Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA) The event gathered participants from the ministry’s headquarters in Hanoi and 94 Vietnamese representative offices overseas.
In his opening remarks, PM Chinh praised the ministry’s and representative offices’ close coordination with other ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises to actively, proactively, and effectively carry out external relations tasks, including economic diplomacy.
He expressed his delight at the successful implementation of the vaccine diplomacy, which has contributed to Vietnam’s pandemic control, early reopening, and socio-economic recovery and development.
The PM underlined that the global economy is facing six “headwinds” that are affecting all aspects of the socio-economic life in the whole world, including Vietnam.
The country is eyeing more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages, he said, clarifying that the Vietnamese economy has high level of openness but with a modest scale and limited competitiveness and resilience against shocks from the outside, making it vulnerable to impacts from the regional and the world economic situations, especially the shrinking of major and traditional markets.
PM Chinh said that Vietnam’s GDP growth reached 4.14% in the second quarter and 3.72% in the first half of 2023. Therefore, in order to reach this year’s target of 6-6.5%, greater efforts are required, he stressed, adding that amid the controlled inflation, it is necessary to prioritise growth through promoting three major drivers of consumption, investment and exports.
The Government leader pointed to a number of lessons for the diplomacy sector, including active, positive and timely implementation of policies, orientations, resolutions and programmes of the Party and State, and keeping a close eye on the situation to give flexible responses.
It is necessary to stay firm with principles and flexible in responding, placing the nation’s interests at top priority; while maintaining good control of the situation and proposing solutions to overcome challenges to fulfil the country’s goals, he said.
Another lesson that the PM highlighted is upholding responsibility of diplomatic officials, fostering the coordination among ministries, sectors, localities and businesses, and promoting advantages from the relations between Vietnam and particular countries to lift up the relations to a new height, focusing on economic diplomacy.
The Government leader recommended participants focus on discussing specific solutions to boost growth drivers through attracting high-quality investment; diversify markets, products, and supply chains; fully tap traditional markets and expand potential ones; accelerate the signing of free trade agreements (FTAs); and promote Vietnamese goods in Halal markets.He also highlighted the importance of connecting provinces and cities, representative agencies abroad, and businesses to make the most of every opportunity and demonstrate the highest sense of responsibility for the sake of the nation, the development of the country and the happiness of the people./.
