The foreign affairs bodies of the Party, Government and National Assembly have agreed to continue working closely to implement the country’s external relations tasks in 2018.

Overview of the meeting

The agreement was reached at a meeting in Hanoi on February 28 between the Foreign Ministry, the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations and the NA Committee for Foreign Affairs.

Participants affirmed the significance of effective coordination between the three agencies, which play a core role in the implementation of the regulations on uniform management of external activities.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stressed the need for effective foreign relations activities in 2018 towards the goal of maintaining a peaceful environment for development in parallel with resolutely and persistently struggling to safeguard the territorial sovereignty.

At the same time, it is necessary to deepen relations with partners, promote international integration and attract resources for national growth, while enhancing the country’s role at regional and international forums, thus raising its position.

He asked the agencies to further improve the efficiency of foreign relations activities, actively promote the settlement of disputes and seek measures for win-win cooperation, conduct citizen protection activities, as well as facilitate the quality of strategic research and forecasting, focusing on important developments of regional situation, world powers, ASEAN and the East Sea.

Last year, the Foreign Ministry proposed 50 projects, maintained and promoted relations with neighbouring and regional nations and important partners, and harmonised relations with major countries.

It coordinated with relevant agencies in successfully organising the APEC Year 2017 with 243 activities, notably the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in November, which saw the presence of leaders of the 21 member economies and the signing of 121 cooperation agreements and contracts worth 20 billion USD.

International integration and multilateral foreign relations were enhanced, while national sovereignty was firmly protected.

Meanwhile, parliamentary external relations activities were plentiful with the receiving of 43 parliamentarian delegations, the sending of 26 delegations abroad to attend major forums and meetings. 

Vietnam also successfully hosted the 26th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in early 2018.-VNA