19:09 29/7/24 1. Vietnam foreign folicy 1 Translating Practice 2 Vietnam’s foreign relations
QUAN HỆ ĐỐI NGOẠI  FOREIGN RELATIONS Unit 1 ON VIETNAM’S FOREIGN POLICY (1995) Source: mofa
The foreign policy of the socialist Republic of Vietnam is one of independence, sovereignty, openness, diversification and
multilateralization. Our motto is “Vietnam wishes to be a friend of all nations in the world community, striving for peace,
independence and development. We develop our external relation in keeping with the following principle: respect for each
other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; non-interference in each other internal affairs: settlement of
disputes through negotiations; abstinence from use or the threat of force; and cooperation on the basic of equality and
mutual benefit. We attach great importance to strengthening solidarity and friendship with people of all countries working
for peace, nationa l independence, democracy and social progress. We pay particular attention to boarding friendly and
cooperative relations with neighboring countries and with those in Southeast Asian, Asia and the pacific.
The relations of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and China continue to develop. With regard to certa in
problem left by history, especially those on border and territorial issues, we are for the solution by means of persistent
negotiatio n. We stand for continual consolidation and development of our traditional friendship, fraternal solidarity and
multi-faceted cooperation with Laos, with emphasis given to even higher efficiency in economic cooperation. We work for
the development of friendly, cooperative and good-neighbour relations with Cambodia on the basic of equality, mutual
benefit, and respect for each other’s independence, Sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s
internal affairs. We glad to note that the Vietnam-Cambodia relationships have been developing in that direction, and that
pending problems are under settlement through negotiations.
Over recent years, our relation with member countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have
developed vigorously and rapidly, with a radical shift from confrontation in the past to cooperation at present. Two months
ago, Vietnam became a full member of the ASEAN. That conforms to growing trends toward cooperation for development in
the region and provides us with more favourable conditions to expand our cooperation for peace, development with other
countries in the Asian-Pacific and elsewhere in the world. Also two months ago, full diplomatic relations were established
between Vietnam and the United States of America. We welcome this important development, and are prepared to work
with USA on a new framework of bilateral relationship on the basic of respect for each other’s independence and
sovereignty, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and in compliance with the
universal principles of international laws.
Being an Asian-Pacific country, Vietnam endeavors for the consolidation and strengthening of peace, stability and
cooperation in the region. We are prepared to join APEC when condition is available. We hold that it is necessary to suspend
the proliferation and development of nuclear weapons in Asian-Pacific and the world as a whole, and strike for the
elimination of these an all other kinds of arms of mass destruction. Vietnam has participated and will continue to participate
actively in the struggle of world peoples for nuclear weapons-free world. We support the Korean people’s aspiration for
peaceful national reunification and for the denuclearization of Korean peninsula. We welcome recent development in such
direction and hope that parties concerned would work for a peaceful negotiated settlement of pending issues on the basis
of respect for national sovereignty and international laws, with no pressure nor tension.
With regard to the issues of Paracels and Spratlys, our position is clear and constructive. We have adequate legal and
historical ground to assert Vietnam’s sovereignty over these archipelagos. For the sake of peace and stability in the region,
however, we advocate that the concerned parties should seek for a fundamental and long-lasting solution through
negotiation. Pending such a solution, they should practice self-restraint, maintain the status quo, refrain from any acts that
may further aggravate the situation, and not resort to force or threat of the force. In that spirit, all should observe full
respect for sovereignty and jurisdiction of the coastal countries over their exclusive economic zones and continental
shelves, in strict adherence to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the law of sea.
Vietnam’s relations with European Union (EU) have developed; a Vietnam- EU cooperation agreement has been signed. Our
relations with India, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, have been strengthened, especially in the economic, trade and
investment fields. We continue to work for the development of economic, trade relations with Russia, other countries of the
former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, in a new form and with new mechanisms.
Our relationships with Cuba and other countries in the Latin America, Africa, and the Middle –East has developed
favourably. Now as in the past, we reserve our fraternal solidarity to people of Cuba, and urge and end to the embargo that
has been unjustifiably imposed upon it for many years. We have rejoiced At the victory of people in South Africa under
leaders hip of ANC in the first-ever multi-racial general elections in South Africa, and we wish them new achievements
toward a unite, democratic and socially progressive country. We stand for settlement of the Middle-East problems by
political means on the basic of respect for the right to self-determination of all nations in the region. We welcome the initial
achievements of the Palestinian people under leadership of PLO, and wish them further successes conducive to
materialization of all their fundamental national rights. We set great store by promoting the people-to-people relations of
friendship and cooperation, and here the social and people’s organizations in our respective countries can play an important role.
After new Vietnam had been born half century ago, it was soon subject to successive decades of war of aggression, national
partition, economic blockade and political hostility. Today, as it celebrates its 50th foundation anniversary, its national unity
has been strengthened , its political stability consolidated, its economy initially developed, and its external relations
broadened, with diplomatic relations with almost 160 countries, to these achievements of Vietnam, its friends abroad have
in one or another, contributed valuable parts. And it is for this contribution we wish to express our gratitude here today. /. Translating materials 1 PhuongLB-AJC about:blank 1/1