Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested Vietnam take advantage ofmultilateral cooperative mechanisms, restructure State-ownedenterprises, attract foreign investment and boost public-privatepartnership at a seminar in Hanoi on March 4.

Themed “Geo-political and Economic Outlook for the World and Asia in2015 and Policy Implications for Vietnam”, the event was co-organised byTony Blair Associates and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chairedby the former PM and Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

During the seminar, Blair and other delegates discussed futureprospects and challenges facing Vietnam and regional countries in theshifting world context. They also made several policy recommendationsfor the country.

The role of foreign affairs haschanged, Blair said, adding that diplomacy should take regional andinternational trends into account, have a strategic vision, linkeconomics and politics, and value the role of integration andmultilateral diplomacy.

He also answeredquestions from delegates on multilateral cooperation mechanisms like theWorld Trade Organisation, free trade agreements, and the Vietnam-UKstrategic partnership.

Earlier, the formerBritish PM met with Deputy Minister Son to discuss measures to enhancecooperation between Tony Blair Associates and the ministry, especiallyin policy study and consultancy as well as improving economic andmultilateral diplomacy capacity through training officers, supportingpartnership connections, and organising activities to promote Vietnamduring high-level visits.-VNA