Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi Dec. 19 (VNA) -- Viet Nam continues its foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, diversification and multilateralisation of international ties along the guideline of Viet Nam being a friend and a reliable partner in the international community. This policy has obtained remarkable achievements.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh on Thursday said at a press briefing that foreign countries and partners have all highly evaluated Viet Nam's achievements, especially its stability and security, and wished to enhance their cooperation with Viet Nam.

The traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and China have been boosted. The two sides have exchanged high level visits, including the Viet Nam visit in February by Party General Secretary and President Jiang Zemin. Exchanges and contacts among leaders at national and local levels have also been enhanced.

Viet Nam's special and comprehensive relationship with Laos continues to develop. The two sides have celebrated the 25th anniversary of their Friendship and Cooperation Treaty and the 40th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic relations.

Ties with Cambodia continue to be consolidated. Bilateral economic cooperation has been boosted with many cooperation projects.

Comprehensive relationship with Cuba has been further promoted and their trust strengthened. Many concrete measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation were adopted during the Cuba visit by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

Viet Nam has actively participated in ASEAN common efforts with effective and practical initiatives, contributing to the consolidation of ASEAN's principles and raising ASEAN's position and role. Bilateral relationship with other ASEAN member countries has been further boosted, especially in trade and economic ties.

Viet Nam's relationship with Asia-Pacific countries has been strengthened. Relationship with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continues to strengthen following the visit by President Tran Duc Luong.

Viet Nam's relationship with Japan has been brought to a new high with visits by Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, Nong Duc Manh, and the fact that the two sides aimed to build a partnership of mutual trust and long term stability in the future.

Viet Nam's relationship with the Republic of Korea and with India have been further boosted.

The strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Russia has been strengthened with visits by Russian Prime Minister M. Kasianov and General Secretary of the CPV Nong Duc Manh; bilateral trade and economic cooperation has been broadened.

The country's traditionnal ties with former East European and CIS countries have been restored and further developed. Its relationship with countries in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America has been boosted, especially in economic and trade ties. Many agreements and memorandums of understanding on cooperation were signed during the visits by the Vietnamese President and Prime Minister to these countries.

Viet Nam's relationship with the U.S continues to improve. The two sides have exchanged several government, parliament and business delegations. Bilateral trade relations have registered important developments.

Viet Nam's relationship with Northwest European countries continues developing, especially through the visit to France by President Tran Duc Luong and the visits to regional countries by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. EU countries have expressed support for further economic, commercial and investment ties with Viet Nam as well as for its joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Regarding the process of regional and international economic integration, Thanh said Viet Nam has made positive contributions to cooperation in ASEAN, namely the implementation of the Ha Noi Plan of Action, East-West Corridor development, Mekong sub-region cooperation and East Asian cooperation. Viet Nam has also actively accelerated the implementation of programmes and projects on cooperation and development in ASEM and APEC, and held working sessions with WTO working group on Viet Nam and bilateral negotiations with several countries for WTO membership, Thanh added.

Viet Nam, she went on, has actively participated in multilateral diplomatic activities in the region and the world. Viet Nam was elected as Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly at its 57th session, and has promoted its role as a member of the UN Committee on Human Rights, a member of the UNESCO Executive Council, the UNDP, the UNFPA and the WHO. It successfully organised the 23rd ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) and fulfilled its term as AIPO president. The country has been selected to host the fifth Asia-Europe Summit in 2004 and the APEC Summit in 2006, she further said.

On the orientation of diplomatic activities in 2003, Thanh said Viet Nam will continue pushing up multilateralisation and diversification of international relations and international economic integration to create a peaceful and stable international environment for development, making full use of external resources and raising Viet Nam's position in the international arena. The country will also continue boosting diplomatic activities in all fields by raising its effectiveness for economic development and accelerating cultural, scienftific-technological and educational exchanges to create a stable framework of friendship and cooperation and build reliable and long-term partnership with other countries. The country will continue the process of regional and international economic integration, actively seek and expand markets, and attract development investment and assistance, Thanh added.