as well as strategic directions for elevating these efforts in the new development phase.

Talking to the press, the diplomat said that from its early days, consular affairs and the protection of citizens’ rights and interests have been among the core tasks of the diplomatic sector. Initially tasked with promoting patriotism, mobilising overseas Vietnamese's support for the homeland, and participating in the resistance wars, the first consular offices were opened in India, Myanmar, and Indonesia, laying the foundation for establishing diplomatic missions and marking the first steps in the consular and citizen protection work.

Over the past 80 years, the work has achieved significant results, contributing to the overall success of external affairs and earning recognition from the Party, State, and people.

She elaborated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has always acted with urgency and the highest sense of responsibility, placing the safety of citizens above all else. Amid an increasingly complex world—marked by armed conflicts, terrorism, crime, natural disasters, and extreme weather, Vietnam’s deepening integration has generated both new requirements and challenges to this work.

Beyond handling routine procedures, issuing documents, or implementing standard protective measures, the MoFA, in collaboration with other ministries and agencies, has conducted large-scale evacuation campaigns from zones with conflicts, political unrest, natural disasters, and pandemics, such as the evacuations from Iraq (1991), Libya (2011, 2014), Ukraine (2022), Myanmar (2023), and most recently from the Israel – Iran conflict, ensuring no Vietnamese casualties. Consular officers have risked their lives to rescue hostages from pirates or come to disaster-hit zones where aftershocks were still occurring. These efforts have reinforced the ministry’s credibility and strengthened public trust in the Party and State’s sound and humane policies.

With a people- and business-centred approach, Hang went on, consular services at home and abroad have been reformed towards transparency and efficiency, contributing to a service-oriented, effective, and efficient administration. Administrative procedure simplification, coupled with digital transformation, has been promoted to save time and compliance costs, with citizen satisfaction as the "meter" of performance results. Breakthrough policy proposals on entry – exit, visa waivers, nationality, and migration have been submitted in a timely manner.

Notable initiatives include drafting and amending legal documents, piloting end-to-end online consular services, introducing VNeID-based online appointment booking, and decentralising certain procedures to local authorities.

International cooperation on consular and migration issues has been expanded and intensified through regular consultation mechanisms with key partners. Bilaterally, complex consular matters have been resolved effectively, helping strengthen Vietnam’s diplomatic relations with other countries and meet citizens' demand and interests. Multilaterally, Vietnam has actively contributed initiatives to global and regional migration mechanisms, processes, and forums, including participating in the drafting and adoption of the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), in line with the country’s concerns and interests. This has helped create a new stature for Vietnam as "a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community" that joins in and together solve common global challenges, thereby maximally protecting the rights and legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens abroad.

As Vietnam enters a new development stage, rapid changes in all aspects will set new requirements for consular and citizen protection affairs. This demands profound changes in awareness, mindset, and action, according to the Deputy FM.

Among the four groups of focal tasks, reforming thinking and taking one step in advance in institutional and policy perfection will create a foundation for comprehensive innovation in the consular and citizen protection work, contributing to creating and maintaining a favourable environment for people and businesses to exchange, invest, and integrate.

Digital transformation should be accelerated along with promoting the application of science and technology and strongly reforming working methods to modernise the consular and citizen protection work.

It is also necessary to be more proactive in international cooperation on consular and migration affairs through expanding and innovating mechanisms and contents of consular cooperation with other countries; actively exchanging international experience in handling consular issues; and participating in international agreements and treaties suitable to Vietnam's conditions. The MoFA will continue to proactively propose initiatives and make substantive contributions to international and regional mechanisms and processes on migration, thus affirming Vietnam's active and responsible role in the joint efforts in global migration governance, and helping shape common rules for the region and the world, the Deputy FM said.

The official also underlined the need to comprehensively reform the training of personnel in change of consular and citizen protection affairs at home and abroad, as well as at the central and local levels, aiming to build a capable, reputable, and dedicated workforce that meets the requirements and tasks of the new situation.

🌄 With the spirit of unity, reform, breakthrough, responsibility, and discipline, she affirmed, consular and citizen protection officers will overcome all challenges to fulfil the tasks entrusted by the Party, State, and people, serving the Fatherland and the people with utmost dedication./.