The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dec 30 held a press conference to take a look back at its activities in 2008 and map out the action plan for the coming year of 2009. On the occasion, Minster Pham Gia Khiem announced the list of top ten outstanding diplomatic events in 2008 as following:
1. Organizing Successfully a Series of High-Ranking Visits
Visits by senior leaders of the Vietnamese Party, State, and Government to the U.S., Russia, China, and lots of nations in the EU, Middle East have significantly contributed to reinforce and deepen further the bilateral relations between Vietnam and nations worldwide.
2. Basically Completing the Work of Demarcation and Landmark Planting
Vietnam and China has basically completed the work of demarcation along their land border line after seven-year negotiations with planting of the 1116 landmark at the Huu Nghi (Friendship) international border gate in Lang Son province.
3. Fulfilling Role as July Presidency of UNSC
Vietnam officially took the role as the non-permanent member of UNSC on Jan. 1 2008. During its initial year of non-permanent member of UNSC, especially July's chairing the council, Vietnam has attended the council’s 259 official meetings, 417 ambassador-level meetings, 158 consultations. The country also fulfilled its role in offering suggestions to the UNSC documents, drafting the UNSC annual reports, voted for the UNSC resolutions with its full responsibility.
4. Becoming One of First Five Approvers of ASEAN Charter
Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet approved the ASEAN Charter on December 6, marking its active participation in the bloc’s development.
5. Luring a High Recode of FDI
The Vietnamese diplomacy’s fruitful achievements have helped the country to attract US$64 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), a sharp on year increase of 199.9 per cent.
6. Signing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan
Vietnam and Japan signed on December 25 an economic partnership agreement (EPA) effective from early 2009, under which the two countries agree to exempt tax for 92 per cent of trade in the next decade. Under the freshly inked pact, Japan will cut tariffs on 95 per cent of Vietnamese exports and Vietnam will slash duties on 88 per cent of Japanese goods.
7. Hosting Two Important Events of ACMECS and CLMV
Vietnam's successful hosting of the 4th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit and the 3rd Ayayewady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit in November in Hanoi proved Vietnam's strong will to further strengthen the regional cooperation in seven areas including trade and investment facilitation, agriculture, industry and energy cooperation, transport linkages, tourism cooperation, human resources development and public health.
8. Issuing Amended Nationality Law
The Law on Nationality of Vietnam (Revised) was passed by the National Assembly on November 13, ensuring the principle of only one nationality for Vietnamese citizens but allowing more flexible application to some exceptions to retain their foreign nationality.
9. Preparing for the Year of Cultural Diplomacy 2009
Over the past year, the foreign affairs sector has promoted a series of abroad Cultural Weeks and Vietnamese Days in Russia, Holland, Japan, Cambodia, Spain as a preparation for the year of Cultural Diplomacy 2009.
10. Successfully Organizing Global Women Summit and UN Day of Vesak 2008
The successful organization of Global Women Summit in June and United Nations Day of Vesak in May this year has proved the Vietnamese government’s commitment on human right protection. (www.chinhphu.vn, New Hanoi)
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