2007 ended with complicated developments in both the region and the world, such as trouble spots in the Middle East and South Asia as well as global challenges, including climate change, energy security and epidemics. However, in general, peace, co-operation and development remains a common trend, that makes the colourful picture of the world ever brighter in 2008.

Eventful diplomatic year

As Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem put it, 2007 left in every Vietnamese a source of pride in the country’s national socio-economic development and international integration process. He said the country continued implementing the foreign policies approved at the 10^th National Congress by combining the Party and State’s foreign policies and people’s diplomacy, with bilateral and multilateral political and cultural diplomacy in conjunction with a wide range of high-ranking diplomatic activities.

2007 also saw many important diplomatic events. The most prominent event was that Vietnam was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2008-2009 term with a large number of votes and became the 150^th member of the WTO, confirming the international community’s recognition and respect for the country’s achievements and contributions to resolving important global issues. This was a good chance for Vietnam to demonstrate its ability to resolve global political and security issues, contributing to maintaining security and stability and creating positive conditions for national construction and development as well as improving its position in the international arena. In addition, Vietnam actively contributed to international forums such as ASEAN, APEC and ASEM.

In recent years, Vietnam has made important progress in enhancing friendship and co-operative ties with both neighbouring countries and others globally. The numerous exchange visits of Party, State and Government leaders not only brought about an eventful diplomatic calendar but also created opportunities for developing bilateral co-operative relations between Vietnam and other countries to new heights.

Relations between Vietnam and China continued developing and being strengthened through the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation and co-operative procedures among sectors. The two countries have also made great effort to expand economic, trade scientific, technological, cultural and educational co-operation and to promote “two corridors and one belt” co-operation. Both were committed to completing the land border demarcation and landmark plantation within 2008, implementing agreements on the demarcation and fishing cooperation in the Tonkin Gulf and accelerating exchanges to resolve remaining issues in the East Sea.

Vietnam continued strengthening its special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive co-operative ties with Laos, solemnly holding activities to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Relations between Vietnam and Cambodia also saw progress. The two countries accelerated land border demarcation and fostered economic and trade co-operation.

Relations with ASEAN countries became more and more substantive. Vietnam made significant contributions to developing the ASEAN Charter, and opening a new era of close and effective co-operation with the ASEAN Community by 2015.

Vietnam gave priorities to strengthening co-operation with industrialised countries, including Russia, India and Japan. This was demonstrated through Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s official visits to Russia and India and President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to Japan.

2007 also saw two important visits – the first visit to the US by a Vietnamese State leader and the first visit to Vietnam of EU President Manuel Barroso. They not only helped raise bilateral relations to a higher plane but also showed the enhanced role and position of Vietnam in the international arena.

Diplomatic year for economic development

The diplomatic sector selected 2007 as a year for economic development. There is no denying that economic diplomacy has helped the country to break new economic records: foreign directed investment capital of US$20 billion, ODA of US$5.42 billion, exports of nearly US$50 billion, foreign currency reserve of nearly US$20 billion and growth rate of 8.5 percent.

The key to success, according to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem, is due to the effective combination of external affairs in both political and economic fields.

High-raking visits of Vietnamese Party, State and Government leaders proved successful in both politics and economics, further promoting Vietnamese relations with other countries and bringing about economic agreements worth tens of billions of US dollars. In addition, the diplomatic sector better performed its advisory tasks, contributing to promoting relations with leading countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs prepared necessary conditions for the Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos and advised the Government to take full use of idle capital in the Middle East.

Additionally, the ministry implemented a number of measures to support localities and businesses. It organized many economic promotion activities for seven northern border provinces and Hai Phong City to visit Yunnam, Guangxi and Guangdong in China and coordinated with central Da Nang city and other localities to hold East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) Week with a wide range of activities.

The ministry welcomed numerous big business delegations seeking opportunities in Vietnam such as president of the US GE group, two Thai business delegations, Hong Kong Xinhua Group, Indian Tata Group, and the US-ASEAN Business Council, attracting billions of US dollars of investment capital.

Laying firm foundations for development

2008 is a pivotal year of the five-year development plan (2006-2010) and also the first year Vietnam has taken a non-permanent member seat on the United Nations Security Council. To uphold the successes of previous years, the diplomatic sector will prove it has the ability to steer the ship of Vietnam towards the ocean of integration.