Do Van Tai, another former head of the NA’s Foreign Affairs Committee and former Vietnamese ambassador to Cuba, said that ambassadors sometimes have to consult back home about issues that fall within their competence.

“Lobbying is quite important to diplomatic activities overseas, especially in the US,” he said. “However, our diplomats sometimes do not have a budget to do this.”

The amendments would clarify the legal function, structure, personnel and operation budget for Vietnam’s embassies, general consulates/consulates and representative agencies.

Vu Mao, the former head of the National Assembly (NA)’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said while there’s a growing need for “economic diplomacy,” Vietnamese ambassadors tend to focus on diplomacy and politics rather than economics.

Mao said the ambassadors should work closely with Vietnamese trade counselors present in that country to maximize business opportunities and bridge Vietnamese enterprises with the foreign trade community.

Nguyen Thi Bach Mai, deputy head of HCMC’s legislative deputies’ delegation and member of the NA’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said trade commissions in countries that are important trading partners – such as the US, Japan and the EU – could be placed directly under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, instead of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Addressing the conference, Nguyen Chien Thang, chairman of HCMC’s Handicraft and Wood Industry Association, said the Vietnamese trade missions provide great support for member enterprises to develop business in foreign markets.

“If passed, the amendments would increase our trust in the Vietnamese trade missions overseas,” he said.

Reported by Vinh Bao