Doi Moi process raises Vietnam’s int’l profile

The Doi Moi (Renewal) process, which was initiated by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in 1986, has brought about miraculous achievements for Vietnam, helping elevate the country’s status in the international arena.
This view is shared by many foreign experts and scholars who have been working in or studying Vietnam.
Prof. Gu Yuan Yang, former director of the World Economics and Politics Institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has followed with keen interest changes in Vietnam since the country began the Doi Moi process.
He says Vietnam could not have made such achievements without Doi Moi and the policy of international economic integration under the clear-sighted leadership of the CPV. In 10 years, he says, Vietnam went from being a food importer to ensuring its own food security and exporting part of its rice production, and is now the second biggest rice exporter in the world.
In the late 1990s, Vietnam also achieved a relatively high economic growth rate of 7 percent, ranking second after China in Asia. Despite the global economic recession in 2009, the country still secured a 5.32 percent GDP growth.
“These achievements have been attributed to the able leadership of the CPV, all-out efforts by the Vietnamese people, and heart-felt support from progressive people around the world,” says Mr Gu. “In addition, the CPV and the people have always held high the banners of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s Thought.”
Many foreigners who live and work in Vietnam say they see daily changes in the country.
Caroline Sazamith has been working for France’s DS Avoca law firm in Hanoi for eight years. She says she knew little about Vietnam before she came to the country.
“Upon my arrival, I discovered many new and interesting things about your country – a dynamically developing economy…. It’s so wonderful to work in a country like Vietnam and I hope I will stay here longer.”
Though Supachai from Thailand’s daily newspaper The Nation has not yet visited Vietnam, he has a good knowledge of the country and its Doi Moi process.
“Vietnam is a strong nation with political stability and a dynamic economy. The country has overcome the aftermath of the war and developed very fast in recent times. Its status has been raised in the world arena, especially since the Doi Moi process was initiated.”
The fact is that Vietnam has asserted its presence in regional and international forums by getting actively involved in global issues of economics, politics, national defence and security.
Most recently, State President Nguyen Minh Triet attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) and delivered a keynote speech. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung put forward initiatives at the 15th World Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, and at the 40th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Vietnam has twice served as Chair of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during the 2008-09 term. Thomas Mayr-Harting, ambassador and head of the Austrian delegation to the UN, says Vietnam can be proud of its presence at the UNSC and its important contributions to maintaining global peace and security.
According to the diplomat, Vietnam not only represented Asian countries at the UNSC but also chaired debates on important issues, such as the protection of women and children in armed conflicts.
A lunar new year – the year of the tiger – has come, and after what it has achieved so far, Vietnam is expected by international experts to become “a new tiger” in Asia in 2010.