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Vietnam’s diplomacy has always been a close-knit part of the struggle to win and maintain national independence and construction. The diplomatic struggle is tightly connected with other forms and fields of struggle and has contributed a lot to the victories in wars and successes in national construction in peaceful times. In the Vietnamese feudal dynasties, diplomacy played an important role and was paid great attention to by perspicacious kings. Diplomacy helped changing danger into safety, turning weakness into strength, war into peace or racing against time to strengthen the forces to reach final victories. Diplomacy tried to worsen contradictions to split the enemies until they at last accepted to withdraw and to be in friendly terms. Before wars broke out, Vietnam often showed its modesty, sought for a peaceful solution and used preventive diplomacy. It only unyieldingly fought when the war was inevitable. But after having achieved victories, Vietnam always supplied the defeated troops with food and means of transport to help them retreat, it even gave presents and thoughtfully saw the defeated generals off. And despite the great victories, Vietnam never forgot to actively renew the good relations and brought tribute in persons if necessary. The ambassadors to China in the past were chosen carefully by the Kings among the best men of the country that's why many first-level doctorates were sent there as the Kings’ envoys. Most of them brought fame to Vietnam and were respected by other countries for their wisdom. Nguyen Truc, Phung Khac Khoan were named Two-nation First-level doctorates; many other envoys of the Kings also successfully overcame tense measure wits such as Giang Van Minh, Ly Van Phuc, Mac Dinh Chi . . . History has recorded significant diplomatic successes in the past such as Ngo Thi Nham of the Quang Trung dynasty who "used the pen instead of the troops", used arguments to smash the intention of revenge of the Chinese Qing dynasty. In modern history, Vietnam’s diplomacy has become even more abundant and diversified to serve the wars of resistance to protect the national independence and unification, the construction and development of the country, the integration of Vietnam into the region and the world, for the sake of global peace and development. This has been proved through difficult and wise negotiations in the first years after the August Revolution in 1945 to reduce enemies, focus on the major invading enemy, race against time to consolidate the young administration. And not until it was impossible to maintain peace did the Vietnamese government mobilise the whole-people and all-sided war of resistance against the French colonial invasion. After the Dien Bien Phu victory, Vietnam signed the Geneva Agreements in 1954 to restore peace, liberate the North of Vietnam, push back any plot to lengthen and expand the war by another power, in conformity with the specific balance of power and the trend of development of the world at that time. . . In the struggle against US aggression, Vietnam carried out a "marathon negotiation" which lasted for 5 years (1968-1973), negotiated while fighting, combined diplomatic activities with the battles on the battle field, and at the same time made best use of the increasingly wide international support and help until the signing of Paris Agreement in 1973, forcing the US Airforce to stop bombing the North and its troops to withdraw from the South of Vietnam, letting Vietnam deal with its internal affairs on its own, leading to the great victory in Spring 1975 which totally liberated and unified the country. President Ho Chi Minh was the outstanding diplomat of Vietnam in modern history. He guided Vietnam through all difficulties to reach the final victory. In peaceful time, Vietnam’s diplomacy has done everything in order to have a stable and advantageous environment to reconstruct the country. Together with the renovation of the country, Vietnam’s diplomacy also renovates itself. The Vietnam Communist Party declares: "Vietnam wants to be friends with all countries in the international community, striving for peace, independence and development". Today, Vietnam has diplomatic relations with 164 countries. In its foreign policy, Vietnam gives priority to enhancing the relations with neighbouring countries namely Laos, Cambodia and China; countries in South East Asia, in the Asia-Pacific region and great nations. At the same time, Vietnam attaches great importance to the relations with traditional friends, new partners and international organizations. Vietnam joined the Bali Convention in 1992 and became the official member of the ASEAN in July 1995. Since then, Vietnam has been acting as an active member of AFTA and ASEM. Since 1995, Vietnam has normalised diplomatic relations with the US and signed the Framework Agreement on co-operation with the EU. Vietnam joined the UN in 1977, became member of the Non-aligned Movement in the 70s. Vietnam has also become member of the Pacific Economic Co-operation Council (PECC) and started to take part in the activities of the Pacific Board of Economic Council (PBEC). At present, Vietnam has become member of APEC and is trying its best to be admitted into the WTO, after having trade and co-operation relations with more than 100 countries and territories, and trade agreements with nearly 60 countries and territories. Vietnam’s prestige and international responsibility have been increased significantly. In 1997, Vietnam was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the UN General Assembly. Vietnam was also appointed to host the 7th Summit of the Francophonie (Nov. 1997) and the ASEAN Summit in 1998. In recent years, Vietnam has successfully hosted the following major events: ASEM V Summit (10/2004), APEC 9 Summit (11/2006). In January 2007, VIetnam has been admitted as an official member of the World Trade Organisation.
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