(VOVworld) - People’s diplomacy has contributed a great deal to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and international integration. Participants at a recent meeting to review people’s diplomacy last year discussed comprehensive planning this year.
Reports delivered at the meeting shared a common viewpoint that people’s diplomacy, while not official diplomacy, has the unique advantages of involving people from all walks of life. Last year, people’s diplomacy made significant contributions to strengthening and broadening friendly and co-operative relations between Vietnam and other countries. It also managed to mobilize international support to maintain political stability. But flexibility is essential for people’s diplomacy to be efficient during different phases of development. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son says that connecting different actors and activities is essential to people’s diplomacy in the new context. “In addition to existing strategic and comprehensive partners, people’s diplomacy needs to involve an audience in other sectors, such as state-owned economic corporations,” he said.
Participants also pointed out shortcomings of people’s diplomacy, such as inefficient steering and consulting activities, and unprofessional and impractical planning. Vu Xuan Hong, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, said that an efficiently synchronized mechanism is needed to coordinate almost 100 diplomatic offices overseas and over 400 mass organizations at home. “I believe that each and every limitation will be solved once we consider them thoroughly. It is important to connect all people and coordinate various organizations,” Hong added.
Nguyen Van Ranh, Party Secretary of People-Government-Party Bloc in HCM City, said people’s diplomacy has always been in focus as the City organizes activities to educate the world about Vietnam’s traditions and history, internal and external policies, and socio-economic achievements contributing to foiling hostile schemes against Vietnam. But Mr. Ranh said that more investment in human resources is needed for people’s diplomacy. “It is important to review existing resources and develop new human resources for people’s diplomacy. Cadres need to be trained and retrained to strengthen their political competence, professional skills and foreign language proficiency,” Ranh said.
Vietnam received both moral and material support from international friends during its past struggles for national liberation. The country still needs international assistance to reduce poverty, develop its economy, and cope with natural disasters and environmental issues.
Anh Huyen