President Hồ Chí Minh spoke at the 4th Congress of Heroes and Emulation Soldiers held in Hà Nội in December 1966. VNA/VNS File photo

HÀ NỘI – The Canada-Việt Nam Friendship Association (CVFA) on Friday hosted a webinar themed "Hồ Chí Minh and foreign policy" on the occasion of the late leader's 133rd birthday (May 19, 1890 - 2023).

The event brought together dozens of Canadian and Vietnamese experts and scholars who are interested in Việt Nam's foreign policy in the Hồ Chí Minh era.

In his speech at the event, Dr Nguyễn Hùng Sơn, Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), who is also former Minister Counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Ottawa, highlighted President Hồ Chí Minh's foreign policy with three important points.

The policy focused on how to deal with relations with big countries, enlist outside support and use all available tools in foreign policy, he said.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Ottawa, Philip Fernandez, member of the CVFC, said President Hồ Chí Minh's foreign policy was based on the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other states, and recognition of independence, sovereignty and self-determination of nations and peoples.

The flexible and adaptable foreign policy was based on principles for world peace and social progress, he added.

According to Fernandez, Việt Nam today is following the right line and policies that President Hồ Chí Minh left for the nation. He noted that Việt Nam is also playing an important role in contributing to protecting the independence and sovereignty of all countries in the United Nations as well as in ASEAN.

Dr Joe Pateman, from the Faculty of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham, said that since declaring its independence, Việt Nam has continued to creatively apply Hồ Chí Minh's thought to practice and has achieved outstanding achievements in both socialist construction and foreign affairs.

The Communist Party of Việt Nam has built a modern and strong socialist mechanism, bringing prosperity and happiness to Vietnamese people, he stressed, noting that the application of Hồ Chí Minh’s thought in its foreign policy has helped Việt Nam become a country with full sovereignty and close relations with the world community.

Việt Nam's domestic and international achievements are rooted in the immortal legacy of President Hồ Chí Minh, he went on.

Đặng Trung Phước, President of the Canada Vietnam Society, said not only Việt Nam but many other nations in the world, especially those in Africa, also have expressed their gratitude to President Hồ Chí Minh because by following him, they gained their independence.

The webinar was part of activities to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of Việt Nam-Canada diplomatic ties (1973-2023). The two nations have enjoyed a strong friendship and effective cooperation for many years. They marked five years of their comprehensive partnership in 2022.  VNS