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

Biography

He was Foreign Minister of Vietnam from February 1980 to July 1991. Thạch was seen as pragmatic and influential (given his representation in the Politburo). 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. However, Mr Thạch’s efforts to normalize relations with the United States were not successful. 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).