Milestones in Vietnam’s diplomatic sector
On August 28, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh announced the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Since then the diplomatic sector has experienced many upheavals to make a significant contribution to the country’s achievements over the past 63 years.
Nguyen Manh Cam, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister gave an insight into the development of the sector over the past 63 years in an interview granted to VOV. Following are excerpts from the interview.
VOV: Would you give us a brief on the history of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector?
Mr Cam: Vietnam’s diplomatic sector was founded on August 28, 1945 by President Ho Chi Minh. Four days later, President Ho read out the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The Declaration was Vietnam’s first important diplomatic document which affirmed that “Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence and in fact has become a free and independent nation”.
Over the past 63 years, the diplomatic sector has experienced many upheavals and made a significant contribution to the nation’s achievements. To date Vietnam has established diplomatic ties with 176 countries and trade ties with more than 120 countries, of which 80 have invested in this Southeast Asian nation.
Through different periods of national development, the sector, at times, played a decisive role in defending national independence, and at other times, coordinated with other fronts to win victories. When our struggles ended in success, the sector had reached many important agreements of international significance.
When Vietnam began its reconstruction process in 1975, it faced many political and economic embargoes by hostile forces. It suffered a prolonged socio-economic crisis. Given this context, the Communist Party of Vietnam launched the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, especially in economics. The diplomatic sector worked closely with the economic sector to free the country from the embargoes and gradually develop.
However, Vietnam had to encounter new difficulties shortly after the fall of socialism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in the early 1990s. In the face of this, the 7th National Party Congress in June 1991 put forward the external policy of independence, self-reliance and multilateralisation and diversification of external relations under the motto “Vietnam wants to befriend all countries in the international community and strive for peace, independence and development.”
VOV: Would you recall significant events of the diplomatic sector that you witnessed?
Mr Cam: There were many historical events that I will never forget in my life.
First of all, Ho Chi Minh helped to break the deadlock at a conference in Moscow in 1960, which brought together the representatives of 80 communist and workers’ parties. The conference reached an important statement after several days of negotiations. However, the former Soviet Union and China – the two biggest parties – had different viewpoints and suffered a rift in their relations. They declared that they would not sign the statement. If this happened, the conference would end in failure. Representatives of the participating parties were worried and they thought that only President Ho Chi Minh could solve the problem. President Ho accepted the proposal. He immediately held separate meetings with the representatives of the two parties who later agreed to sign the statement. The document was very important as it laid down the guidelines for communist and workers’ parties in their plans of action. After the conference, representatives of the parties shook hands with President Ho as a token of their thanks to him. This shows that they had acknowledged President Ho’s capacity and prestige in international communist and workers’ movements.
Second, when the US was escalating the war to the north, I was assigned to accompany a Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Van Dong to visit several countries calling for support to our struggle. During the talks, the secretary of a foreign leader butted in with a small piece of paper about Vietnam on his hand, saying that if Vietnam did not agree to sit at the negotiation table, American GIs would land in Hai Phong and expand the war to the north. On hearing the news, PM Dong burst out laughing and affirmed “It is impossible”. He then explained why Vietnam could not negotiate and his explanation received wide acclaims from foreign delegates.
Third, after the fall of communism in former Soviet Union and East Europe in 1991, Vietnam stepped up the normalisation of relations with China, gradually improved relations with the US and developed ties with all countries, regional and international organisations. On July 12, 1995, the US declared a normalisation of relations with Vietnam. Three days later, Vietnam signed a framework agreement on economic, trade and scientific and technological cooperation with the European Union, paving the way for the country to promote multifaceted cooperation with EU members. On July 27, 1995 Vietnam officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These were three important events happening in a month, which have rarely been seen in the history of the diplomatic sector in Vietnam and other countries.
VOV: You held many important posts in the diplomatic sector over 50 years. Did you make any personal decisions?
Mr Cam: When the Cambodian issue was solved, we planned to improve relations with other neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia. Vo Van Kiet, who was Chairman of the Ministers’ Council, led a Vietnamese delegation to make an overseas trip to carry out this mission. Several countries suggested that Vietnam join ASEAN which was established in August 1967. Mr Kiet raised this question with me. After a second, I explained that Vietnam should join this organisation given the new context in the region and the world and that admission would be a testimony to Vietnam’s open external policy. My explanations received Mr Kiet’s approval. After the trip, we reported this to the Party’s Political Bureau. It was a crunch time for us because many senior officials were afraid that ASEAN would be similar to the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) which was dissolved in 1977.
As Foreign Minister, I had to gather evidence and tried to persuade those who had different views. The Political Bureau carefully discussed and approved the proposal. As a result, Vietnam became an observer of ASEAN in July 1992 together with Laos. Other ASEAN members said that both Vietnam and Laos could join the organisation in five years’ time. However, two years later, they said that Vietnam could join if favourable conditions prevailed. At an ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in July 1994, on behalf of the Government, I declared that Vietnam was ready to join ASEAN. The country was officially admitted to this organisation as the 7th member at a ceremony held in Brunei in July 1995. Until today everyone has believed that this was the correct decision.
VOV: What did you learn from President Ho – a prominent diplomat?
Mr Cam: Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on diplomacy are the combination between national patriotism and traditional cultural identity and between the predecessors’ experience and that of global diplomacy. All Vietnamese diplomats must learn about President Ho’s flexible diplomatic arts. I think that the diplomatic sector requires sincerity and flexibility from diplomats.
VOV: What do you think about the achievements that the Vietnamese diplomatic sector has made over the past years?
Mr Cam: The victory of the diplomatic sector is a victory for Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on diplomacy and the clear-sighted leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The sector has made an important contribution to the nation’s great achievements, elevating its position and role in the world arena. All Vietnamese who are either diplomats or non-diplomats, are very proud of this. (VOV)
VOV: Would you give us a brief on the history of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector?
Mr Cam: Vietnam’s diplomatic sector was founded on August 28, 1945 by President Ho Chi Minh. Four days later, President Ho read out the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The Declaration was Vietnam’s first important diplomatic document which affirmed that “Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence and in fact has become a free and independent nation”.
Over the past 63 years, the diplomatic sector has experienced many upheavals and made a significant contribution to the nation’s achievements. To date Vietnam has established diplomatic ties with 176 countries and trade ties with more than 120 countries, of which 80 have invested in this Southeast Asian nation.
Through different periods of national development, the sector, at times, played a decisive role in defending national independence, and at other times, coordinated with other fronts to win victories. When our struggles ended in success, the sector had reached many important agreements of international significance.
When Vietnam began its reconstruction process in 1975, it faced many political and economic embargoes by hostile forces. It suffered a prolonged socio-economic crisis. Given this context, the Communist Party of Vietnam launched the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, especially in economics. The diplomatic sector worked closely with the economic sector to free the country from the embargoes and gradually develop.
However, Vietnam had to encounter new difficulties shortly after the fall of socialism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in the early 1990s. In the face of this, the 7th National Party Congress in June 1991 put forward the external policy of independence, self-reliance and multilateralisation and diversification of external relations under the motto “Vietnam wants to befriend all countries in the international community and strive for peace, independence and development.”
VOV: Would you recall significant events of the diplomatic sector that you witnessed?
Mr Cam: There were many historical events that I will never forget in my life.
First of all, Ho Chi Minh helped to break the deadlock at a conference in Moscow in 1960, which brought together the representatives of 80 communist and workers’ parties. The conference reached an important statement after several days of negotiations. However, the former Soviet Union and China – the two biggest parties – had different viewpoints and suffered a rift in their relations. They declared that they would not sign the statement. If this happened, the conference would end in failure. Representatives of the participating parties were worried and they thought that only President Ho Chi Minh could solve the problem. President Ho accepted the proposal. He immediately held separate meetings with the representatives of the two parties who later agreed to sign the statement. The document was very important as it laid down the guidelines for communist and workers’ parties in their plans of action. After the conference, representatives of the parties shook hands with President Ho as a token of their thanks to him. This shows that they had acknowledged President Ho’s capacity and prestige in international communist and workers’ movements.
Second, when the US was escalating the war to the north, I was assigned to accompany a Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Van Dong to visit several countries calling for support to our struggle. During the talks, the secretary of a foreign leader butted in with a small piece of paper about Vietnam on his hand, saying that if Vietnam did not agree to sit at the negotiation table, American GIs would land in Hai Phong and expand the war to the north. On hearing the news, PM Dong burst out laughing and affirmed “It is impossible”. He then explained why Vietnam could not negotiate and his explanation received wide acclaims from foreign delegates.
Third, after the fall of communism in former Soviet Union and East Europe in 1991, Vietnam stepped up the normalisation of relations with China, gradually improved relations with the US and developed ties with all countries, regional and international organisations. On July 12, 1995, the US declared a normalisation of relations with Vietnam. Three days later, Vietnam signed a framework agreement on economic, trade and scientific and technological cooperation with the European Union, paving the way for the country to promote multifaceted cooperation with EU members. On July 27, 1995 Vietnam officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These were three important events happening in a month, which have rarely been seen in the history of the diplomatic sector in Vietnam and other countries.
VOV: You held many important posts in the diplomatic sector over 50 years. Did you make any personal decisions?
Mr Cam: When the Cambodian issue was solved, we planned to improve relations with other neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia. Vo Van Kiet, who was Chairman of the Ministers’ Council, led a Vietnamese delegation to make an overseas trip to carry out this mission. Several countries suggested that Vietnam join ASEAN which was established in August 1967. Mr Kiet raised this question with me. After a second, I explained that Vietnam should join this organisation given the new context in the region and the world and that admission would be a testimony to Vietnam’s open external policy. My explanations received Mr Kiet’s approval. After the trip, we reported this to the Party’s Political Bureau. It was a crunch time for us because many senior officials were afraid that ASEAN would be similar to the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) which was dissolved in 1977.
As Foreign Minister, I had to gather evidence and tried to persuade those who had different views. The Political Bureau carefully discussed and approved the proposal. As a result, Vietnam became an observer of ASEAN in July 1992 together with Laos. Other ASEAN members said that both Vietnam and Laos could join the organisation in five years’ time. However, two years later, they said that Vietnam could join if favourable conditions prevailed. At an ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in July 1994, on behalf of the Government, I declared that Vietnam was ready to join ASEAN. The country was officially admitted to this organisation as the 7th member at a ceremony held in Brunei in July 1995. Until today everyone has believed that this was the correct decision.
VOV: What did you learn from President Ho – a prominent diplomat?
Mr Cam: Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on diplomacy are the combination between national patriotism and traditional cultural identity and between the predecessors’ experience and that of global diplomacy. All Vietnamese diplomats must learn about President Ho’s flexible diplomatic arts. I think that the diplomatic sector requires sincerity and flexibility from diplomats.
VOV: What do you think about the achievements that the Vietnamese diplomatic sector has made over the past years?
Mr Cam: The victory of the diplomatic sector is a victory for Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on diplomacy and the clear-sighted leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The sector has made an important contribution to the nation’s great achievements, elevating its position and role in the world arena. All Vietnamese who are either diplomats or non-diplomats, are very proud of this. (VOV)
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