International integration in terms of defense not only serves the goals of national construction and defense, but also makes positive contribution to peace and stability in the region and the world.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang, and other delegates visit the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024. (Photo: Trong Hai) |
On the morning of September 16, at the national conference on grasping and implementing four new resolutions of the Politburo, Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented a report titled “Key contents of Resolution No.59-NQ/TW, dated January 24, 2025, on international integration in the new situation, and action program for its implementation.”
“One of the key directions of Resolution 59 is to make international integration in defense and security one of the pillars of Vietnam’s overall international integration, particularly in relations with major partners,” Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung stated.
The vision outlined in Resolution 59 serves the goal of national development in the time to come, based on outstanding achievements of the Party’s external relations, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy, with defense diplomacy as a highlight. According to Le Hoai Trung, after nearly 40 years of Doi moi (Renewal) and international integration, Vietnam has made comprehensive and remarkable progress, enhancing national synergy, firmly safeguarding independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, national interest, while upholding a peaceful and stable environment. These achievements have raised Vietnam’s potential, position and reputation, marking a shift from international economic integration to broad and comprehensive international integration. Vietnam has also become an active contributor to global efforts in addressing shared challenges and promoting cooperation, friendship, and mutual development among nations.
Defense diplomacy has been affirmed as an active and effective contributor to these national successes and efforts. Amidst rapid, complex and unpredictable developments in regional and global situations, during the 2020-2025 term, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense have led and directed international integration and defense diplomacy in a comprehensive, flexible, and effective manner, achieving many outstanding results.
During this term, the Ministry of National Defense has successfully hosted and co-organized many major multilateral events, including defense and military meetings during Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020; the 23rd ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting; the 30th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM-30); and the “Emergency Area” competition within the framework of Army Games 2021 and 2022. Particularly, the Vietnam Defense Expo, first organized in 2022 and its second edition in 2024, was successful.
At the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024, units under the General Department of Defense Industry and the Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel) signed 16 contracts worth nearly USD 286.3 million and 17 strategic cooperation agreements with defense enterprises from advanced industrial nations such as the U.S., India, and France. The event received wide coverage in domestic and international media, helping to spread good images of Vietnam, its people, and the Vietnam People’s Army to the world.
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Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister General Nguyen Tan Cuong and other delegates visit the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024. (Photo: Trong Hai) |
In addition, the contributions of Vietnamese peacekeepers deployed in U.N. Missions in South Sudan, Abyei, and at U.N. headquarters have been recognized and commended by the U.N. Secretary-General and the international community. Many Vietnamese blue-berets have been awarded U.N. medals and certificates of merit, becoming role models of capabilities and ethics in peacekeeping mission performance.
The noble images of Uncle Ho’s soldiers serving in U.N. peacekeeping operations in Africa, and in humanitarian disaster relief efforts in Turkey and Myanmar, are vivid testimony to the professionalism of the Vietnam People’s Army, affirming defense diplomacy’s pro-active and responsible contribution to international community. These achievements have contributed to deepening and expanding the relationship between Vietnam and its partners; creating favorable strategic conditions; and reinforcing and creating a peaceful, stable environment for safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
By Ngoc Hung - Anh Vu
Translated by Mai Huong