The 6th Party Congress (in 1986) opened a "bottleneck" for Vietnam's foreign policy. This is an extremely important breakthrough that has created favorable international conditions to support the renovation process to implement the country's strategic tasks. 40 years later, the 14th Party Congress is a "Key Congress" expected to open a new era to bring Vietnam "on par with the five continents" as Uncle Ho wished.
That is the affirmation of former Member of the Party Central Committee, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien in an exchange with a reporter from Nhan Dan Newspaper about the achievements of 40 years of Doi Moi of Vietnam.
40 years of Doi Moi - Long and steady steps in economy and diplomacy
It can be said that the 6th Party Congress (in 1986) opened a "bottleneck" for Vietnam's foreign policy. As someone who directly participates in foreign affairs activities to gradually integrate Vietnam into the international community, can you share the important milestones in the early period of Vietnamese foreign affairs when we carried out the renovation?
Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien: Looking back at the 40-year process of Vietnam implementing Doi Moi, we have taken very long and steady steps in both economic and diplomatic fields. The 6th Party Congress (in 1986) took place in the context of domestic economic crisis, difficult social situation, requiring change. From that reality, our Party had a wise decision to carry out the Doi Moi campaign.
At that time, the world situation was extremely complicated in the Soviet Union and socialist Eastern European countries, causing many disadvantages. In that context, Vietnam made accurate and timely decisions, avoiding risks that were not beneficial to the country.
Thanks to the correct policies of the Party, only 1-2 years after carrying out the renovation, from a country "lie on a warehouse of rice but hungry, lying on a pile of coal but cold", Vietnam's economy gradually recovered, people had enough food and clothing and began to export rice.
Regarding foreign affairs, it can be said that the 6th Party Congress (in 1986) opened a "bottleneck" for Vietnam's foreign policy. Although, at that time, thinking had to change step by step, those who directly engaged in dialogue saw it as an opportunity.
However, in the context of being besieged and embargoed, politically and diplomatically isolated, we really need the efforts of the entire Party, people and army as well as the necessary synchronization and support of all levels and sectors in implementing the foreign policy in the early period of the renovation.
The Resolution of the 6th Congress and the resolutions of the Central Committee have shifted the direction of diplomatic policy, the policy of promoting and expanding relations with all countries in the world, regardless of different socio-political regimes, implementing policies of friendship, cooperation, and peaceful existence for development, in accordance with the interests of our people and the general development trend of the world.
Looking back at the first stage of the renovation campaign launched by our Party starting from the 6th Congress, it can be seen that it is a completely correct policy.
Implementing an open foreign policy according to new thinking, Vietnamese diplomacy has cooperated with friends and progressive forces around the world to handle and resolve the issue of relations with neighboring countries.
We normalized relations with China (in 1991), with the United States (in 1995), joined ASEAN (1995), joined ASEM (Asia-Europe Summit) in 1996, APEC (November 1998), and in terms of economic diplomacy, we have signed many bilateral and multilateral economic agreements with countries.
This is an extremely important breakthrough in terms of diplomacy, creating favorable international conditions for economic innovation to implement strategic tasks.
In my diplomatic career, I have always focused on cultural diplomacy activities
Cultural diplomacy is considered "soft power", "soft strength" in protecting national interests and enhancing its position in the international arena. So how do you assess the role of cultural diplomacy, contributing to promoting Vietnamese culture to the world; and at the same time absorbing human culture to enrich the country's culture?
Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien: Right from the initiation of the renovation policy, our Party and State have identified cultural diplomacy as one of the three pillars of comprehensive diplomacy, besides politics and economy.
In fact, these three fields are closely linked and complement each other, in which culture is both a foundation and a catalyst for political and economic diplomacy to be effective.
Over the decades, cultural diplomacy has made the world more knowledgeable about the country, culture and people, strengthened the building of trust with countries around the world, and deepened, stable and sustainable relations between Vietnam and partners, thereby enhancing the country's position in the international arena, creating conditions to support socio-economic development. Along with that, cultural exchange activities contribute to absorbing the cultural quintessence of humanity, enriching and deepening the traditional cultural values of the country.
In my diplomatic career, I have always focused on cultural diplomacy activities because Vietnam has a cultural heritage that is not inferior to any country in the world.
Before taking office as Minister of Foreign Affairs (from February 2000 - June 2006), I had 13 years as Chairman of the National Committee of UNESCO Vietnam. During this time, with efforts and coordination between relevant agencies, for the first time Vietnamese heritages such as Hue Ancient Capital, My Son, Hoi An, Ha Long Bay were recognized by UNESCO as world heritage sites.
In the context of deep and comprehensive integration as it is today, making the international community understand Vietnam's country, culture, people and progressive policies is extremely important, contributing to enhancing the position, image and comprehensive national strength.
Accordingly, cultural diplomacy work needs to be implemented proactively, actively, creatively, and innovatively in the overall foreign affairs and international integration activities, closely following the requirements of General Secretary To Lam set for the diplomatic sector: "Finly combining culture with diplomacy, culture in diplomacy, making each foreign affairs activity not only have profound cultural content but also become a cultural activity; culture is both a means, a motto, a principle, and a goal of foreign affairs, constantly promoting national soft power to new heights".
Honoring President Ho Chi Minh is the deepest mark in my diplomatic career
In his diplomatic career, he left his mark in cultural diplomacy, with activities honoring President Ho Chi Minh abroad and spreading Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic ideology. So can you share some memories of the historical event 35 years ago, when UNESCO issued a Resolution honoring "Ho Chi Minh as a National Liberation Hero, Outstanding Cultural Figure of Vietnam"?
Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien: It can be said that participating in activities honoring President Ho Chi Minh is the deepest mark in my diplomatic career.
In 1987, I attended the 24th UNESCO General Assembly in Paris, France as the head of the Vietnamese delegation. The delegation included Ms. Phan Thi Phuc, Secretary-General of the National Committee of UNESCO, and poet Huy Can, then Deputy Minister of Culture, and a number of other Ambassadors. We participated in the campaign to have UNESCO vote in honor of President Ho Chi Minh.
At the time of this event, Vietnam had only had diplomatic relations with more than 50 countries. Most of them were countries that did not have diplomatic relations with Vietnam and were fiercely opposed to Vietnam.
Yet, the UNESCO General Assembly issued a vote and achieved a nearly absolute number of votes in favor of honoring Uncle Ho. The world's honoring of President Ho Chi Minh is proof of the soft power, reputation and prestige of the leader and the country of Vietnam, a heroic nation.
Resolution 59 marks a historic turning point in the international integration process
What are your comments on the Party's guiding viewpoint in Resolution 59 on international integration today and the direction for implementing the goals set out in the Resolution?
Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien: In my opinion, the birth of Resolution No. 59 is an important policy decision, marking a historical turning point in the country's international integration process, identifying integration as a strategic driving force for Vietnam to firmly step into a new era.
After nearly 40 years of renovation and international integration, Vietnam has achieved many outstanding and quite comprehensive achievements, contributing to increasing the overall strength of the nation, firmly protecting independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and national and ethnic interests, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; enhancing the potential, position, and prestige of the country and shifting from international economic integration to deep and comprehensive international integration; actively contributing to the common efforts of the international community in responding to global challenges and promoting cooperation for the development of friendship and relations between nations.
The report on the main contents of Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW presents 5 guiding viewpoints on international integration. These viewpoints have been mentioned in previous resolutions, but in Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW, some viewpoints are reaffirmed to show that these are the consistent viewpoints of the Party in the process of renovation and integration.
With the effective application of the "Ho Chi Minh Diplomatic Thought" in foreign affairs activities, Resolution 59 will be a "golden opportunity", a launching pad for diplomacy; contributing to bringing Vietnam firmly forward, entering a new era for our country to stand shoulder to shoulder with the five continents as President Ho Chi Minh has always wished.
Looking back at the 40-year renovation journey, what do you see as the most important lesson and what are the decisive factors for Vietnam to achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2045?
Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien: In my opinion, the revolution to streamline the administrative apparatus and organize the two-level local government model initiated by our Party, headed by General Secretary To Lam, is being implemented drastically with extremely important significance, helping to transform the status from a developing country to a developed country by 2045.
To successfully implement this revolution, the prerequisite is still to change ideology and thinking, as the Party did 40 years ago. In the context of deep integration, Vietnam needs to go with humanity, with the world, and with countries. However, it also noted the issue of preserving national identity and said that no matter how deeply integrated, it must "keep its own identity".
The resolutions and conclusions that the Party has issued in the past, including 4 resolutions considered the "Four Pillars" including: Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in scientific and technological development, innovation and national digital transformation; Resolution 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025 of the Politburo on "International Integration in the New Situation"; Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW on innovating the work of building and enforcing laws to meet the requirements of national development in the new era; Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW dated May 4, 2025 of the Politburo on private economic development have a major impact on the socio-economic development of the country.
From the initial difficulties of the Doi Moi (Renovation) process to the current position, along with expectations and challenges for the future, I have deep belief that the 14th Party Congress is a "backbone Congress" opening a new era, believing in the path the country is taking and the aspiration for a Vietnam "shoulder to shoulder with the five continents" as Uncle Ho wished.
