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| General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (C), President of the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen and Laos' Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith at the Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos Summit in Hanoi, on September 26, 2021 (Photo: VNA) |
Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has described Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as an excellent diplomat of international stature, who has left his historical imprint on Vietnam's achievements in external relations during the past over a decade.
In an interview granted to the press on the Party leader's influence on Vietnam's diplomacy, the minister stressed that with his sharp mind, vision and profound political thinking, the General Secretary, together with the Party Central Committee and its Politburo and Secretariat, has not only put forth major foreign policies and guidelines, but also led and instructed their implementation, and directly engaged in strategic-level foreign activities.
Under his leadership, Vietnam has perfected its foreign policy system, as well as the frameworks for relations with countries, Son continued, noting that the number of resolutions, directives and conclusions on external relations issued during his tenures is the biggest ever, especially during the present 13th tenure.
A theorist with sharp mind, the Party chief greatly contributed to building the theory for Vietnam’s diplomacy. He systematically integrated traditional philosophy on diplomacy, Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's Thought, and the Party's external policy to form the unique diplomatic school of Vietnam dubbed “bamboo diplomacy” that bears the characteristics of the Vietnamese bamboo with "strong roots, firm trunk, flexible branches”, which has become a lodestar of Vietnam’s diplomacy.
Under the leadership and instruction of the Party Central Committee and its Politburo and Secretariat, headed by the General Secretary, Vietnam has established many strategic and comprehensive partnerships, and even elevated them to a new high with new contents, meeting requirements of the new period. So far, Vietnam has established strategic partnership and comprehensive strategic partnerships with all five countries in the United Nations Security Council.
Minister Son went on to say that with the close neighbouring countries - Laos and Cambodia, the Party chief has always paid attention to cultivating the solidarity, friendship and special cooperation with them, most vividly demonstrated through the meetings between the top Party leaders of the three countries in Hanoi in 2021 and 2023.
In the relations with powerful countries, the minister pointed to the Party chief’s historic visits to China (2022), Russia (2018) and the US (2015), and the state visits to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in 2023, and another by Russian President V. Putin this year at the invitation of General Secretary Trong. Son said those visits have not only opened up a new chapter for bilateral ties between Vietnam with those countries, but also further consolidated Vietnam’s strategic position in the region and the world at large.
The FM also highlighted the growing relations between Vietnam and other big, key partners like India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Australia, along with traditional friends in Africa, the Middle and Latin America.
He affirmed that Vietnam’s diplomatic achievements over the past tenures were inseparable from the personal reputation of General Secretary Trong, as international relations are not just relations among countries, but also among persons. According to FM Son, foreign leaders attach importance to and highly value the late leader’s role and reputation, which is a “very special” thing.
The diplomat said the Party chief won over other people’s hearts by justice, humanity, reason and morality. In all diplomatic activities, with his modesty, openness and sincerity, along with standard and compassionate behaviours, General Secretary Trong has garnered affection and admiration from leaders and people of foreign countries, as well as international friends.
The Party chief left the impression on other as a large-hearted leader with a strategic mind and vision, who worked hard to promote national interests while respecting the interests of international friends. Therefore, many international friends have seen him as the embodiment of Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and being a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community.
Son stressed such condolences pouring in over the passing of the General Secretary over the past days have demonstrated the deep sentiments, respect and admiration from foreign leaders and friends to the Party chief.
Regarding the “bamboo diplomacy” school, the minister said that with his wisdom, strategic vision and profound theoretical thinking, General Secretary Trong synthesised and generalised the system of theories on the Party's foreign relations and diplomacy, establishing a distinctive "bamboo diplomacy" school.
The school of diplomacy, bearing the characteristics of the Vietnamese bamboo plant with strong roots, firm trunk, and flexible branches, represents a deep integration of the soul, personality, and spirit of the Vietnamese nation, Son said, recalling the Party leader's explanation that strong roots signify the principle of serving the national interests, and the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and multilateralisation and diversification of international relations.
The firm trunk symbolises the strength of solidarity, and the synergy power of diplomacy under the direct leadership of the Party; the combination of national strength with the power of the era, the will of self-reliance and international solidarity and support. Meanwhile, flexible branches demonstrate the art of flexible and creative response which is unchanged in essence, and adaptable to myriad changes, said Son.
According to the minister, international friends have also shown their interest in Vietnam's "bamboo diplomacy" school of diplomacy, with leaders, politicians, scholars of China, Russia, the US and traditional partners highly appreciating Vietnam's foreign affairs and diplomacy in the current complex international context.
FM Son also highly valued the special attention General Secretary Trong paid to the leadership and guidance of the diplomatic sector. Besides the first National Foreign Affairs Conference in December 2021, he attended and gave instructions at six diplomatic conferences, five of which he attended as Party General Secretary.
Diplomatic officers have the honour of accompanying and serving Nguyen Phu Trong during various high-level foreign activities. Apart from directly receiving instructions from him, they always felt the warm, close, sharing, and motivating presence of the Party chief both in life and at work. "We always bear in mind his advice, "A good diplomat and foreign affairs cadre must first and foremost be a good politician, always guided by the interests of the nation and the political system," and "always remember that behind you are the Party, the country, and the people," FM Son said.
Mentioning the late leader’s visits to foreign countries, FM Son said that in nearly 15 years as Party General Secretary, Trong directly participated in many foreign affairs activities, and had various meetings and contacts, which not only opened up new chapters in bilateral relations with other countries, but also created a favourable strategic position for the nation in the international situation.
During those visits, the General Secretary left deep impressions on leaders of countries and international friends about the personality and dignity of a man, and sincerity, trust, vision and ideology of the top leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Neighbouring countries like Laos and Cambodia consider the General Secretary a worthy successor of President Ho Chi Minh's career, an excellent and elite revolutionary leader in the new era. In their letters of condolences, senior Lao leaders acknowledged his dedication and wisdom which contributed to the continuous development of Vietnam and its increasing position in the international and regional arenas. Meanwhile, in his letter of condolences, President of the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen wrote that the legacy of General Secretary Trong, a clear-minded leader who devoted his entire life to the struggle for Vietnam's independence and for peace and prosperity of the Vietnamese people, will be remembered by many generations.
When coming to the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing to pay last respects to the Vietnamese Party General Secretary, China’s Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping wrote in the condolence book that Trong is a consistent Marxist, a preeminent leader of the Vietnamese Party and people, and a great friend of the Chinese people.
In the hearts of traditional friends, as said by Cuban senior leaders, the General Secretary is a close friend, a brother who always opens his arms to beloved friends.
Meanwhile, big countries like Russia and the US view the General Secretary as a reputable leader in the international arena, who has made great contributions to the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, and to creating an intensive and all-round relationship between Vietnam and the US.
Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that Russia will remember the CPV General Secretary as a true friend who made great personal contributions to the establishment and development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, in his statement on the passing of the Vietnamese Party leader, US President Joe Biden wrote that: “The people of Vietnam and the United States – and people across the Indo-Pacific region – enjoy greater security and opportunity today because of the friendship between our two countries. That is thanks to him.”
With many other partners, the General Secretary has left outstanding marks on the development of sustainable and long-term friendship and cooperation. His passing is not only a great loss for the Vietnamese people but also leaves deep regret for international friends and those who had the opportunity to meet and interact with him, affirmed FM Son./.
