General Secretary of the Party Central Committee To Lam speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: NDO)

Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the commission, affirmed that the party’s external relations work has become one of the three key pillars of Vietnam's comprehensive and modern diplomacy. It has played a crucial role in firmly protecting the nation's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as maintaining a peaceful and stable environment conducive to the national building and safeguarding cause, and the implementation of strategic tasks related to socio-economic development.

The Communist Party of Vietnam has established relations with 253 political parties in 115 countries, including over 100 ruling parties or those participating in governing coalitions. The Vietnam Fatherland Front and various mass organisations have developed relations with approximately 1,200 people’s organisations and other foreign partners. The contributions and dedication of the commission have been recognised by the Party and State with prestigious awards, such as the Ho Chi Minh Order (2019), the Golden Star Order (2003), and many other noble honours.

Congratulating the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations on its traditional day, Lam affirmed that over the past 75 years, the commission's work has always played a core role in shaping the strategic orientation and external policy of the Party.

This work has helped effectively mobilise the national strength, international support, and the assistance of progressive peoples and peace-lovers around the world, thus creating a vast resource that has contributed to taking the Vietnamese revolution through challenges to achieve successive victories and remarkable milestones, he stated.

Recalling the significant achievements of the Party and nation over the past 79 years of revolutionary history and nearly 40 years of renewal, the leader emphasised the sound and appropriate foreign policy of the Party throughout different historical periods, highlighting the important role and contributions of the Party’s external relations.

The world is currently undergoing a historic transformation, bringing about not only new opportunities and advantages but also numerous challenges, Lam said, adding that this situation imposes new and greater demands on the planning and implementation of the Party’s foreign policy in the new era, which is also a glorious mission for the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.

The Party chief requested the commission to continue enhancing research and advisory work to help formulate the Party’s foreign policy in the new phase; organising the effective implementation of the Party’s foreign policy in the political system; maximising the dialectical relationship between Party, state, and people-to-people diplomacy under the unified leadership of the Party; and upholding the guiding and leading role of the Party’s external work for the highest goal of national interests for the well-being and happiness of the people.

The Party's external relation sector should continue to positively contribute to the global revolutionary movement, promoting peace and stability in the region and the world, and participating in solving common global issues, Lam noted.

He emphasised the need for external relations to be integrated with national defence and security to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for national development and the firm protection of the homeland early and from afar.

The leader also urged the commission to continue focusing on building a contingent of officials who own strong political mettle, exemplary moral qualities, and good expertise, and always put the interests of the nation and the people above all else.