The external affairs sector in the coming time will still focus on its prime task of maintaining peaceful and stable environment and creating favourable international conditions for the national renewal, industrialisation, and modernisation, the Party chief has said.

The sector has an important role in helping the country ensure its successes in national construction and defence cause, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said at the 60 th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations in Hanoi on Nov. 1.

“We should continue to pursue an external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development to ensure national interests will be maximised in an everchanging world,” he said.

The Party chief reminded the CPVCC Commission for External Relations of the need to closely work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations and agencies of relevant ministries and sectors in order t fulfil its tasks.

The commission should also strengthen its apparatus and constantly improve the quality of its staff to enable them to meet requirements and tasks in the new circumstance, Party General Secretary Manh underscored.

In recognition of the contributions the CPVCC Commission for External Relations made for the country, the Party and State presented the commission the nation’s highest distinction - the Golden Star Order in 2003. Also in 2003, the Lao Revolutionary People’s Party and State conferred the commission with the Issara Order, first class./.