Three ministries step up coordination to advance Vietnam's external affairs in new era

Against the backdrop of rapid and profound global changes, the ministers said stronger coordination is essential to support the country's goal of achieving fast and sustainable development while safeguarding national interests and protecting the nation early and from afar.

From left: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Minister of Public Security Gen. Luong Tam Quang at the joint meeting on August 3, part of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference. (Photo: VNA)
From left: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Minister of Public Security Gen. Luong Tam Quang at the joint meeting on August 3, part of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defence, and the Ministry of Public Security held a joint meeting on August 3 to strengthen coordination in implementing Vietnam's external relations, defence and security tasks.

Held as part of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference, the event was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang, Minister of Public Security Gen. Luong Tam Quang, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung.

It brought together senior officials from the three ministries, along with Vietnamese ambassadors and heads of overseas representative missions who returned home to attend the diplomatic conference.

Participants reviewed global and regional developments and discussed new requirements for Vietnam's defence, security and foreign affairs in line with the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress. They also assessed coordination among the three ministries since they signed a cooperation mechanism in December 2025 and explored measures to further improve its effectiveness.

Presentations at the meeting highlighted the distinct roles of each ministry in advancing the country's comprehensive external relations.

The Ministry of National Defence underscored international defence integration and defence diplomacy as an integral component of the Party's external relations, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy. The Ministry of Public Security emphasised the strengths of public security diplomacy in implementing Vietnam's comprehensive foreign policy at a higher level, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted achievements and future directions for closer coordination in carrying out external affairs.

In their concluding remarks, the three ministers stressed that defence, security and foreign affairs are closely interconnected pillars in the country's revolutionary cause and development.

They noted that closer coordination among the three ministries reflects the Party's viewpoint of combining socio-economic development with defence, security and external relations. They also stressed that for the first time, the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress identifies external affairs and international integration, alongside defence and security, as a "key and regular task" of the entire political system.

Against the backdrop of rapid and profound global changes, the ministers said stronger coordination is essential to support the country's goal of achieving fast and sustainable development while safeguarding national interests and protecting the nation early and from afar.

They acknowledged that cooperation among the three ministries has become more timely, closer and more effective, delivering important results across a wide range of areas.

They called on their ministries' units to continue thoroughly grasping the Party and State's guidelines and the Politburo's Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW, effectively carry out the existing coordination mechanism with clearly defined responsibilities and focal agencies, improve information sharing, step up strategic research and forecasting, enhance coordination in external activities, and expand training programmes to meet the evolving demands of defence, security and foreign affairs in the country's new stage of development./.

VNA

See more

The scientific seminar is held by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics in Hanoi on August 3. (Photo: VNA)

Seminar honours Fidel Castro's legacy, enduring Vietnam–Cuba solidarity

A Vietnamese official said Fidel Castro's revolutionary ideals transcended national borders, making him a steadfast internationalist, an outstanding theorist and practitioner of the international communist and workers' movement, and an enduring symbol of national liberation and socialism.

Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs, speaks at the NA session on August 3. (Photo: VNA)

16th NA’s first extraordinary session stresses efficient resource use, national sovereignty

Presenting the Government’s proposal, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang said the proposed resolution on special mechanisms for handling legal violations related to the State and private sectors and the application of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation aims to institutionalise Party policies and provide a legal basis to protect dynamic and innovative officials who dare to think and act for the common good, without corruption, wastefulness or wrongdoing.

Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan presents the draft Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Customs at the 16th National Assembly's first extraordinary session in Hanoi on August 3. (Photo: VNA)

Lawmakers discuss customs reform linked to digital transformation, risk management

Continuing the agenda of its ongoing first extraordinary session, the 16th National Assembly (NA) on August 3 heard proposals and verification reports on two bills, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Customs, and the Law revising Article 6 and Appendix IV on the list of conditional business lines under the Law on Investment.

A view of the Central Technology Platform No. 2 of the Bach Ho (White Tiger) oil rig under the Vietsovpetro joint venture between Vietnam and Russia (Photo: VNA)

Institutional reform key to unlocking new development model: experts

Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW, adopted at the third plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee, identifies breakthroughs in institutions and reforms as the starting point for renewing Vietnam’s development model, alongside reforms in national governance, organisation and operations to build new development capacity.

Professor Qu Qiang from Minzu University of China, in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Four orientations demonstrate shift in Vietnam’s development thinking: Chinese scholar

The most notable change is Vietnam’s transition from “organisational restructuring” to “improving governance effectiveness.” Previously, reforms focused on streamlining the apparatus and reducing intermediary levels. With organisational reforms largely completed, the more important task is now to ensure the new system operates more effectively, according to Professor Qu Qiang from Minzu University of China.

A view of the opening ceremony of the 16th NA's first extraordinary session (Photo: VNA)

First extraordinary session of 16th National Assembly opens

The first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly (NA) kicked off in Hanoi on August 3, with lawmakers set to consider and decide on a series of items, including 15 draft laws, four draft normative resolutions and a range of major issues concerning national development.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau chairs several meetings to hear reports on the progress of the comprehensive review. (Photo: Ministry of Justice)

Over 43,000 legal normative documents reviewed

As of July 30, ministries, agencies and localities had conducted a preliminary review of more than 43,000 legal normative documents nationwide, identifying provisions that need to be amended, supplemented, replaced or annulled.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man addresses the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Legislation must pave the way for development: NA leader

For the NA, he said, success should not be measured simply by completing the legislative agenda, but by improving the quality of every law and resolution so that each legal instrument effectively addresses institutional obstacles and generates momentum for growth.

A parade through streets in Bac Giang ward, Bac Ninh province helps spread the message of building a safe and civilised traffic culture among the public (Photo: VNA)

Proposal on establishment of centrally-run Bac Ninh city approved

Under Resolution No. 205/NQ-CP dated August 1, 2026, the Government assigned the Ministry of Home Affairs to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to fully incorporate comments from Government members into the submission, the proposal, and the draft National Assembly (NA) resolution on the establishment of the centrally-run city in accordance with regulations.

Congratulations sent to Switzerland on National Day

Congratulations sent to Switzerland on National Day

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on August 1 sent a congratulatory message to President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin on the occasion of the 735th National Day of Switzerland (August 1, 1291 – 2026).

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung in an interview with the press on the sidelines of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference (Photo: VNA)

33rd Diplomatic Conference: Top leader’s broad directions provide fresh impetus for new stage of development

To effectively carry out top leader To Lam's directions, the diplomatic sector’s first and most fundamental step is to further improve awareness and professional capacity across all spheres. Diplomats must gain a deep understanding of the Party's and the State's directions, fully grasp the country's development requirements in the current context, and stay abreast of new demands arising from the rapidly changing international environment.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Vinh Quang (Photo: VNA)

Diplomatic achievements lay groundwork for upgrading Vietnam–Canada ties: diplomat

Among Vietnam's broader diplomatic achievements, relations with Canada stand out as one of the partnerships with the greatest potential for future development. The two countries share many common interests and complementary strengths, particularly in sustainable development, green transition, supply chain security, science-technology, and innovation.