2023 a particularly successful year for Vietnamese diplomacy: Cuban expert

In a recent media exchange held in Havana, Dr. Ruvislei emphasized that the complexity of today's world with major uncertainties leads to the need to implement a peaceful, diverse, and responsible foreign policy, thereby contributing to the further enhancement of international relations.

Vietnamese diplomacy has achieved many outstanding achievements this year, including visits by several leaders of the world's leading powers, such as the United States and China, as well as the upgrading of bilateral relations with specific results.

Upon assessing these diplomatic moves, Dr. Ruvislei, also director of the International Relations Program in Cuba, emphasised that these activities all reflect the achievements of the nation’s friendly foreign policy with the world.

Specifically, in terms of bilateral relations, the nation has deepened its comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with China and agreed to build upon a "Community of Shared Future".

The country also moved to upgrade its relationship with Japan to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership for the causes of peace and prosperity in Asia and throughout the wider world.

At a multilateral level, the nation started the year by assuming the role of member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023 to 2025 term. Also this year, the country was elected as Vice Chair of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003 Convention), representing the Asia-Pacific region.

The country and China agreed to promote a co-operation plan which connects the "Two Corridors, One Belt" framework with the "Belt and Road Initiative". Over the past year, the country continued to be an active member of ASEAN.

The researcher who spent many years as head of CIPI's Asia Department believes that elevating the level of relations with countries, including the US and Japan, will give leverage to the Vietnamese economic development process.

​The US represents the country’s major export market with a large trade surplus, as well as new opportunities for developing ties in a multitude of fields such as education, health, climate change response, and security-defence.

Meanwhile, Japan plays a very important role in terms of providing official development assistance (ODA) and has been one of the most important investors since the nation began its Doi Moi (Renewal) process.

Bilateral relations have increased significantly over recent times, including science - technology, education, culture, and defence.

Dr. Ruvislei highlighted the importance of cultural diplomacy as part of promoting the country's image, citing the policies of countries such as Japan, China, the Republic of Korea (RoK), and India, all of which attach importance to promoting this way.

Cultural exchanges today have become a very important tool for countries. Indeed, cultural fields such as music and traditional costumes can create elements of internationalization, making cultural diplomacy an important element in terms of the implementation of citizen diplomacy.

The Cuban scholar highly appreciated the country’s rich and diverse culture, stating his belief that culture can serve as an important bridge to bring Vietnamese culture to the world. Although Vietnamese cuisine has appeared in many Asian restaurants, there remains plenty of room to continue promoting and expanding its influence.

According to Dr. Ruvislei, amid a complex international context, maintaining independence in the foreign policy in a neutral way without abandoning the principles of protecting a more equitable world in which everyone is respected, regardless of the country's size, is the correct path of the Vietnamese diplomacy.