On the morning of July 23 at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), the Personnel and Organisation Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), in coordination with the Vietnam Australia Centre (VAC), organised a training course on preparing talking points for high-level leaders, aimed at upgrading advisory capacity and strategic communication skills, as well as preparing human resources for APEC 2027.
Delivering the opening remarks, Mr. Nguyen Manh Dong, Vice President of the DAV, emphasised that the training course serves as a testament to the shared commitment of Vietnam and Australia to strengthening institutional capacity and developing high-quality human resources.
According to Vice President Nguyen Manh Dong, modern diplomacy goes beyond dialogue and cooperation; it is also a process of conveying ideas, shaping perceptions, and strengthening trust among partners. This requires the ability to translate policy priorities into persuasive messages tailored to specific audiences, especially as Vietnam prepares to assume the role of APEC 2027 host.
Vice President Nguyen Manh Dong stated that throughout APEC 2027, Vietnamese leaders, ministers, and senior officials will participate in numerous engagements with leaders of member economies, the business community, academia, and international media. Every speech, policy statement, or remark at these forums represents an opportunity to convey perspectives, advance Vietnam’s priorities, and reinforce its image as a reliable partner and a responsible member regarding regional and global issues.
To effectively leverage these opportunities, according to Mr. Nguyen Manh Dong, strategic communication efforts must be built upon a foundation of thorough policy analysis, meticulous preparation, and consistent messaging. Enhancing communication capacity across the entire diplomatic sector will help Vietnam convey its messages with greater confidence, consistency, and reach.
The Vice President affirmed that the ultimate goal is to elevate Vietnam’s strategic communication capacity, strengthen the country’s voice on the international stage, and ensure that Vietnam’s guidelines, policies, priorities, and development vision are effectively communicated to international friends, thereby promoting cooperation, enhancing mutual understanding, and contributing to regional and global peace, stability, and sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening of the training course, Ms Naomi Cook, Acting Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Vietnam said words in diplomatic activities hold immense influence, helping shape perceptions between nations, build trust, generate consensus on complex issues, and open up new opportunities for cooperation. As a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, Australia stands ready to share experiences and accompany Vietnam in its preparation for APEC 2027.
Highly appreciating the significance of the course, Ms Naomi Cook stated that over the two days of working sessions, participants will engage with experienced experts across diplomacy, public policy, strategic communication, and international event organization. The practical experiences shared will contribute to enhancing the capacity to prepare and execute high-level diplomatic activities.
Affirming that Australia always stands alongside Vietnam, Ms Naomi Cook shared that Australia is proud to support the program through the Vietnam Australia Centre. According to her, this is a tangible testament to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reflecting a shared commitment to human resources development, institutional reinforcement, and the strengthening of the bilateral cooperation foundation in the years ahead.
Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, presents a thematic session. (Photo: Thành Long)
The training course Preparing Talking Points for High-Level Leaders, taking place over two days from July 23 to 24, focuses on equipping participants with knowledge and skills in strategic messaging, drafting speech proposals, and preparing speeches for high-level diplomatic activities.
The program includes presentations, panel discussions, and seminars featuring experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, RMIT University Vietnam, the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, and the APEC Secretariat.
The curriculum centres on analysing contexts and target audiences, translating national priorities into strategic messages, structuring speeches, applying storytelling techniques, using effective language, and preparing communication strategies.
Alongside theoretical sessions, participants will engage in practical exercises, analyse real-world APEC-related case studies, practice preparing talking points and short speeches, collaborate in teamwork, and present and receive feedback from instructors and experts. Through these activities, they will enhance their advisory, speechwriting, and talking point preparation capacities to support leaders in the context of international integration.
Original article on The World and Vietnam, a newspaper of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tiếng Việt