In implementation of the Resolutions of the 10th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and renovated external relation policy, in the past 5 years (2006-2010), the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commission working in close co-ordination with the State and people’s foreign relations forces have made great successes in diplomatic front. The Party has proactively strengthened relations with 222 political parties in 115 countries and participated in many multi-party forums. These are important contributions to accelerating the renovation process, industrialization and modernization of Vietnam

In implementation of the Resolutions of the 10^th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and renovated external relation policy, in the past 5 years (2006-2010), the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commission working in close co-ordination with the State and people’s foreign relations forces have made great successes in diplomatic front. The Party has proactively strengthened relations with 222 political parties in 115 countries and participated in many multi-party forums. These are important contributions to accelerating the renovation process, industrialization and modernization of Vietnam

For the national interest, socialism, peace, cooperation and development

In a capacity as a communist party and the sole ruling party in Vietnam, when implementing the Resolutions of the 10^th Party Congress on expanding and developing relations with political parties in other countries, the Vietnamese Communist Party has persistently followed the principles of independence, integrity, equality, mutual respect, non interference in each other’s internal affairs, promotion of friendship and cooperation for peace, national independence, development and social progress. The Party does not established relations with extreme parties or organizations.

In its relations with communist and workers’ parties, the Party has attached importance to consolidating relations, solidarity, friendship, mutual support in the struggle for socialism in the spirit of Marxism-Leninism and pure internationalism of the working class. The Party has actively exchanged views on theoretical and practical issues of socialist construction, party building, and current big global problems; participated in different parties’ regional and international forums and conferences. It has shown unity and cooperation with other parties in suitable forms and actively contributed to the revival and growth of communist and workers’ movement.

With political parties, organizations, and national independent, revolutionary and progressive organizations, the Party has set great store by solidarity, cooperation, shared experience and learning, joint efforts for peace, national independence, democracy, development, equity and social progress.

With ruling parties or parties taking part in politics in countries which are important partners of Vietnam, the Party has strengthened mutual understanding, exchanged experience in governance, socio-economic management; conducted dialogues on problems in bilateral relations; promoted State relations and formation of frameworks for stable and lasting relations, multilateral cooperation, and equity for mutual benefits.

Priority in developing relations with communist parties and ruling parties in socialist and neighboring countries.

The Party’s external relation activities have been prioritized with focuses. High on the list of the Party’s external relation counterparts are communist and ruling parties in socialist and neighboring and bordering countries.

The Party has paid much attention to consolidating traditional relation with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Cambodian People’s Party. This has been demonstrated by the exchanges of visits of several high-level delegations, especially friendship visits to Laos in October 2006 and April 2010, and to Cambodia in December 2009 by the Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh. Joint communiqués reached during these visits were important foundation for constant development of the traditional friendship relation, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, good neighborhood, comprehensive, stable and lasting cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia. Regular meetings and contacts between leaders of the Vietnamese Communist Party, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Cambodian People’s Party have become a good tradition which has helped lay political foundation, develop strategic orientation, remove difficulties and obstacles in the three parties’ relations to facilitate comprehensive, practical and effective cooperation in all aspects.

In the past 5 years, the Party has attached importance to promoting cooperation and traditional friendship with the Communist Party of China. The two official visits to China of the Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in August 2006 and May 2008 put Sino-Vietnam relations to the level of comprehensive and strategic partners. Through the exchange of high-level Party and State visits, the two sides have reached mutual understanding and unanimous agreement on “16-word principle” and “4-good spirit” as guidelines for bilateral relation. Both sides have committed support and trust, stepped up cooperation for mutual benefits for development and successful socialist construction in each country. Vietnam and China have cooperated to settle pending issues or new problems in bilateral relations in the principle of friendship, conciliation, fair and reason while setting store to maintaining general situation. Both sides have collaborated in regional and international affairs and promoting lasting peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Constantly developing and strengthening close relation, friendship, loyal unity, mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba has been an unswerving stance of the Vietnam. During the 10^th tenure of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Party general Secretary Nong Duc Manh and other members of the Political Bureau, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Party and delegations of the Party have paid visits to Cuba. Vietnam has received several delegations of Cuba to Vietnam. The official visit of Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh to Cuba in June 2007 constituted a driving force to the further development of Vietnam-Cuba solidarity. The two Parties affirmed that the Vietnam-Cuba solidarity constituted great strength for the two nations to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in the cause of revolution and national construction and defense.

Exchange of delegations of the Vietnamese Communist Party and the Korean Workers’ Party has been increased. The event of special significance in the traditional cooperation and friendship between the two Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was the official visit to DPRK of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in October 2007. The two sided affirmed to treasure, preserve and do their utmost to strengthen and promote the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples which have been fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and Kim Il Sung in the interest of the two countries’ revolutionary causes for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Vietnam has been persistent in promoting peace, stability, cooperation and non nuclear proliferation in the Korean peninsular and supporting the Korean peoples’ aspiration for peace and national unification.

Consolidating solidarity and mutual support among communists and workers’ parties, other parties and national independent movement, and revolutionary and progressive movements.

In the past five years, the Vietnamese Party has continued to promote the traditional relation and solidarity with communist and workers’ parties in the world. Vietnam sent Party’s high-level delegations including those of Political Bureau and Secretariat to the congresses of 15 parties. They were the 8^th Congress of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation in 2008, the 5^th Congress of the Party of Italian Communists in 2008, the 20^th Congress of the Indian Communist Party in 2008, the 9^th Indian Marxist Communist Party in 2008, the 18^th Congress of Greek Communist Party in 2009, the 9^th Congress of the Danish Communist Party in 2009, the 18^th Congress of the Spanish Communist Party in 2009, the 8^th Congress of the Nepalese Marxist-Leninist Communist Party in 2009, the 12^th Congress of the Brazilian Communist Party in 2009 and the that of the Peruvian Communist Party in 2010.

Many high-level delegations of other parties paid working visits to Vietnam to exchange experience on theory and practical issues in Party building, socialist construction and other regional and international affairs.

In recent years, the relations between the Vietnamese Party with other parties, the leftists, national independence, revolutionary and progressive movements, particularly parties in Latin America and Africa have been pushed up with several breakthroughs. This demonstrated the Party’s effort in external relations and the growth of the movement for national independence and social progress in these regions.

Prominent and significant events in the relations between our Party and the ruling leftist parties and countries in Latin American and Africa included the official visits to Venezuela, Brazil and Chile in June 2007, Angola and Mozambique in April 2008 of Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, the visit to Angola and Mozambique in July 2009 of Mr. Truong Tan Sang, member of the Party Political Bureau, Permanent member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party. The Party sent delegations to pay visits and attend congresses of leftist parties, ruling parties or parties taking part in politics in Palestine in 2009, Egypt in 2008 and 2009, Syria in 2007, Tunisia in 2008 and Morocco in 2008. We also received high-ranking delegations of parties from Latin America and Africa to Vietnam. Since 2006 to 2010, the Vietnamese Party sent 21 delegations to Latin America, 11 delegations to Middle east and Africa and received 24 delegations from Latin America and 5 delegations from the Middle east and Africa. Our party signed cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with several parties in these two regions including the Mexican Labor’s Party, the Mozambique Frelimo Party.

Expanding and strengthen relations with ruling parties and parties taking part in politics

In the tenure of 10^th Congress (2006-2010), the Party expanded and strengthened relations with ruling parties or parties taking part in politics which are our important partners. The visits to Republic of Korea in November 2007, Japan in April 2009, Australia in September 2009, New Zealand in September 2009 and the Russian Federation in July 2010 of the Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh did not only consolidate the relation between the Vietnamese Communist Parties and the ruling parties and parties taking part in politics in these countries but also bring bilateral relation between Vietnam and these countries to a higher level. Due to the visits of the Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in the Party’s 10^th Tenure that our country established “strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia” with Japan, “comprehensive partnership” with Australia and New Zealand; brought the Vietnam-Russian traditional friendship, all-sided cooperation and strategic partnership to a new, trustful, dynamic and effective stage. During the visit to the Russian Federation in November 2009, on behalf of the Vietnamese Party, Mr. Truong Tan Sang, member of the Party Political Bureau, Permanent member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ruling Russian Unity Party.

In the relation with ruling parties in ASEAN countries, our Party carried out several activities such as exchange of delegations, sharing experience in governance and opinion in relation development among regional countries, consolidation of cooperation in ASEAN, promotion of peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific region and in the world. In the past five years, our Party sent 10 delegations to attend regular congresses, and pay working visits to parties in ASEAN countries. These parties were the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the People’s Action Party (PAP). These parties also sent delegations to Vietnam.

Actively participating in multi-party forums

Beside expanding bilateral relations with political parties in the world, our Party has actively participated in multi-party forums. Every year, the Party sent delegations to attend and make practical contribution to International Meetings of Communist and Workers’ Parties organized in different countries, the International Conference of Communist & Workers' Parties (ICCP) organized by the Belgian Labor Party, the International Conference “Globalization and Issues of Development” in Cuba, the International Conference “Parties and a New Society” hosted by the Mexican Labor Party, the Sao Paolo Forum hosted by leftist parties in Latin American, and the annual International Conference organized by the Tunisian ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally Party.

Joining the trend of exchange and cooperation among political parties in Asia regardless of political tendency for peace, cooperation and development, our Party has also taken part in the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). The Party was elected as member of the Standing Committee of ICAPP for 2007-2009 and 2009-2011 terms. In five years from 2006 to 2010, the Party sent delegations to 8 meetings of the Standing Committee and 3 Plenary Sessions of ICAPP.

Practical contribution of the Party’s external relation to successful implement the 10^th Party Resolutions.

In general, in the past 5 years, our Party’s international relations continued to develop in both scope and scale. We established bilateral relations with 222 political parties in 115 countries and actively took part in multi-party forum. The Party’s external relations have contributed to successfully realizing the resolutions of the Party 10^th Congress, heightening the Party’s leadership and fighting spirit, promoting the national strength, accelerating the renovation process and bringing our countries out of the less development status.

Our Party’s main contribution are:

First, the Party’s external relations are a basis for promotion of State relations, expansion of people’s external relations, elevation of Vietnam’s status in the international arena, and creation of peaceful and stable environment.

Second, through exchange of delegations of all levels, we have gained useful international experiences on socialist construction and defense, governance and settlement of socio-economic and cultural issues which have improved the State and Party’s leadership and governance, an extremely important factor to the cause of national renovation, construction and defense of the socialist Vietnam.

Third, through bilateral and multilateral relations with political parties, we have opportunities to enrich and deepen our understanding of the region, the world and partner countries. This has helped us to learn more about international and regional situation relating to our country’s security and development, access to conditions to better our forecast and respond to any events.

Forth, through relations with political parties, we have heightened direct relations of leadership of the Party and State with leading statesmen of other countries, created common awareness and consensus on the framework of stable and lasting relation. We have also created conditions for them have a more accurate perspective and understanding of Vietnam, hence further engagement and support to the process of policy making and realizing of Vietnam. We have stepped up advocacy to win support from political parties and circles to our viewpoints on regional and international issues. On the basis of this firm external relation foundation, we have greatly improved our Party and country’s profile in the region and the world, brought about benefits for countries concerned particularly neighboring and regional countries and nullify hostile forces’schemes against Vietnam.

Firth, in many cases, through relations with ruling parties and parties entering politics, we have solved pending problems or new issues between Vietnam and other countries, diffused complex situation and maintained peaceful and stable environment for socialist building. The Party’s foreign relations have also facilitated border delineation, planting and increasing of marker posts on land border with China, Laos and Cambodia, demarcation of the Bac Bo Gulf and negotiation on sea border and islands with China as expressed openly in the Joint Statements between Vietnam and the three countries during Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visits.

Continuing to carry out overall and comprehensive foreign relation activities and proactively participating in international integration

Achievements made in Vietnam during the 10^th Party tenure as well as in the 25 years of renovation have consolidated our country’s strength in all sphere, upheld its prestige and profile in the international arena, and created premises for Vietnam to stride forward in the new stage.

The world situation will develop with new complexities, and unpre -

- dictable potential mishaps. However, peace, cooperation and development are major trends. The multi-polar world tendency has become clearer. Democratization in international relations has been accelerated. The positions and roles of political parties will be enhanced not only in their countries but also in regional and international political arena.

In that context, in the national interest and for a strong and prosperous socialist Vietnam, we should be persistent in our foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, cooperation, development, diversified and multi-lateral relations, proactive international integration to become reliable friend and partner and responsible member of the international community.

The Party, State and people’s external relations should be carried out comprehensively with harmonious and close coordination to achieve highest effectiveness, to maintain peaceful and favorable environment for industrialization and modernization, national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. As our Party and State’s profile in the international arena has been enhanced, we have been able to contribute more to the common struggle of the world people, national independence, democracy, development and social progress.

While we firmly safeguard national independence and sovereignty, bring into play our internal strength, national integrity, we have accelerated international integration,and prevent and mitigate negative impacts of that process. We should continue to strengthen, develop our traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation with neighboring and bordering countries. We together with Southeast Asian countries build a strong ASEAN community in a proactive and responsible manner and play an important role in regional cooperative frameworks

Our Party should enhance its relations with communist and workers’ parties, leftist parties, ruling parties and other political parties and proactively participate in multi-partisan mechanism and forums in the region and the world. The people’s foreign relations should be developed in a flexible, creative and effective manner through participating in forums and activities of the world people for peace, national independence, democracy, development and social progress.

Special attention should be given to training and fostering those who have involved in external relations activities at central level and key cadres at local level. A cross-cutting principle through all foreign relation activities is the Party’s unique leadership and the State management. Close and comprehensive coordination among the Party, State and people’s external relations should be stepped up not only in diplomatic but also in national defense and security, politics, economic and cultural fields./.