2017 – one of most successful years of diplomatic sector, official says 2017 is regarded as one of the most successful years of diplomatic sector, according to Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh.   Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh In his recent article, Deputy PM, FM Minh wrote diplomatic work was deployed in an active, proactive and drastic manner in both bilateral and multilateral aspects, contributing to the country’s overall socioeconomic achievements. Most prominently, Vietnam excellently hosted the APEC Year, especially the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in the central city of Da Nang, creating positive and multidimensional effects and giving prominence to Vietnam as the host of the such global-level event. For the first time in decade, all APEC economic leaders attended the Leaders’ Meeting while a record number of delegates and reporters flew to Vietnam for various meetings during the APEC Year. Vietnam created good impressions on international friends from organization work to security guaranteeing. The APEC Year was a vivid example of that fact that multilateral diplomacy has been heightened and shifted to proactively contribute to building and shaping common rules of the game, thereby helping to protect and accelerate the country’s strategic interests in terms of security and development while demonstrating the responsibility spirit of Vietnam in the international community. The success of the APEC year has generated new confidence, new power, and new momentum for the country’s international integration process and promoted the national pride, self-reliant spirit and desire of Vietnamese people and business community to better themselves. Vietnam made great efforts in fostering and deepening cooperation with neighboring countries, major partners and traditional friends. The Vietnamese leaders conducted 18 foreign visits, attended eight multilateral conferences, and welcomed 36 turns of foreign leaders to Vietnam. Especially, during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, Vietnam welcomed State visits by Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump; official visits by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau while conducted over 50 bilateral contacts and meetings with leaders of APEC economies. In economic front, Vietnam also continued focusing on carrying out the Resolution No. 06 of the 12th Party Central Committee on effective implementation of the international economic integration in the context of joining new-generation free trade agreements. Vietnam worked with the relevant countries to forge the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ahead. The trade deal is now renamed as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Vietnam is also an active member in the talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and accelerating official signing of a free trade agreement with the European Union (EVFTA). Efforts in international economic integration have brought about encouraging outcomes. Export values reached all time high of US$425 billion. The number of foreign foreign arrivals increased by 30% to 13 million. During the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, Vietnam signed agreements worth up to US$20 billion. At present, as many as 69 countries have recognized Vietnam’s market economy status. Regarding major orientations for 2018, Vietnam will continue promoting the success of the APEC Year 2017 and further deepening external relations in a more effective and sustainable manner. Vietnam will actively prepare for assuming the ASEAN Chair in 2020, continue its bid to win a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the tenure 2020 – 2021, and resolutely and consistently protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security. VGP