Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Mình speaks at a reception for the diplomatic corps in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Mình hosted a reception for the diplomatic corps in Hà Nội yesterday, calling for continued support from foreign diplomats to help Việt Nam deepen its international relations and implement important tasks in the future.

He said 2017 had been considered one of the most successful years for Vietnamese diplomacy with the highlight being the hosting of APEC Year 2017.

“We have exchanged 53 high-level delegations with friends and partners all over the world. This is a record, exhibiting both the breadth and depth of Việt Nam’s foreign relations,” he said.

He said Việt Nam would continue to pursue a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, and active international integration.

He hoped for support and cooperation from the diplomats and international organisations so that Việt Nam can carry out planned tasks such as its candidature to a non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2012 term and the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020.

As a representative of the capital city, Chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Chung highlighted the achievements that the city attained in the past year, part of which were thanks to the assistance and cooperation of the diplomatic missions, international organisations and foreign enterprises.

He said in this year and beyond, the capital city would continue to transform the economic growth model, create a breakthrough in private investment as well as attract foreign investment.

Venezuelan Ambassador and dean of the diplomatic corps Jorge Rondon Uzcategui El Houcine Fardani praised Việt Nam for weathering natural calamities and the instability of the global economy last year to achieve impressive GDP growth of 6.81 per cent, and a large increase in export and foreign investment.

He hoped that Việt Nam could realise all set targets and sustain a prosperous life for all Vietnamese people. — VNS