Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son delivers closing remarks at the 32nd Diplomatic Conference. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

The 32nd Diplomatic Conference was honored to receive the attention and direct guidance of Party and State leaders. In particular, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended the opening session and delivered a speech giving comprehensive and profound directions in all areas of work of the Diplomatic sector.

President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue gave important instructions at the Conference and in working sessions with the Heads of Representative Agencies.

At the Party building working session, Standing member of the Secretariat and Head of the Central Organizing Committee Truong Thi Mai attended and gave a speech at the Conference. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended and gave a speech at the meeting on building and developing the Diplomatic sector.

Many members of the Politburo, Secretariat, Central Party Committee, leaders of departments, ministries, branches and localities attended and contributed many valuable opinions.

With a high sense of responsibility, the 32nd Diplomatic Conference has thoroughly grasped the major contents of the 13th Party Congress' guidelines, important Resolutions, Directives, Conclusions, and Projects on foreign affairs since the beginning of the 13th Congress' term until now.

Delegates attending the Closing Session voted to pass the Conference Resolution. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Through 23 sessions with more than 300 comments, the Conference agreed on an overall assessment of the situation, opportunities and challenges in the foreign affairs environment; directions and measures to implement foreign affairs in the coming time; measures to innovate and improve the effectiveness of the diplomatic sector's operations in a pioneering, comprehensive, modern and professional direction; strengthen coordination between the pillars of Party foreign affairs, State diplomacy, and people's diplomacy, between the diplomatic sector and ministries, sectors, localities and enterprises with the motto of serving national and ethnic interests, serving the Party, the country and the people.

Assessing the foreign affairs work in the past time, the Conference stated that in the context of a complex foreign affairs environment, foreign affairs work has been implemented effectively, synchronously, comprehensively, and achieved many achievements as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed at the Opening Session of the 32nd Diplomatic Conference: the Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs sector has "achieved many important and historic results and achievements, becoming an impressive bright spot among the overall results and achievements of the country".

The conference continued to identify the overarching task of the diplomatic sector in the coming time as continuing to promote the pioneering role of foreign affairs in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, protecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, mobilizing external resources for national development, and enhancing the country's position and prestige.

To carry out that overarching task, the Conference has set the focus and priority in the coming time as promoting and deepening relations with other countries; continuing to expand and enhance the network of relations with partners, especially with neighboring countries, major countries, important partners, and traditional friends; continuing to enhance multilateral diplomacy, strongly promoting the role and position of Vietnam in regional and international organizations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son presents Certificates of Merit to units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

The conference identified economic diplomacy for development as a fundamental and central task, promoting the spirit of taking people, localities and enterprises as the center of service; constantly innovating and improving the effectiveness of cultural diplomacy and foreign information to strongly promote Vietnam's soft power; implementing great national unity, national harmony, caring for overseas Vietnamese and protecting the rights and interests of citizens; improving the effectiveness of coordination between pillars, channels and foreign affairs agencies to create a combined strength; promoting research, forecasting and consulting work and especially attaching importance to Party building and industry building.

In his closing speech at the Conference, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his gratitude for the attention and close direction of the Party, State, Government and National Assembly leaders, the participation of ministries, sectors and localities and the contributions of all delegates to make the 32nd Diplomatic Conference a great success.

Delegates attending the Closing Session of the 32nd Diplomatic Conference take a souvenir photo. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

In the coming time, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that the entire diplomatic sector will thoroughly grasp the guiding thoughts and strategic orientations on foreign affairs of the 13th National Congress, the Party's guiding documents on foreign affairs as well as the directions of Party and State leaders at the Conference; continue to be proactive, flexible, and creative in effectively implementing foreign affairs work.

Reiterating the words of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the opening session, Minister Bui Thanh Son requested all officials of the Foreign Affairs sector at home and abroad not to be satisfied with the results achieved but to constantly strive so that the results next year are always higher than the previous year.

Also at the Closing Ceremony of the 32nd Diplomatic Conference, Minister Bui Thanh Son awarded Ministerial Certificates of Merit to collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in their work.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son presents Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Vietnamese representative agencies abroad. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son presents Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to individuals. (Photo: Tuan Anh)