One of major solutions
for the synchronous, creative and effective implementation of foreign affairs
underlined by the 13th Party Congress was “Building a comprehensive and modern
diplomacy consisting of three pillars - that of the Party, the state, and
people-to-people diplomacy”. This is both an inheritance of the previous
congresses and a new development for awareness of the connotations, roles, and
ways of coordinating and implementing external affairs (1). To achieve success,
it is essential to clarify perceptions of Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and
people - to - people diplomacy, as well as the relationship between these three
pillars in the new situation.
American people took to the streets to protest against the war in Vietnam
Practice and process of
thinking change of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) on Party diplomacy,
state diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy
The reality of the
Vietnamese revolution has demonstrated that different diplomatic channels have
been promoted effectively, suitable for each specific period of the country.
Even before the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (in 1945), the CPV
and President Ho Chi Minh have enhanced the role of Party diplomacy and
people-to-people diplomacy to get the highest goal of national liberation.
Regarding Party diplomacy, after the CPV was established (1930), leader Nguyen
Ai Quoc and senior leaders of the Party have directly led the Party diplomacy.
President Ho Chi Minh was the first one who paved the way and made
people-to-people diplomacy an important foreign policy channel in Vietnam's
revolutionary history even before Vietnam had an official communication
channel. This is an important basis for the CPV to conduct a friendly foreign
policy, especially in mobilizing public opinion to gain the understanding and
support of the international community about Vietnam’s struggle for
independence.
During the 1945-1975
period, after the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, three pillars of
Party, state, and people-to-people diplomacy made significant strides,
contributing remarkably to national liberation. During this period, Party
diplomacy continued to be placed a strong emphasis and obtained outstanding
achievements, won widespread support from the international community for the
just struggle of the Vietnamese people, contributed to the Vietnamese people's
victorious struggle, and the Southern Liberation for National Reunification.
State diplomacy, although
newly born, has strongly promoted its role in gaining world recognition through
the establishment of official diplomatic ties with several countries and
joining in regional institutions and forums.
People-to-people
diplomacy continued to be attached great importance. During the resistance war
against the US, it has made significant breakthroughs with various creative
forms, ranging from sending delegations to visit brother countries to attend
international conferences, bringing the voice of the Southern people who are
fighting against enemies to international press agencies...; thus forming an
unprecedented international front to support the Vietnamese people.
From 1975 up to now, the
three pillars of Party, state, and people-to-people diplomacy have made new
progress conducive to the national construction and defense. Promoting these
achievements, the Party diplomacy has proactively adjusted and adapted to the
new situation and tasks, specifically: 1- It has actively maintained and
expanded the relationship between the CPV and political parties and global
progressive movements in the world; 2- It has made crucial contributions in
consulting, orienting diplomatic strategy amid complicated development of
communist movements, international workers and the world situation; 3- It has
laid a major political foundation for stabilizing, expanding and tightening
Vietnam's bilateral relations with other countries, and also handling numerous
problems arising in bilateral relations; 4- It has contributed to maintaining
peace, national independence, democracy and social progress in the world,
enhancing the prestige and international stature of the CPV. In particular, the
CPV has made breakthroughs in gaining in-depth relationships between parties.
Accordingly, it not only developed relations with communist, workers or leftist
parties, and progressive movements, but also made a breakthrough in relations
with the major ruling, political, and opposition parties of key partners of
Vietnam, thereby creating a solid political basis for bilateral relations(2).
Along with the process of
Doi Moi and international integration, the role of state diplomacy has been
played to the fullest extent(3). In the early years of Doi Moi, it contributed
to lifting the embargo, helping Vietnam overcome the crisis by consecutively
normalizing diplomatic ties with major countries, strengthening relations with
neighboring and regional countries as well as important partners, joining the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN, 1995). During the process of
globalization, diplomacy has actively expanded the network of partners through
signing different bilateral trade agreements, joining a series of important
multilateral mechanisms, hosting high-level meetings, assuming twice the role
of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and so forth. It can be
said that diplomacy has actively and effectively contributed to maintaining a peaceful
and stable environment, safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, unity,
and territorial integrity, mobilizing external resources for national
development, and improving the country's international prestige and position.
In the new stage of development
with new requirements, people-to-people diplomacy continued to be implemented
in various and flexible forms to bring into play the country's specific
strengths in mobilizing the international community, expanding, diversifying,
and multilateralizing relations with different partners around the world. In
particular, people-to-people diplomacy has established a special bond of
friendship between people, opening up unofficial channels of dialogue and
cooperation, thus solving multiple problems towards normalizing relations with
important partners. Moreover, it is also a tool to strengthen the friendly
relations with traditional partners in the new circumstance. At the same time,
it has expanded cooperation with new partners to mobilize external resources
for national growth and the protection of national interests in the new
conditions.
In the documents of
different Party Congresses, the policy of synchronously deploying the three
pillars of diplomacy was first mentioned at different levels by the 4th
Congress and then continued to be developed and completed over Congresses. The 4th Congress (1976) laid the foundation for
the perception of diplomatic channels through the identification of actors. For
the first time, it has determined the tasks of each targeted group, including
the group of “working class and toiling people of capitalist countries”; that
of “fraternal socialist countries”, “regional countries”, “all other countries”
and that of “Laos and Cambodian nations”, “Southeast Asian nations”, “nations
of Asia, Africa, and Latin America”(4). This can be considered as a preliminary
step to develop policies on Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and
people-to-people diplomacy in the next period.
The 6th Congress (1986)
first clarified the subject of each group in diplomacy, including: “Our Party”,
“Our State”, “Vietnamese People”. Besides, preliminary coordination has been
noticed when it mentioned simultaneously two or all three subjects in some
undertakings and policies, such as: “Our Party, Government and people”; “Our
Party and State” “Vietnamese Government and people”(5).
The 8th National Congress
(1996) showed new progress when clearly differencing the tasks of each pillar.
Furthermore, for the first time, it clarified what type of partnership to
develop with a specific group of Party: “Developing relations with communist
and workers' parties, revolutionary forces for national independence and
progress; establishing and expanding relations with ruling parties and other
parties”. This was also the first time that the expression “people-to-people
diplomacy” has been mentioned with a specific connotation: “Expanding people-to-people
diplomacy, reinforcing relationship with non-governmental organizations,
reaching the consensus and support provided by the international community,
promoting the peace, cooperation, and development”(6).
The 9th Congress (2001)
continued to clarify the request: “Strongly coordinating the State diplomacy,
the Party diplomacy and the people-people diplomacy. Perfecting management
mechanism of foreign affairs, forming a synergy to successfully carry out diplomatic
missions, making the world better understand the country, its people, and the
renovation work of Vietnam, orientations, and policies of our Party and State,
gaining in-depth international cooperation and support”(7).
At the 10th Congress
(2006), the Party added a principle and close coordination between these three
pillars: “Ensuring the Party’s unified leadership and the centralized State
management for external affairs. Establishing close coordination between Party
diplomacy, state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy; between political
and economic diplomacy; diplomacy in terms of national defense and security,
foreign and domestic information(8).
At the 13th Congress (in
2021), for the first time the Party identified three primary components of
Vietnam's comprehensive diplomacy: “Building a comprehensive and modern
diplomacy with three pillars: Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and
people-to-people diplomacy”(9). This is a significant development when Party
diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy are valued as three
main components in comprehensive diplomacy (instead of existing in parallel
with other diplomatic sectors). These pillars are simultaneously placed in
inclusive diplomacy. On one hand, they are relatively independent of each
other, but on the other hand, they are mutually supportive for the common goal
of national interest.
Noticeably, through
different Congresses, the Party thinking on the three pillars of external
relations has been continuously developed and perfected to suit the policy of
synchronous deployment and close coordination of Party diplomacy, state
diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy. This is suitable to objective laws,
the international situation as well as the specific conditions of Vietnam through
each period.
First of all, thanks to
the characteristics of Vietnam's political regime which are “the CPV is the
ruling Party, leading the State and society”(10), the Party diplomacy can
embrace opportunities to promote its role and contribute to the general foreign
affairs of the country. It places an emphasis on establishing a relationship
with political parties in the world, in which many political-Party
relationships play a strategic role in orienting bilateral relations. It also
participates in formulating undertakings, policies of the Party. This makes
Party diplomacy an important pillar of Vietnam's comprehensive foreign policy.
State diplomacy is
associated with the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the struggle
for national independence as well as the process of inclusive international
integration during the renovation. Although it is evident that state diplomacy
aims to “put into relations to other states”(11), it depends significantly on
the level of integration of the country into international relations.
Accordingly, if the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam State is
considered a necessary condition for the emergence of state diplomacy, the
process of inclusive international integration is a sufficient condition for state
diplomacy to promote its role. This is the main official communication channel
in international relationships.
In addition, stemming
from the awareness and need to mobilize the strength and support of the world's
people in the past struggle for national liberation as well as in today's
national construction and defense, people-to-people diplomacy has promoted its
role effectively. This is both a historical and contemporary feature.
People-to-people diplomacy, on the one hand, is the inheritance of the idea of
“he people as root”, the spirit of solidarity based on the people's strength
and the Vietnamese traditional diplomacy of justice, peace, harmony, and
humanity, on the other hand, it comes from practical experiences learned from the anti-colonial liberation movements in
which the people constitute a major force in national liberation revolutions
for peace, friendship, solidarity, cooperation and development in the world. As
President Ho Chi Minh once stated: “all proletarians are brothers”, the people-to-people
relationship has always been the root of relationship between countries. It is
a strong and lasting relationship despite the government's attitude change(12).
Moreover, the close
coordination between Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people
diplomacy demonstrates an adaptation to the trend of diversifying
relationships. The emergence and the enhanced role of new actors besides state
actors, such as socio-political organizations, political parties, etc, make
evident the expansion of international communication channels by diverse tools,
methods, specific targeted public and priorities. At the same time, due to the
close relationship between actors, as well as their strong voice on handling
international issues, it is essential to coordinate closely and comprehensively
external activities. In other words, it is the movement of international
relations and the pursuit of common goals of national interests that promote
strongly the strength of foreign communication tools.
Awareness of the
relationship between Party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people-to-peole
diplomacy in the new situation
Amid rapid, complicated,
and unpredictable changes in the international situation with potential
opportunities and challenges for the cause of national construction and
defense, the 13th Party Congress has outlined: “It is required to enhance the
pioneering role of diplomacy in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable
environment, mobilizing external resources for national development”(13), and
promoting the holistic power of comprehensive diplomacy with three pillars
consisting of Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy.
Each pillar has its role
and mission to mobilize different forces, use all forms/tools, operate in
different fields/regions and target different public so as to promote the
overall power and successfully achieve goals. The Party diplomacy assumes the
following tasks: 1- Formulating undertakings, guidelines, and decisions on
major diplomatic issues; 2- Implementing external activities to develop a
relationship with political parties and strengthen the political foundation for
Vietnam's relationship with other countries; building framework, orienting
principles for foreign policy, handling issues arising in the relationship
between Vietnam and important partners; 3- Harmonizing the management of
foreign activities within the entire political system, leading the Party
diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy from the central to the grassroots
level.
As an official diplomatic
channel between the State of Vietnam and other countries, State diplomacy has
promoted its role in expanding and deepening relationships with countries,
creating important legal frameworks to strengthen international cooperation in
all fields, raising Vietnam's voice at regional and international mechanisms
and forums, deeply joining the world.
People-to-people
diplomacy plays a crucial role in building a friendly society. It is
“public-minded” diplomacy that gains people's love and trust through justice,
morality, and humanity. In conformity with the principles of “proactivity,
flexibility, creativity, efficiency” and with a wide network of partners and a
variety of cooperation modalities, people-to-people diplomacy can cover every
aspect of social life and well deal with several issues in specific
circumstances when Party and State diplomacy is not able to handle smoothly
some matters.
The three pillars of
diplomacy need close coordination and mutual support on the following
principles:
Firstly, planning and
implementing three pillars of diplomacy under the unified leadership of the
Party for the common goal of national interests. Strictly following the Party
leadership from policy making to implementation will create unified awareness
on key issues, ensure consistency of common goals to pursuit and reasonable and
affordable work assignment, thus promoting the synergy of the whole political
system.
Secondly, coordinating
closely, synchronously, and effectively among three pillars, ensuring coherence
and compliance with the common goals and adaptability to specific period and
area. Strictly controlling the execution of the Politburo's Regulation on the
unified management of foreign affairs; periodically making preliminary and
final reviews in order to adapt regulations to reality; accelerating the
promulgation of Regulations on the unified management of foreign affairs over
local Party Committees, developing a coherent system of regulations and
mechanism for coherent coordination of external affairs.
Thirdly, promoting the
role, characteristics, and strengths of each pillar in terms of forces, space,
tools as well as methods. Special attention should be paid to the strength of
traditional close and faithful relations of the Party diplomacy as well as the
dynamism, effectiveness, and efficiency of state diplomacy and the
inspirational appeals based on the justice of people-to-people diplomacy.
Fourthly, having
innovative and creative thinking in conducting foreign diplomacy amidst rapid
and complicated changes of the international situation. Forces, partners,
contents, and modes of operation of each pillar need to be continuously adapted
to suit changing circumstances of the world, region, and country; thoroughly
grasping the motto “firm in objectives, flexible in strategies and tactics”,
acting by each specific situation, and partner while ensuring the highest
interests of the nation.
In the coming period, the
successful implementation of foreign policy guidelines and policies of the 13th
Party Congress requires Party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people-to-people
diplomacy to emphasize the following measures:
Firstly, strengthen
coordination among three pillars, especially between Party diplomacy and state
diplomacy in consulting strategy, assessing and identifying problems related to
national security and development to promptly make appropriate policies and
measures; providing strategic forecasting on the world situation, major trends,
important partners, international issues... that affect Vietnam's interests;
proposing solutions to handle strategic issues. Party diplomacy and state
diplomacy play a key role in consulting strategic issues. In addition,
people-to-people diplomacy is also an important, multi-dimensional, objective,
and useful information channel to forecasting and taking appropriate measures.
Secondly, actively
coordinate in the implementation of foreign policy to optimize the national
interests. The Party diplomacy can well promote its strategic role in the
relationship with countries that have similar political regimes and have built
close and long-term relationships with our Party; Besides, strengthen the
relationship with political parties that play a crucial role in important
partner countries and traditional friends to create a favorable political
foundation for bilateral relations.
State diplomacy as an
actor widely recognized by the international community, with a strong contingent
of officials working locally and globally will develop bilateral relations with
countries with which Vietnam has established diplomatic ties as well as with
international and regional organizations, forums, and mechanisms to which
Vietnam is a member.
By its particular
strength in promoting friendly and cooperative people-to-people relations, its
ability to approach partners, and its flexibility in deploying suitable methods
to cooperate or combat in a specific situation, people-to-people diplomacy can
establish and implement direct and effective communication channels with a
variety of activities in specific fields (such as friendship and solidarity,
economic cooperation, cultural exchange, science-education, sports...), thereby
enhancing mutual trust and understanding among peoples of different countries,
creating a solid social foundation, and deepening Vietnam's external relations
with other countries.
In short, the 13th Party
Congress affirmed that comprehensive diplomacy consists of three main pillars
of Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy under the
Party’s unified leadership. This is the inheritance and promotion of the
tradition and valuable lessons of Vietnam's foreign policy during the
revolutionary years. The autonomy of each pillar and the mutual support of the
three pillars create a holistic power of Vietnam's comprehensive diplomacy in
the current period.
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(1) Party diplomacy,
state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy are named differently by the
Party and State in each specific context. In this article, they are called
“pillars” in conformity with the 13th Party Congress.
(2) To date, the CPV has
established relationships at a different level with 245 political parties in
111 countries; various activities have been conducted to develop the
relationship between Parties and states, handle international and regional
issues and problems related to national security and development.
(3) Pham Binh Minh: “For
the past 35 years, the diplomacy has always accompanied the nation, served the
Fatherland and the people”, VTV online, http://vtv.vn accessed on 24th. 5-2021
(4) See: Complete Party
Document, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2004, vol. 37, pp. 617 –
619
(5) See: Complete Party
Document, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006, vol. 47, pp. 432 -
443
(6) Documents of the 8th
Party Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1991, p. 42
(7) Document of the 9th
National Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2001, pp. 122 -
123
(8) Documents of the 10th
National Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006, p. 115
(9) Document of the 13th
National Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, vol. I, p.
138
(10) Document of the 11th
National Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, p. 88
(11) See: Article 1, 1933
Convention on the Rights and Duties of States,
https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/LON/Volume%20165/v165.pdf,
accessed dated March 29, 2021
(12) Vietnam Union of
Friendship Organizations: “President Ho Chi Minh's thought on people-to-people
diplomacy”, http://vufo.org.vn, accessed March 26, 2021
(13) Documents of the
13th National Congress, ibid, vol. I, p. 138
This article was
published in the Communist Review No. 971 (August 2021)