Hanoi (VNA) - The diplomatic sector is focusing on serving development,Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told the press after the conclusion ofthe 30th Diplomatic Conference on August 17.

He said guiding by the spirit, the conference has decided on a number ofkey tasks for the time ahead based on thorough discussion of the regional andworld situation.

First of all, in the context of rapid and complicated changes in theworld situation, the diplomatic sector must lead in efforts to maintain apeaceful and stable environment and mobilize both internal strength andexternal resources for the country’s development.   

Second, the sector must conduct research in order to give advice andforecast to the Party, State, Government and related ministries and sectors inimplementing socio-economic development. The Deputy FM stressed that the sectormust make accurate and feasible recommendations to the making of policies onexternal relations and their implementation.

Third, the sector should take strong action in economic diplomacy toserve national development.

Deputy FM Son noted that at theplenary session chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the PM gavespecific instructions on economic diplomacy and diplomacy serving development. Helaid emphasis on two points, one of which is to make the people and businessthe centre and subject of service, and the second is to combine all diplomaticchannels and security-defence to create synergistic strength to maintain apeaceful and stable environment for national development.

The official added that the diplomatic sector will also work in aconcerted manner in all the fields of cultural diplomacy, overseas Vietnameseaffairs, citizen protection and external information work.

An important outcome of the conference is a specific programme to builda streamlined but effective apparatus of the foreign ministry which is able tomeet the requirements of the work in the new situation.

Elaborating on the notion of diplomacy serving development, the DeputyFM said the diplomatic sector has been doing several tasks since the 29th conference.

The sector has conducted market research and provided update informationfor the business community about markets in the world, based on the advantageof diplomatic representative offices in most countries, and it will continuewith the work in the time ahead.

The sector will also work together with the business community to makeinroad into new markets,

At the request of the business community, the Foreign Ministry willcollect more information and make assessment on foreign markets to supply tothe business community.

According to Deputy Minister Son, the Foreign Ministry has assisted severaldomestic companies in their efforts to expand to foreign markets, such as themilitary run telecom corporation Viettel, the low-cost airline Vietjet Air, ordairy giant TH True Milk.

The 30th Diplomatic Conference took place in Hanoi fromAugust 13-17. The five-day event reviewed the recent implementation of externalaffairs, analysed the regional and international situation as well asopportunities and challenges facing Vietnam, and proposed some countermeasures.

Deputy FM Son stressed that Party and State leaders highly appreciatethe performance of the diplomatic sector over the past more than two years,which, they said, have significantly contributed to the nation’s achievementsin implementing the external relation guidelines in particular and theresolution of the 12th Party Congress in general.-VNA