Vietnam’s diplomacy has listed sovereignty protection one of the priorities in its missions for 2021 amid escalating tension in the South China Sea (called East Sea by Vietnam) caused by exerting influence among great powers.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the meeting on January 11. Photo: VGP

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to keep resolute and persistent watch on the sovereignty protection, the country’s legitimate interests in the East Sea as well as traditional and non-traditional security challenges, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said at a meeting on January 11.

This is among seven missions that the ministry has been assigned for 2021.

Other content includes enhancing relationship with neighboring countries, big countries, and important partners to effectively carry out economic and cultural diplomacy as well as affairs on overseas Vietnamese, improving multilateral diplomacy by 2030, and boosting multisectoral coordination in the realization of foreign policy.

Internal affairs within the ministry is another mission in which recruiting high qualified candidates and training will be focused.

Effectively disseminating on the 13th National Party Congress will be one of main tasks in the year to come. The congress is scheduled to take place from January 25 to February 2.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Pham Binh Minh spoke at the opening discussion session of the United Nations Security Council on January 9, 2020. Photo: UN

In 2020, Vietnam successfully fulfilled international missions, improving the country’s image on the international forums and contributing to the sovereignty protection, Deputy Prime Minister Minh said.

Last year, as ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (2020-2021 term), Vietnam maintained and strengthened relationship with countries and territories via online and offline meetings, the top diplomat emphasized.

Diplomacy also contributed to reinforcing economic relations, specifically through the signing of free trade agreements namely the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the UK–Vietnam free trade agreement (UVFTA).