At the plenary session of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference this morning, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung assessed that diplomatic efforts have actively contributed to mobilizing external resources, expanding markets, and promoting investment, science, technology, and innovation. These contributions boost productivity, transform growth models, and serve the nation's rapid, sustainable development.

The Prime Minister outlined three major requirements for the diplomatic sector in the new situation. First, it must significantly innovate thinking and methods, focusing on final results and products. This involves a strong shift from merely paving the way to actively accompanying businesses and localities, ensuring implementation achieves specific outcomes.

The sector needs to shift from attracting resources to transforming all resources. This means linking investment with technology transfer, human resource training, and enhancing the capacity of domestic enterprises.

Diplomacy must also shift from mere participation to actively shaping new rules and standards concerning the environment, labor, data, artificial intelligence, and supply chains, thereby transforming external pressures into new development opportunities.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung speaking at the session on 4/8. *Photo: Giang Huy*

The Prime Minister directed several key tasks for diplomatic efforts serving development in the coming period. These include vigorously attracting external resources linked to technology transfer and innovation, increasing localization rates, and developing new growth models such as international financial centers, the marine economy, and modern capital markets.

The diplomatic sector needs to strengthen science and technology diplomacy. This involves establishing and effectively implementing cooperation frameworks with leading technology partners, supporting Vietnamese businesses in accessing strategic technologies, promoting research and development, forming new production forces, and soon piloting the mechanism of technology ambassadors and special envoys.

The model of technology ambassadors and special envoys has been adopted by several countries and international organizations, such as Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. This initiative aims to strengthen connections with giant technology corporations (Big Tech), maintain links with the world's largest innovation ecosystems, and protect their security and economic interests.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan emphasized that science and technology diplomacy must become a leading tool to enhance endogenous capacity, boost the economy's competitiveness, and contribute to mastering strategic technologies.

Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan speaking at the session on 4/8. *Photo: Giang Huy*

To gradually master strategic technologies, the Minister stated that Vietnam needs to shift from a reactive approach to proactive creation. He also proposed strengthening coordination between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly with the network of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad.

The Minister stressed that science and technology diplomacy should not merely establish cooperative relationships but must be evaluated by concrete results. These include transferred technological capabilities, expanded new markets, and enhanced national scientific and technological self-reliance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung speaking at the session. *Photo: Giang Huy*

Concluding the session, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung requested domestic units and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to continue improving the quality of research, forecasting, and strategic advisory, and to enhance inter-agency coordination.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also strongly innovate its support for localities and businesses. It will promote its pioneering role in market expansion, resource attraction, and fostering science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Ngoc Anh