Nguyen Co Thach

In this Vietnamese name, the family name is Nguyễn. According to Vietnamese custom, this person should properly be referred to by the given name Thạch.

Nguyễn Cơ Thạch (15 May 1921 - 10 April 1998) was a Vietnamese revolutionary, diplomat, and politician. He was Foreign Minister of Vietnam from February 1980 to July 1991. [1] Thạch was seen as pragmatic and influential (given his representation in the Politburo). [2] His time in office coincided with part of Vietnam’s transition from an ideology-based alignment to the Soviet bloc towards a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, including the primacy of economic over ideological considerations, integration into ASEAN and closer relations with non-socialist countries.[2] However, Mr Thạch’s efforts to normalize relations with the United States were not successful.[1]

Thạch's son Phạm Bình Minh is the current Foreign Minister of Vietnam.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b NYT: Nguyen Co Thach, Hanoi Foreign Minister, 75
  2. ^ a b Palmujoki, Eero (1999): Ideology and Foreign Policy: Vietnam's Marxist-Leninist Doctrine and Global Challenge, 1986-96. Thayer, Carlyle A. & Amer, Ramses (ed.): Vietnamese Foreign Policy in Transition. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore
  3. ^ Vietnamnet: Bảo vệ chủ quyền đất nước: Điểm tựa là dân tộc
Preceded by
Nguyễn Duy Trinh		 Foreign Minister of Vietnam
1980 - 1991		 Succeeded by
Nguyễn Mạnh Cầm