Nguyễn Cơ Thạch

In this Vietnamese name, the surname is Nguyễn. In accordance with Vietnamese custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Thạch.

Nguyễn Cơ Thạch (15 May 1921 – 10 April 1998; born Phạm Văn Cương) was a Vietnamese revolutionary, diplomat, and politician.

Nguyễn Cơ Thạch
Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam
In office 16 February 1987 – 8 August 1991
Prime Minister	Phạm Văn Đồng Phạm Hùng Đỗ Mười
Preceded by	Nguyễn Duy Trinh
Succeeded by	Nguyễn Mạnh Cầm
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 7 February 1980 – August 1991
Preceded by	Nguyễn Duy Trinh
Succeeded by	Nguyễn Mạnh Cầm
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
In office 24 May 1979 – 7 February 1980
Minister	Nguyễn Duy Trinh
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	(1921-05-15)15 May 1921 Nam Định Province
Died	10 April 1998(1998-04-10) (aged 76) Hanoi, Vietnam
Nationality	Vietnamese
Political party	Communist Party
Children	Phạm Bình Minh

Biography

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]

His son Phạm Bình Minh had occupied the same positions held by Thạch, serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam (2013–2023) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam (2011–2021).^[3]