Hanoi (VNA) - The Foreign Relations Department under the Ministry of National Defence was awarded the first-class Military Exploit Order at a ceremony held in Hanoi on May 28 on the 60th anniversary of its traditional day (May 28, 1964 - 2024).
Authorised by the State President, Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang handed over the order to the department in recognition of its particularly outstanding achievements in combating, serving combat, training, building the force, strengthening the all-people national defence, and contributing to socialism building and Fatherland safeguarding.
Acknowledging and commending its achievements over the last 60 years, he praised the department for its efforts in advising the Central Military Commission and the ministry on the leadership and direction over the comprehensive implementation of external defence relations, thereby obtaining significant results and contributing to the firm protection of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the strengthening of borders of peace and friendship, and the promotion of exchange, connection, and development cooperation with foreign partners.
The official asked the department to focus on effectively carrying out several key tasks, including promoting the pioneering role of defence diplomacy in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national construction and development to help raise the position, role, and prestige of Vietnam and the Vietnam People's Army in the international arena.
The department needs to proactively research and propose solutions for enhancing the effectiveness of international integration and external defence relations, thereby contributing to the protection of the Fatherland early and from afar by peaceful means. It also needs to further deepen the strategies and tactics for implementing external defence affairs in both bilateral and multilateral aspects, he stressed.
The official requested the department to creatively apply Ho Chi Minh's thought, style and art of diplomacy in the performance of international integration tasks and external defence affairs. Particularly, it has to stay steadfast in principle and flexible in strategy to firmly maintain the country's independence and self-reliance in defence relations and cooperation.
The consistent adoption of this viewpoint and stance will foster the international community's political trust in and respect for Vietnam, thus helping strengthen the "soft power" in safeguarding the nation, he emphasised./.
