British Scholar: Socio-economic foundation brings Vietnam into the era of national rise
Báo Tin Tức•10/12/2024
Vietnamese political-historical researcher and member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, Mr. Kyril Whittaker, assessed that Vietnam's political, economic, social and diplomatic achievements are the foundation for bringing the country into the era of national growth as General Secretary To Lam recently mentioned.
Mr. Kyril Whittaker. Photo: vietnam.vnanet.vn released
In an interview with VNA reporters in London, Mr. Kyril Whittaker said that with achievements in comprehensive economic development, improving people's living standards, implementing human rights and protecting the environment, Vietnam is on track to achieve the goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030, bringing the country into a new era in which people, the nation and the Party all develop. Assessing Vietnam's economic achievements, the British scholar pointed out that since the country began its Doi Moi process in 1986, Vietnam's economy has grown 96 times. Infrastructure has developed rapidly across the country, from public transport projects such as the construction of metro lines in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to plans to develop the North-South high-speed railway, forming a clean and quality public transport system. Infrastructure development projects have also been implemented across the country, bringing about changes in all provinces and cities. Mr. Whittaker also pointed out the surprising changes in Can Tho when he returned to visit the city after living and working here, with the appearance of new high-rise buildings, hotels, roads, schools, and restaurants everywhere. Mr. Whittaker emphasized that more importantly, along with this development is the constant effort to improve people's living standards with Vietnam's outstanding achievements in poverty reduction. According to the British scholar, the government's goal of completely eliminating temporary and degraded houses by the end of 2025 is a testament to the speed of poverty reduction in Vietnam. The British scholar said that Vietnam also made rapid reconstruction efforts in natural disasters to stabilize people's lives, ensure safety, security, and welfare. He cited the flash flood and landslide in Lang Nu in September that wiped out residential areas, houses, and people's livelihoods. However, according to him, in early November, new housing, school and cultural centre constructions could be seen in the Lang Nu area and are expected to be completed by the end of the year. According to him, this is the result of the Party's long-term policies on poverty reduction and programmes to improve people's living standards that began in 1945 when the first national campaigns were launched by President Ho Chi Minh to help the people and the country such as the "share clothes and give rice" movement, "popular education"... Mr Whittaker also pointed out Vietnam's important environmental achievements, with a 56% increase in forest cover over the past two decades, as well as efforts to conserve rare and endangered flora and fauna and develop green and responsible agriculture. In major cities such as Hanoi, the public transport system is undergoing a green transition with the bus system being replaced by electric cars. Assessing the achievements in human rights and human development, Mr. Whittaker said that in Vietnam, human rights are not only protected but also developed to the highest possible level. Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest rate of women participating in the workforce and in the National Assembly. Vietnam also has an impressive record of labor representation with the activities of trade unions and labor laws. Mr. Whittaker said that Vietnam also ensures freedom of religion and belief for its people, with many temples, pagodas, churches and religious establishments built as part of residential communities. He shared that he was very impressed by the scale, beauty and role of Buddhist temples, pagodas, Catholic churches and Muslim churches in the communities he visited in Vietnam.
Mr. Whittaker said that promoting women's rights, workers' rights, and freedom of religion is proof that Vietnam not only has strong human rights laws but also focuses on ensuring the implementation of the rights that its people are entitled to. Discussing Vietnam's foreign affairs achievements, Mr. Whittaker said that Vietnam has strengthened friendly relations with traditional friends while constantly developing international relations and trade, expanding and deepening relations with 193 countries, as General Secretary To Lam stated when taking office that Vietnam will contribute to promoting and deepening relations with countries, especially neighboring countries, traditional friends, and major countries. According to the British scholar, developing international relations means that Vietnam promotes trade with partners such as China and the US while increasing exchange projects with traditional comrades and friends such as Laos and Cuba. Vietnam also plays an active role in international organizations and forums such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Group of 20 (G20), the Mekong River Commission and the Non-Aligned Movement, and is an active member in discussions on the development of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), supporting the independence and freedom of people around the world. According to Mr. Whittaker, with the "bamboo diplomacy" school with "firm roots, strong trunks, flexible branches", Vietnam has demonstrated a key approach, thereby establishing new partnerships while maintaining the security, independence and freedom of the Vietnamese State, while demonstrating its connection with the people, "taking the people as the root". He concluded that Vietnam entered a new era with socio-economic foundations achieved by adhering to the principle of a state “of the people, by the people, for the people”, in which the people are the center and have the right to master the country, helping to promote the development of people, the country and the Party, serving the cause of building socialism and communism.
Comment (0)