News of the Dien Bien Phu victory of the Vietnamese army on the afternoon of May 7, 1954, was delivered to Geneva. Next morning, on May 8, the Indochina issue was officially placed on the agenda (Photo: VNA Archives)

Associate Professor Duong Van Quang, former Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, believes that the flexible and skillful diplomatic strategies during the Geneva Agreement negotiations laid the foundation for Vietnam's "bamboo diplomacy" strategy during the renewal period.

Associate Professor Duong Van Quang, former Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

He said: "The bamboo's unique characteristic is its strong, firmly rooted base, symbolizing our nation's diplomatic tradition, from the diplomatic arts and stance in the of 1945-46 period, the Geneva Conference, and the Paris Conference. This is the root. The bamboo trunk represents the national interests and our worldview. The trunk must be strong. The flexible top symbolizes the art of diplomacy, adapting to changes. We must decide what to hold firm and what to compromise in international negotiations. Modern international negotiations involve not only politics and military matters but also economics, culture, and society."

Vu Le Thai Hoang, Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies on Diplomacy at the Diplomatic Academy, said in the new context, the Geneva Agreement has motivated Vietnamese diplomacy to continue its pioneering role, collaborating with national defense, security, and the entire political system to ensure a peaceful and stable environment. This enables the mobilization of external resources for national development and enhances the country's position and reputation.

Hoang said: "For the current generation, it is crucial to deeply understand and appreciate the significance, value, and lessons of the Geneva Agreement and to effectively apply them to contemporary Vietnamese diplomacy. We must firmly grasp the core values and principles from these lessons while also creatively and effectively applying them to build a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomacy."