Deputy Prime Minister and MOFA Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VGP)
On January 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held a meeting to summarize the work in 2020, and implement the orientation and tasks for the year 2021, with the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister and MOFA Minister Pham Binh Minh.
In 2020, Vietnam successfully assumed international responsibilities, especially as the 2020 ASEAN President and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the term 2020-2021; maintaining and promoting the momentum of relations with other countries through flexible adjustment of modes of external activities combined online and directly.
International integration, focusing on international economic integration, continued to make new breakthroughs with the ratification or signing of free trade agreements, including EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), thereby creating new impetus for economic recovery. Economic diplomacy activities to support localities and businesses to connect with partners and market expansion have been implemented effectively.
Foreign affairs made an important contribution to the protection of Vietnamese national sovereignty and sovereignty rights in line with international law. Citizen protection continued to be a bright spot, while cultural diplomacy and external information was done well for promoting the image of Vietnam in innovation, successful integration, and effective prevention of COVID-19.
In his remarks at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and MOFA Minister Pham Binh Minh praised the efforts of the ministry for the achievements in 2020.
He suggested the diplomatic sector, in 2021, focus on organizing the effective implementation of the foreign policy set by the 13th National Party Congress resolution; continue to deepen, stabilize and sustain relations with neighboring countries, major countries, important partners, and traditional friends; deploy the direction of the Secretariat on promoting and enhancing multilateral foreign relations until 2030; resolutely and persistently fight to firmly protect the sovereignty of islands and the legitimate interests of the country in the East Sea, in traditional and non-traditional security challenges; continue to effectively implement the work of protecting citizens and working on overseas Vietnamese; and cultural diplomacy and foreign information./.