Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at the meeting at the Ministry's Headquarters,on the first working day of the Lunar New Year 2024. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

On the morning of February 15th, at the Ministry's Headquarters, on the occasion of the first working day of the Lunar New Year 2024, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held a meeting with the leaders of units within the Ministry and extended the best wishes to all officials, civil servants, employees, and laborers of the Foreign Affairs sector.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Son highly appreciated all units within the Ministry and Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad for upholding a high sense of responsibility in fulfilling their tasks well during the Tet holiday. Before and throughout the holiday season, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strictly implemented the directives of the Party Central Committee and the Prime Minister, ensuring a safe and joyful Tet celebration.

Units within the Ministry and Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad have diligently followed the directives of the Ministry's leadership. They have performed well in Tet duty, providing daily updates on international developments, protecting citizens, organizing visits and community Tet activities for overseas compatriots. At the same time, they have actively prepared for important diplomatic activities immediately following the Lunar New Year holiday, the Minister said.

Vietnam's relations with other countries and partners have progressed favorably, maintaining security along borders, territory, and maritime sovereignty. Leaders of many countries, especially neighboring nations and important partners, have sent greetings to the leaders of Party and State of Vietnam for the new year.

Reviewing the significant achievements of the diplomatic sector in the past year, the Foreign Minister emphasized that the diplomatic sector has overcome difficulties and fulfilled the tasks entrusted by the Party and State, with numerous memorable events for the country and the sector.

As General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong summarized at the 32nd Diplomatic Conference, the diplomatic sector and foreign affairs work have achieved "many important results, significant achievements of historical significance, becoming a bright spot in the country's overall achievements."

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son takes a group photo on the first working day of the Lunar New Year 2024. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

In 2024, the Minister hopes that the entire sector will continue to demonstrate courage, intellect, foresight, innovation, and the highest determination to implement the resolutions of the 32nd Diplomatic Conference and achieve even greater accomplishments than in 2023.

The Minister proposes that the entire sector effectively implement foreign tasks as well as the construction and development of the diplomatic sector towards comprehensiveness, modernity, and professionalism.

To achieve this goal, the Minister suggests improving advisory work for the Party and State leadership. Units within the Ministry should continue to closely coordinate with other ministries, sectors, and localities, urgently concretizing the contents of relationships with strategic partners, comprehensive strategic partners, comprehensive partners, special partners; quickly finalize projects to establish relationships with partners; organize thorough discussions within and outside the sector on these commitments and agreements, Minister Son elaborated.

The Minister also believes that it is necessary to promptly improve the Strategy for Building and Developing the Diplomatic Sector until 2030, with a vision towards 2045, prepare well for commemorating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic sector in 2025.

The Minister proposes to continue to vigorously carry out the economic diplomacy as Vietnam enters a period of deep and comprehensive international integration. The Economic Diplomacy Steering Committee is urged to further enhance its role in coordination and planning for 2024, clearly identifying focal points and tasks assigned to members of the Steering Committee, units, especially regarding new and urgent issues such as digital transformation, green transformation, energy transition, circular economy, semiconductor industry...

Immediately after Tet, the Minister hopes that the entire sector will expeditiously complete major documents and projects; proactively and positively prepare for high-level visits, multilateral activities; promptly submit proposals to relevant agencies for amending Decree No. 08/2019/NĐ-CP of the Government regarding regulations on certain regimes for members of Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad.

The Foreign Minister hopes that the diplomatic sector is determined to achieve new victories on the external front and build and develop a strong, comprehensive, and modern diplomatic sector, making significant contributions to the country's renewal and development and safeguarding the homeland.