Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang said that multilateral diplomacy is an inseparable component, having accompanied our country's diplomacy since its early days. Right after the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh identified multilateral diplomacy as one of the important priorities. The person who sent the letter to the First President of the United Nations General Assembly expressed his wish that Vietnam would join this organization and be ready to contribute to international peace, security and development.
For nearly 80 years, multilateral diplomacy has always been associated with the revolutionary cause of the nation. During the struggle for independence and national reunification (1945-1975), multilateral diplomacy opened an important front, gaining the support of international friends for the just struggle. The victories of the Geneva Agreement in 1954 and the Paris Agreement in 1973 have affirmed the position of an independent, unified Vietnam with full basic national rights.
Since 1975, in the process of building and innovating, multilateral diplomacy has achieved many successes, contributing to breaking the embargo, protecting sovereignty, maintaining a peaceful environment and attracting development resources. In 1977, Vietnam became a member of the United Nations, marking an important political and legal turning point. The persistent efforts of multilateral diplomacy have contributed to creating a breakthrough through the 1991 Paris Agreement on Cambodia, paving the way for the normalization of relations with many major countries.
Vietnam's 1995 ASEAN and 2007 WTO memberships respectively marked Vietnam's regional integration and global integration. From a poor and surrounded country, Vietnam has now become a member of most global, inter-regional and regional multilateral mechanisms, participating in the FTA network with most of the world's leading economic and trade centers.
Vietnam's multilateral diplomacy has also made its mark by taking on many international responsibilities: ASEAN Chairman, APEC host, Non-permanent Member of the Security Council, member of the Human Rights Council, Vice Chairman of the General Assembly, participating in the UNESCO operating mechanism, or sending forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping.
Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang said that entering a new phase, multilateral diplomacy needs to closely follow 4 strategic orientations. First, continue to contribute to protecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests; increase the use of multilateral forums to promote international law, peacefully resolve disputes, especially the East Sea issue; and at the same time improve the effectiveness of participation and role in ASEAN.
Second, promote the pioneering role in serving sustainable development, participating in multilateral economic and trade mechanisms, taking advantage of international knowledge for domestic development, promoting digital transformation, green transformation, innovation, and deeply participating in new-generation FTAs.
Third, enhance Vietnam's position and voice by making more substantial contributions to ideas, people, and resources; proactively taking on international responsibilities, hosting multilateral events, and preparing for the role of Chairman of the 2026 NPT Review Conference and the 2027 APEC Year.
Fourth, strengthen multilateral diplomatic relations with bilaterals, thereby expanding and deepening relations with major countries and important partners, creating an intertwined position of interests, and enhancing Vietnam's position in foreign policies of other countries.
With strong changes from thinking to action, multilateral diplomacy will continue to be a strategic pillar, contributing to building, developing and defending the Fatherland in the new situation.
