Working with the commission in Hanoi on June 30, Mr Manh praised the commission for its achievements in recent times, saying it has made many practical recommendations with regard to foreign affairs to the Party Political Bureau and the Secretariat. It has also coordinated closely with relevant agencies in organising important foreign affairs–related events for the General Secretary, Politburo, members and Secretaries of the Party Central Committee, thus successfully implementing the Party’s resolutions and guidelines on foreign affairs and increasing the country’s role in the world arena.

The Party leader also pointed out the commission’s weaknesses in anticipating domestic and global situations, supervising of the implementation of high-level agreements reached between Vietnam and foreign countries and personnel training.

He asked the commission and its staff to gain a better understanding of its responsibilities and how to fulfil them according to the resolutions adopted at the 10^th National Party Congress.

“On the one hand we must adhere to the principle of independence, unification and socialism, but on the other hand we must be creative, flexible and responsive to any developments in Vietnam, the region and the rest of the world,” Mr Manh stressed.

He said that foreign affairs workers must follow the late President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching “to play it by ear” in all circumstances in order to fulfil the goal of national independence and socialism while creating a peaceful and stable environment for socio-economic development and carrying out a socialist-oriented industrialisation and modernisation process.

The Party leader asked the commission to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to put forward far-reaching recommendations to the Party Politburo and Secretariat, come up with accurate forecasts about domestic and global developments and monitor the implementation of Party guidelines on foreign affairs.