Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh speaks at a meeting with other members of the Inter-agency Steering Committee for International Integration in terms of politics-defence-security in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam needs to speed up preparations for taking over the Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure. That was the message from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh.

Chairing a meeting with other members of the Inter-agency Steering Committee for International Integration in terms of politics-defence-security in Hà Nội yesterday, the Deputy PM, who is also head of the committee, stressed the country needs to enhance the implementation of Directive No. 25-CT/TW on promoting and enhancing the role of multilateral diplomacy issued by the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat.

At the event, participants focused on evaluating the world and region’s situations, reviewing 2018 performance and proposing measures and tasks for the next 12 months.

The Deputy PM spoke of crucial achievements in international integration politics, defence and security last year, which contributed to maintaining a peaceful and sustainable environment for national development.

Việt Nam has established strategic and comprehensive partnerships and promoted relations with important partners. Diplomatic and defence-security activities have also been launched.

The Party and parliamentary diplomatic relations have been strengthened, making contributions to consolidating the nation’s political relationship with other countries, integrating new contents that bring benefits for the country in the bilateral relationships as well as agendas at multilateral forums such as water security, cybersecurity and climate change.

Minh asked ministries and agencies to look at the global picture and actively propose measures to enhance international integration to protect and boost national interests.     

He suggested promotion of the country’s ties with other partners and carry out diplomatic activities of Party and State leaders in 2019.

The Inter-agency Steering Committee for International Integration in terms of politics-defence-security is one of three steering committees under the National Steering Committee on International Integration, which is headed by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. — VNS