2020 was an eventful year for Vietnam’s defence external affairs sector as the country successfully organised the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and the 7th ADMM Plus. In the context of Vietnam being ASEAN Chair in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, its successes are historic.
Images of Vietnam’s flag flying at the Army Games 2020, UN peacekeeping operations, and ASEAN meetings over the years prove the significant role of defence diplomacy in improving the prestige and position of the army and the country in the international arena.
The ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 has contributed to effectively implementing the Party’s foreign policy, raising Vietnam’s role and position and helping the country create a firm stance in ASEAN and the region.
The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a long shadow and created uncertainty over the global economy. The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), however, offers a beacon of hope, as it marks a victory for multilateralism and free trade regionally and globally.
Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, affirmed that all preparations have been completed and the staff of the Level-2 Field Hospital No 3 are fully capable of replacing Hospital No.2.
Vietnam’s diplomatic sector overcame numerous challenges throughout 2020 to create, grasp and optimise new cooperation opportunities, thus contributing to the country’s progress towards development, stated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
Vietnam was a bright spot in 2020 for its success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting people’s health and maintaining stable economic development in the context of the world struggling to cope with the crisis.
Experts have been optimistic about Vietnam’s economic growth in 2021 based on the latest situation, as well as the sound decisions and policies adopted by the Party and Government.
Foreign media view 2020 as a truly special year for Vietnam as the country has not only performed the dual role of ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) but also done a good job of concurrently containing COVID-19 and sustaining economic growth.
Though 2020 is a challenging year for Vietnam with the rise of COVID-19, the 14th National Assembly (NA) has taken innovative approaches and managed to complete an enormous workload to fulfill all its three missions in lawmaking, supervision and major decision-making.
Multinationals are looking to set up their bases in Vietnam despite various challenges that the country poses as a manufacturing destination, according to the Financial Times in the UK.
Foreign investors had poured more than 28.5 billion USD into the Vietnamese market as of December 20, equivalent to 75 percent of the amount in the same period last year.
The Sputnik news agency of Russia recently published an article that reviewed commentaries on Vietnam posted by Russian and other countries’ press outlets, reflecting Vietnam’s COVID-19 combat and achievements in different areas, especially diplomacy and economy.
The Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations convened a meeting in Hanoi on December 29 to review its performance over the course of 2020 and define tasks for 2021.
Vietnam’s economy is expected to move to the 19th position in the rankings of the World Economic League Table in 2035, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).
Vietnam is considered one of the 10 nations with the highest gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the world in 2020 and one of the 16 most successful emerging economies, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong has said.
With a thriving economy, stable political system, and a rich culture, Vietnam has been a secure home for not only Vietnamese but also many international friends.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Theoretical Council has completed a pile of work in 2020, heard a meeting in Hanoi on December 25.
Forbes Vietnam has recently named national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines among its list of top 50 leading Vietnamese brands.
Defence diplomacy is not only an external task of the Ministry of National Defence or the army but also associated with national independence, sovereignty, and interests of Vietnam, as well as security and peace in the region and the world.