Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested Viet Nam take advantage of multilateral cooperative mechanisms, restructure State-owned enterprises, attract foreign investment and boost public-private partnership at a seminar in Ha Noi on March 4.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair

Themed “Geo-political and Economic Outlook for the World and Asia in 2015 and Policy Implications for Viet Nam”, the event was co-organised by Tony Blair Associates and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chaired by the former PM and Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

During the seminar, Blair and other delegates discussed future prospects and challenges facing Vietnam and regional countries in the shifting world context. They also made several policy recommendations for the country.

The role of foreign affairs has changed, Blair said, adding that diplomacy should take regional and international trends into account, have a strategic vision, link economics and politics, and value the role of integration and multilateral diplomacy.

He also answered questions from delegates on multilateral cooperation mechanisms like the World Trade Organisation, free trade agreements, and the Viet Nam-UK strategic partnership.