Former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin. Photo: Thanh Binh/VNA reporter in Tel Aviv

Mr. Beilin, who played an important role in establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Israel in 1993 as Secretary of State of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time, expressed his deep impression of Vietnam's development process, from a country once associated with war to the image of a dynamic, modern country with an active role in international reconciliation.

“For my generation, Vietnam is a symbol of a small but resilient nation that won the war. But for today’s young generation, Vietnam today is an attractive destination, a peaceful and innovative country,” said Mr. Beilin.

The former Israeli Justice Minister highly appreciated Vietnam's achievements in the fields of technology and modernization, saying that Vietnam is taking advantage of being a "latecomer", especially in new fields such as artificial intelligence (AI). He also emphasized that the diligence and dynamism of the Vietnamese people are one of the important factors contributing to their success.

Assessing Vietnam's Doi Moi policy since 1986, Mr. Beilin said that Vietnam has not only been successful economically but is also emerging as an international mediator. He expressed his impression: "One of the interesting points is that Vietnam is not only satisfied with economic or tourism success. Vietnam has chosen for itself the role of mediator, conciliator, helping to connect other countries. Vietnam has the capacity and culture to become a bridge between countries, between opposing parties. That is a very valuable role in the context of a divided world".

He continued: "Vietnam is still a place where people from many different cultures and interests can meet and dialogue with the support of the Vietnamese side. Today, when people mention Vietnam, they think of a place for negotiations and signing agreements, not just the war of the past."

From his many years of experience participating in Middle East peace processes, Mr. Beilin believes that Vietnam can share a valuable diplomatic lesson: mutual understanding is the key to finding sustainable solutions.

Regarding bilateral relations, Mr. Beilin assessed that Vietnam-Israel economic relations are developing positively, especially after the two countries signed the bilateral Free Trade Agreement in 2023. He said: "We have good economic relations, but it is still not enough. Previously, it was mainly agriculture, and agriculture is still very important to Vietnam. Israel is outstanding in the field of agriculture, especially agricultural technology.

In recent years, cooperation has expanded to the fields of technology and healthcare - especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the future, these fields will gradually replace agriculture... Agriculture in Israel has changed: only 1-2% of the population is engaged in farming, but it is very efficient, thanks to modern irrigation equipment and technology. Israel has experience in distributing and reusing wastewater that Vietnam can learn from."

He assessed that the potential for cooperation between the two countries is still very large, and could increase 10 times the current value, reaching tens of billions of USD if this growth momentum is maintained, especially in the fields of technology, healthcare and high-tech agriculture.

Sending his congratulations to Vietnam on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day, Mr. Beilin emphasized: “It is a miracle. From a war-torn country, Vietnam has become a symbol of peace and development. I hope Vietnam will continue to open up more strongly to fully exploit its potential.”

According to baotintuc.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/80-nam-quoc-khanh-viet-nam-la-bieu-tuong-cua-hoa-binh-doi-moi-va-ket-noi-156769.html