Responding to the press at the end of 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed that 2023 is a vibrant year for foreign affairs with many outstanding marks. Foreign affairs activities, especially high-level foreign affairs, are taking place vibrantly and widely across continents and forums.

Last year alone, Vietnam had 22 delegations of key leaders visiting other countries. In the opposite direction, 28 delegations of high-ranking foreign leaders visited Vietnam. According to Mr. Son, that shows Vietnam's new stature and position in the world.

Of the 28 delegations, 5 were on state visits. On average, every 2-3 months, Vietnam welcomes a foreign leader on a state visit.

It can be said that Australian Governor-General David Hurley opened the way when he visited Vietnam at the state level in April 2023. He was also the first foreign leader that President Vo Van Thuong welcomed in his new position.

The four-day visit of Australian Governor-General David Hurley saw activities in both the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, opening up hope that the two countries will soon take their relationship to a new height at the right time.

In June 2023, Vietnam successfully hosted another state visit. 21 cannon shots were fired during the official welcoming ceremony for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeul at the Presidential Palace. The visit left a good impression on the people of both countries. The image of the two heads of state and their wives having breakfast together, walking around Hoan Kiem Lake and chatting together left a warm and close impression between the leaders.

This visit not only strengthened the relationship that has existed for hundreds of years but also witnessed new opportunities for cooperation. More than 100 documents were signed by businesses from both sides, demonstrating the spirit of concretizing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in December 2022.

In mid-September, US President Joe Biden's visit at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attracted great attention from the international media. This was the first time a sitting US president visited Vietnam at the invitation of a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The visit also marks the first time since the two countries normalized relations that both the US president and vice president have visited Vietnam during the same term.

The visit is considered to be of historic significance as it also witnessed the two countries upgrading their relationship from Comprehensive Partnership to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. And President Joe Biden himself, in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023, also highlighted this, emphasizing that Vietnam and the US are a testament to post-war reconciliation.

In mid-December 2023, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and his wife arrived in Vietnam, marking his third state visit as head of the Chinese Party and State, and also his first visit to Vietnam after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The visit, with its special and sincere welcome, further strengthened the relationship between the two countries. 36 documents were signed, the largest number of cooperation documents ever during a visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping.

The two sides issued a joint statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership and jointly building a community of shared future of strategic significance.

According to Head of the Central External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung, the historic visit to China in October 2022 by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the visit by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping are of great significance, marking historical milestones in the relationship between the two Parties, two countries and two peoples.

The joint statement also affirmed that the principles for developing relations are to comply with the United Nations Charter, international law and basic norms of international relations, to adhere to mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to persist in resolving disagreements through peaceful means.

The connotations of the new level of relations are the six directions of striving to strengthen the relationship as stated in the joint statement, namely "6 more".

These are: Higher political trust, more substantive defense and security cooperation, deeper substantive cooperation, stronger social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, and better controlled and resolved disagreements.

Tuoitre.vn