XIII Congress Document: Vietnam persists in its independent foreign policy

Commenting on the draft documents of the 13th Congress, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) said that, compared to the 12th term, the theme of the draft documents submitted to the 13th Congress retains the element of "firmly protecting the Fatherland, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment" and develops the remaining elements of the theme of the 12th Congress.

Maintaining a peaceful environment based on international law

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh commented: The continuity of the draft document of the 13th National Congress shows that Vietnam desires a peaceful environment and proactively participates in building and maintaining a peaceful environment based on international law. Looking back on the past, it can be seen that Vietnam has proactively and actively worked with member countries of the United Nations to resolve important world issues related to peace, security, development and promotion of human rights based on international law.

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh - Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi)

“In 2020, Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair, emphasized the theme of “Cohesion and proactive adaptation.” Cohesion here does not only mean countries connecting themselves, but we must connect with other countries, find out limitations and disagreements so that all parties understand and have trust to build a peaceful environment. If before, we were a new member of ASEAN, now we are in a pioneering position,” said Mr. Pham Quang Minh.

Professor Pham Quang Minh analyzed: The two main schools of thought that influence international relations in all regions of the world are realism and liberalism. Realism emphasizes military power, military alliances, sovereignty, and the role of the State. Liberalism emphasizes law, organizations, institutions, and international mechanisms.

Obviously, during the Cold War, realism played an important role, because at that time the struggle on the military front was decisive. Since 1989, the Cold War has ended, replaced by the trend of cooperation, development, promotion of economic power and not only the State participating in international affairs but also non-governmental organizations, multinational corporations, social movements. Resolving conflicts and contradictions through diplomatic and peaceful means, waging war is only the last resort when there is absolutely no possibility of negotiation.

“To maintain a peaceful environment, countries must comply with international law. Nowadays, the legal nature is very important, requiring all countries, big or small, to comply. Why do countries now participate in international organizations? Because international organizations all have rules of the game, if you are a member, you must comply with those rules, you must adjust your behavior. Anyone who does not adjust his behavior is violating and will be condemned,” said Mr. Pham Quang Minh.

Vietnam's position and power are enhanced in the international arena.

Commenting on the results of foreign affairs during the 12th Congress term, Professor Pham Quang Minh said that never before has the country's position and power, and Vietnam's political prestige been at such a high position as it is today.

In the context of the international and regional situation with constant fluctuations in both politics and economy, our Party has effectively promoted the spirit of the 12th Congress Resolution on foreign affairs, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; Vietnam's prestige and position have been raised in the international arena, being elected to international organizations, including our country's important role in the ASEAN Community and being elected for the second time as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term; bilateral relations between Vietnam and major countries have made good progress.

The Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung (right, second row, left) rejoiced after the voting results showed that Vietnam was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term with a record high number of votes in favor, 192/193 votes (Photo: Nhan Dan)

In particular, in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam's success in controlling the epidemic is being mentioned and analyzed by international media as a model for other countries to follow. "The fight against the pandemic has demonstrated our strength, with a model of fighting the pandemic with the most limited resources. It is the solidarity and unity from top to bottom that has helped us succeed" - Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh said.

The President of the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities believes that the successes in foreign affairs during the 12th Congress continue to create momentum for socio-economic development, and for national defense and security to be consolidated and enhanced. The developments in the world and the region have brought about both advantages and opportunities, as well as difficulties and challenges, posing new requirements for our country's foreign affairs. Accordingly, during the 13th Congress, it is necessary to synchronously, creatively and effectively implement foreign affairs activities, proactively and actively integrate comprehensively and deeply into the world.

Diplomacy must be promoted in all forums.

Vietnam is a country that has suffered many losses due to conflicts, especially the resistance wars against France and the US, which have shown Vietnam that the losses are enormous, not only in terms of people and property, but also in terms of the division of people's trust. Therefore, the two most important tasks of foreign affairs are to firmly protect the Fatherland and maintain a peaceful and stable environment, which are not only tasks in the past years but also tasks in the present and the coming years.

According to the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the world and regional situation is undergoing rapid and unpredictable changes, creating new challenges and new requirements for our country's foreign affairs. First of all, we need to strengthen and consolidate the position of ASEAN, and make sure that major countries support ASEAN. At the same time, we must persist in our foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development; multilateralize and diversify foreign relations; and take advantage of international forums to enhance our interests.

“In the past 30 years of innovation, we have innovated in breadth, at this stage we must innovate in depth, must consider to go into substance. Among strategic partners, it is necessary to review, consolidate, select the advantages of those strategic partners, to propose and implement appropriate contents and aspects, ensuring cooperation goes into substance, avoiding formality and ostentation. There must be strategic choices, partner selection, taking advantage of each partner, not spreading out. It is necessary to have close partners with strategic commitments” – Mr. Minh emphasized.

Regarding the East Sea issue, according to Mr. Pham Quang Minh, the most important task ahead is for Vietnam to continue negotiating with ASEAN and China to complete the Code of Conduct in the East Sea. This code is binding and legally binding and will help the parties resolve their disagreements. At the same time, Vietnam needs to promote external communications, raise its voice in the international arena, from the official statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the voices of scholars both at home and abroad, and focus on publishing more scientific research, contributing to the fight to protect sovereignty over seas and islands with intelligence and international law.

Diplomacy must promote its activities in the international arena, in all forums to gain international support because diplomacy is the gong, helping the world understand Vietnam correctly, sufficiently, and quickly. Foreign information must be multi-dimensional and objective; take advantage of all international forums, must focus on the intellectual content in foreign information, must have a foreign communication strategy; build trust, create consensus in ASEAN through different channels such as education, tourism... Must find every way to create consensus in ASEAN on the East Sea issue, how to make ASEAN consider the East Sea issue as a common issue of the whole region, not just of countries with sovereignty disputes. Only on the basis of consensus can ASEAN have a common voice, can it create strength because ASEAN's strength lies in the consensus principle that ASEAN has existed for over 50 years.

According to VOV.VN