…The Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics is an institution belonging to both the Vietnam Communist Party’s Central Executive Committee and the Government. As a national center for training high-ranking and middle leaders and managers for the entire political system and the state-owned enterprises, as well as the research center for political theory, leadership and management science of Vietnam, the international cooperation has always been regarded as one of the key tasks of the Academy. Consistently executing the open foreign policy of the Vietnamese State and the Communist Party of Vietnam, as stated in the Party’s 12^th National Congress: “Independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development,  diversification and multilateralization of external relations,  proactive and positive international integration, being a friend, a reliable partner and responsible member of the international community”, the Academy has been promoting international cooperation activities both in depth and width, especially maintaining, strengthening and deepening the cooperation relationships with traditional partners and constantly expanding cooperation with new partners to support the process of international integration and development of the country.    

In recent years, the Academy has made important and positive contribution to the development process and international integration of Vietnam through the training and fostering of high-level human resources and public policy research and advice. Achieving those success thanks to the valuable, sincere and efficient cooperation of the Embassies and international organizations in Vietnam. On this occasion, I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Ambassadors and representatives of international organizations for your fruitful cooperation in the training and scientific research of the Academy in the last years, especially in 2016. The activities of international cooperation have obtained encouraging results, making a significant contribution to the development of the Academy.

I fully believe that, in the New Year 2017, looking from various aspects and depending on the conditions of each country and each region, we shall together find effective solutions and proposals, establishing new mechanisms and methods of cooperation suitable with requirements of reality and adapting for the current era, further promoting the cooperation between the Academy and Embassies and international organizations.

We are living in the 21st century - the century of globalization, technology, information, knowledge sharing and international integration. The international cooperation has played an important role in implementing one of the most important tasks of the Academy - that is to train the cadres for the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Government, serving for the national development and international integration, maintaining peace and security, development cooperation and the common prosperity of the region and the world.

With a strategic thinking and vision - thinking globally and acting locally, the Academy has established its relations and cooperation with more than 200 international partners including political parties, non-governmental organizations, universities and institutes in all over the world, the Academy will continue to grow equivalent to its political position and political tasks, and to reinforce its role and identity as the high-ranking Central Party School of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Through international cooperation, the Academy will contribute to the effective implementation of the viewpoints and consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam on foreign affairs and to absorb the values of knowledge, experience and skills in leadership and national governance in the context of dynamic practices and dramatic changes.

In the coming time, the strategic priorities in international cooperation of the Academy is to improve the quality of training high - and middle-ranking leaders and managers of Vietnam, contributing to consult the Party and the Government of Vietnam in building and perfecting a socialist law-ruled state (rule of law), a socialist market economy, the Government of integrity, construction, creativity and development, the state of the people, by the people and for the people; contributing to increasing the knowledge sharing and academic, cultural and mutual exchange and mutual understanding between Vietnam and countries all over the world.

With that spirit, on the occasion of New Year 2017 and the Lunar New Year, The Year of the Rooster, a symbol of strength, vitality and a new day, I would like to wish the Ambassadors, Representatives of international organizations and all of you a new year of good health, prosperity and happiness!

On behalf of the Board of Directorates and all the scholars and staff of the Academy, I would like to propose a toast with all the distinguished guests for a year of successful and efficient cooperation. Wishing for the relationship and cooperation, the friendship, assistance and sharing between the Embassies, international organizations and the Academy extensively growing!

Prof., Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang

President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics