The World and Viet Nam Report : 2014 is considered a successful year for Viet Nam’s diplomacy. Could you share with us your thoughts on the performance of the Party-to-Party, State-to-State and people’s diplomacy in the past year?

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh: The international economic difficulties and uncertainties along with instability and unpredictable developments in the global political and security landscape in 2014 exerted direct and multidimensional impacts on the security and development environment of Viet Nam. Against that context, the mettle, resilience and brainpower of the Vietnamese people were fully upheld in identifying opportunities, neutralizing challenges, calmly and wisely dealing with emerging complex issues.

A highlight of Vietnam’s diplomacy in 2014 was that the diplomatic service continued to implement effectively its central task of serving national development; assisting Ministries, central agencies and local authorities and businesses to seek new opportunities, new markets and attract foreign investment. Based on the achievement of 2013 which was the completion of the frameworks for partnership with many important partners, in 2014 we actively specified and realized the elements of those partnerships to make them more profound with concrete deliverables, including, among others, the EU’s commitment to increase ODA for Viet Nam to US$ 400 million for the 2014-2020 period, the conclusion of a US$12 billion-worth Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ROK on infrastructure development, the upgrading of relations with Japan to Extensive Strategic Partnership, the ratification of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (123 Agreement) by the US, the development of economic – investment cooperation with potential partners in the Middle-East including United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and the recognition of Viet Nam’s market economy status by 12 more countries, thus increasing the number of countries already recognizing Viet Nam as a market economy country to 56. Such outcomes have significantly contributed to sustaining economic growth and promoting economic restructuring in our country.

Another highlight of 2014 was the strong development of international integration and multilateral diplomacy across all areas. Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy has been transformed from “active participation” to “proactive contribution to shaping the rules of the game ”. Viet Nam played an active role in strengthening ASEAN’s unity and centrality. For the first time in 20 years, ASEAN adopted a stand-alone statement on the situation in the East Sea. Viet Nam’s initiative of convening the first ASEAN-EU Summit on the sideline of the ASEM Summit won strong support of ASEAN and EU member states, during which both sides announced the resumption of the ASEAN-EU FTA negotiation.
Cultural diplomacy, information and communication on external affairs and citizen protection were effectively implemented against the backdrop of the outbreak of civil wars, conflicts and natural disasters in many regions of the world. The safe and successful evacuation of 1,763 workers from Libya, protection and assistance to Vietnamese nationals in Ukraine, protection of the rights and interests of Vietnamese fishermen in the East Sea helped relieve thousands of families, strengthened national unity and fostered the people’s trust in the regime and the Party and State’s policies.

Last year, the inscription of Vietnam’s Trang An Lanscape Complex, Nguyen Dynasty Official Documents, and Nghe Tinh Vi & Giam Folk Songs on UNESCO world heritage list contributed to the enrichment of the diverse culture of mankind. The outcome as such helped elevate our country’s international profile while laying foundation for the sustainable preservation of local cultural heritages.

We cannot help but mention the developments in the East Sea in 2014, which emerged as the greatest challenge to national sovereignty in the last 30 years. Responding to this tough challenge, we were persistent and resolute in our struggle through different channels, at different levels and by different measures to protect our sovereignty and territory. This outcome has ever testified to the mettle of Vietnam’s diplomacy, when we managed to secure a peaceful and stable environment for development while maintaining the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, and proactively promoting dialogue and maintaining relations with China in all areas in keeping with the aspirations and interests of the two peoples.

The World and Viet Nam Report: You have mentioned that 2014 and 2015 are pivotal years for implementing the policy of proactive international integration in accordance with Resolution 22 of the Politburo. What is your evaluation of the achievements of international integration in 2014 and prospect for 2015?

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh: In 2014, we adopted proactive measures to implement the Policy on International Integration of the 11th Party Congress and translate the spirit of Resolution 22 of the Politburo into reality. It is worth noting that the implementation steps demonstrated a proactive and comprehensive mindset towards international integration with ever deeper and broader engagement of Ministries, agencies, local authorities and enterprises.

We strongly took steps to promote multi-layered integration into the global economy, particularly in the FTA negotiations with major partners. This year, we concluded the FTA negotiations with the Republic of Korea and the Russia-Belarus- Kazakhstan Customs Union and reached agreement with the EU on finalizing the Viet Nam-EU FTA negotiation in 2015. These outcomes contributed to transforming Viet Nam into an important red dot in the regional network of strategic linkages.

Amid rapid and complex developments in the regional and international landscape, we continued to push ahead intensive international integration in order to create a peaceful environment, firmly fortify national security and national defense, enlist the favorable conditions for development, and improve our economic competitiveness. Integration also means making contribution to the issues of common interest and concern on maintaining peace, stability, and effectively responding to global challenges. The strong policy messages of Vietnamese senior Leaders on peace, development and rule-of-law at multilateral forums left profound imprints of a Viet Nam as a responsible member of the international community. We also actively participated in ASEAN defense cooperation and contributed to the regional processes of trust-building. We established a peace-keeping center and sent two liaison officers to the UN peace-keeping mission in South Sudan. As we engaged in regional cooperation, we were able to voice just position, request other countries to observe international law and resolve disputes by peaceful means.

Domestic preparations for integration also witnessed positive shifts, notably in terms of interdisciplinary coordination and leadership with the foundation of the National Steering Committee on International Integration headed by the Prime Minister. We managed to forge broad consensus from central to local levels on the implementation of integration policies and on the role of multilateral diplomacy.

The World and Viet Nam Report: In the current context, what should we do to both maintain the friendship and cooperation with our neighbors in the region and ensure peace, stability and safeguard our sovereignty?

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh: For Viet Nam or any other country, relations with neighboring countries are always a top priority in the foreign policy. The improper management of these relations will exert multi-dimensional impacts on national peace and security. Therefore, it is the consistent policy of our Party and State to attach great importance to the development of friendship and comprehensive cooperation with neighboring countries on an equal and mutually beneficial basis. We pay special attention to promoting the special strategic partnership with Laos, the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia, the comprehensive partnership with China and the partnerships with other ASEAN countries, and commit to work together with our neighbors to contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Regarding the issues of differences, our policy is to settle them by peaceful means, taking in account each other’s interests and in conformity with the fundamental principles of international law. With good will and sincerity, over the past years we have actively participated in negotiations to resolve issues of land and sea borders and have achieved important outcomes.

The World and Viet Nam Report: What do you think about the year 2015 and what will be the priorities for Vietnam’s diplomacy in 2015?

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh: 2015 is momentous as it is the final year to accomplish the tasks put forward by the 11th Party Congress and to prepare for the 12th Party Congress. It is also a year of major national celebrations such as the 85th anniversary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the 70th  anniversary of the Independence Day, and the 40th anniversary of liberation of the South Vietnam and national reunification.

In the mean time, the world and our region are expected to witness continued complex developments. Risks and uncertainties see no sign of reduction and are even more unpredictable. Non-traditional security challenges have increasingly become global, requiring the international community to increase concerted efforts to respond. Forecasts about the world economic outlook in 2015 seem to be more optimistic; however, steady recovery is nowhere in sight given the difficulties facing major economies. The war on oil prices, protectionism, trade discrimination and disputes remains fierce.

Opportunities are lying ahead but so are challenges. They are intertwined amid the re-arrangements in the global and regional landscape. It is essential that we are able to position our country in the evolving political, security and economic architecture of the region. We must be conscious to clearly identify opportunities and challenges, seek solutions to translate opportunities into reality, minimize and neutralize the challenges.

With the mettle and brainpower of more than 90 million Vietnamese people who are joining efforts to implement foreign policy of the Party and the State, we have every reason to be optimistic and confident in the successful accomplishment of the tasks set forth by the 11th Party Congress, laying firm foundation for implementing the tasks put forward by the 12th Party Congress in the new stage of intensive and extensive integration.