Vietnam - Africa: Opportunities for Cooperation and Development
KEY-NOTE ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER H.E MR. PHAN VAN KHAi
At the International Forum “Vietnam - Africa : Opportunities for Cooperation and Development in the 21st century”
(Hanoi, 28-30 May 2003)
Excellencies Ministers,
Ambassadors,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the great honour, on behalf of the Government and people of Vietnam, to warmly welcome Ministers, Ambassadors, representatives of international organizations and Vietnamese and African business circles to the first-ever Forum between Vietnam and Africa under the theme “Vietnam-Africa: Opportunities for Cooperation and Development in the 21st century”, which is held in Vietnam. The theme of the Forum clearly demonstrates its magnitude and significance in further promoting friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and African countries.
Vietnam and Africa are divided by enormous geographical distance. Nevertheless, the Vietnamese and African peoples have, for a long time, enjoyed fine traditional friendship. The foundation of these close bonds has been laid and nurtured by our beloved President Ho Chi Minh and African revolutionaries since the 1920s. The ideal of the struggle for national liberation and common aspiration for freedom and independence have bound us together. Nearly 50 years ago, the Dien Bien Phu victory recorded by the Vietnamese people was a great source of inspiration for Africans in their fight against colonialism for national independence. The African people had wholeheartedly supported the Vietnamese people throughout the struggle for national independence and reunification until our final victory. That invaluable assistance will always be deep in the heart of generations of the Vietnamese people. Nowadays, we are in a better position to get closer to each other and further step up cooperation in many areas with a view of meeting the need for dynamic and sustainable development, addressing urgent social issues, deepening cooperation and mutual assistance in our regional and international integration. This is in the best interest of peace, cooperation and development, the common cause of humankind.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the first decade of the 21st century, apart from the struggle for a more equal and equitable world political and economic order, poverty, underdevelopment and backwardness remain great challenges facing mankind. Therefore, we must continue to join our efforts in this common cause.
Vietnam is pleased to note that after so many decades of vicissitudes, peace, stability and a brighter future for development are again in the hands of many nations. Thanks to their reform efforts, and open-door and integration policies, many African countries have been obtaining remarkable achievements in economic and social development. The formation of the African Union (AU) replacing the Organization of United Africa (OAU) and the adoption of the initiative “New Partnership for African Development” (NEPAD) are an eloquent demonstration of an Africa being transformed and increasingly integrated with greater strides to master its own destiny. Over the past 16 years of carrying out economic, social and administrative reforms, Vietnam has recorded encouraging achievements. As compared to the 1986 figures, in 2002 Vietnam’s GDP grew by 2.9 times, export by 21 times, school enrollment by 1.4 times, higher education by 5 times, and life expectancy increased to 68 from 65 years. These encouraging developments have laid an important foundation for Vietnam and African countries to deepen relations in all areas, develop economic and trade ties on a par with political relations for the benefit of each country’s development goals.
However, to translate potentials into reality, numerous difficulties are lying ahead of us. Most of our countries are still at a low level of development and in shortage of capital and technology. The complementarities among our economies in all areas remain poor. Yet, we do not have sufficient understanding of each other, especially about each country’s economic system, payment mechanism, business practices, demands and capacity in specific areas.
In that condition, we need to create new momentum and find new ways and means to develop the multi-faceted relations, especially in economic and trade areas through closer cooperation and more preferences.
At the same time, we should increase information exchange and contacts in order to better understand the potentials, difficulties and needs of each country, and take concrete, productive and feasible measures. Our Forum is a crucial endeavor to that end. To make this Forum a great success and live up to our expectations, let us be candid and open in our discussions in the spirit of friendship, reliable partnership and with the desire to develop sustainable cooperation between and among our countries. I am confident that the outcomes of this Forum will constitute a good foundation for the two sides to embark upon a new stage of development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Vietnam is in the process of accelerating industrialization, modernization and proactive regional and international economic integration, striving for the goals of “a forceful country with prosperous people, and a just, democratic and civilized society”. Efforts in this line also aim to turn Vietnam into a basically industrialized and modernized country by the year 2020.
To realize these goals, in addition to maximizing its own resources, Vietnam places a great premium on strengthening international cooperation. Therefore, while attaching importance to the promotion of relations with neighbouring and regional countries and major powers, Vietnam pursues the policy of developing ties with traditional friends given the new circumstances in order to take opportunities and share benefits of cooperation. In this line, Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to expand relations with African friends.
Over the past years, despite limited resources, Vietnam has endeavoured to promote these bonds. Thousands of Vietnamese educational and medical experts have come to Africa. Hundreds of Vietnamese agricultural experts are currently working in Senegal, Benin and Madagascar within the framework of the “two plus one” cooperation model with the involvement of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In recent years, trade ties between Vietnam and some African countries have made noticeable progress. However, our economic, trade and labour cooperation remains modest and is not commensurate with our vast potentials.
From the experiences and success stories of bilateral and South-South cooperation, I suggest that priority should be given to the following areas to boost our multi-sided cooperation:
- Cement and expand the traditional solidarity, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between Vietnam and African countries in all fields on the basis of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation in economics, trade, investment, agriculture, labour, and information sharing, raise the productivity and competitiveness of each individual economy, accelerate international economic integration, and improve the people’s life.
- Increase the sharing of experience in national construction, poverty reduction, healthcare development, diseases control, education and human resource development, environment protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, and effective use of resources.
- Increase coordination at multilateral forums, help promote ties among relevant organizations of the two continents, and strive for peace, cooperation for development, and for equal international political and economic relations.
Distinguished Delegates,
I take this opportunity to express, on behalf of the people and Government of Vietnam, our profound gratitude to African nations for the tremendous support and assistance accorded to our past revolutionary cause and present national construction endeavours.
Much remains to be done. There are both opportunities and challenges facing us. Yet, with our enthusiasm, our fine traditional bonds, our cooperation experiences as well as with the support and assistance of the international community, I am fully confident that we will emerge victorious in the fight against poverty and for peace and development. The peoples of Vietnam and Africa will continue to stand shoulder by shoulder in this noble cause just as we did in our past struggle for national independence.
I wish you all good health, and may the Forum be crowned with success.
Thank you.
