The identity of 'bamboo diplomacy': Vietnam demonstrates a positive and progressive foreign policy

Vietnam's diplomatic school - described by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as having the strong identity of Vietnamese bamboo with "firm roots, strong trunk, flexible branches" - has core elements originating from Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, demonstrating the development of an active and progressive foreign policy based on Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought.

This is the opinion of Mr. Kyril Whittaker, a researcher of Vietnamese politics and history and a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, in a recent interview with a VNA reporter in the UK.

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra, Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, attended and spoke at the first session of the meeting on the issue of fair representation and increasing the membership of the UN Security Council. Illustrative photo: VNA

Mr. Kyril Whittaker commented that Vietnam's current foreign policy is based on flexibility and strength with "firm roots" and "flexible branches", demonstrating resilience, strength but openness, that is, Vietnam consistently builds a foreign policy based on mutual respect, respect for independence, peace, territorial integrity, non-interference, while supporting openness and flexibility and increasing efforts to improve international relations and participate in all fields. Mr. Kyril Whittaker pointed out that the strength of this policy is not to abandon principles, but at the same time always be flexible and adaptable to a changing world, seeking to create new relationships while developing existing ones. This can be seen from small aspects of cooperation, such as cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union in exchanging skills and participating in projects, to big issues, such as Vietnam’s participation in more than 70 international organizations and forums, most clearly demonstrated in its role as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and President of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s internationalism was also evident in the provision of masks and other aid to countries in need. In international forums, Vietnam defends the rights of other countries, consistently and confidently challenges unjust policies such as condemning the economic , trade and financial blockade against Cuba and supporting a peaceful solution to the Palestinian conflict in search of a legitimate restoration policy based on the pre-1967 borders. The British researcher emphasized that the bamboo diplomacy is based on the qualities found in Vietnam's history and today's material conditions, highlighting the special qualities of bamboo such as resilience, flexibility, and convenience, as well as the qualities that Uncle Ho often emphasized: diligence, thrift, integrity and solidarity. Mr. Whittaker said that, in terms of history, it can be seen that President Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic style demonstrated openness, internationalism and a strong voice in the international arena, pointing out that Vietnam's foreign policy has this style and continues to further develop its foreign policy to bring a strong voice to Vietnamese culture and people, protect independence and territorial integrity while being a hospitable country with an increasing role in international affairs, enhancing peaceful cooperation and friendship with countries around the world. Assessing Vietnam's achievements in international integration, Mr. Whittaker said that these achievements have been widely known in the world. Vietnam is famous for being a friendly, safe country and offering tourists unique cultural experiences. Vietnam is also known as a country with long-standing and developing relationships with many countries, while protecting the independence and freedom of countries for peaceful development. He pointed out that recent visits such as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to China, Head of the Central External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung’s visit to Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang’s visit to Japan and others have contributed to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries. Similarly, Vietnam’s participation in international forums such as the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, where the Vietnamese Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of several countries such as Barbados and Mongolia, with each side expressing interest in further developing bilateral cooperation in areas such as tourism, aviation and cooperation at multilateral forums.

The development of a socialist-oriented market economy in the renovation period helps the economy develop strongly with deep international relations, while maintaining and developing national industry.

Mr. Whitter also noted that the development of a socialist-oriented market economy during the Doi Moi period has helped the economy develop strongly with deep international relations, while maintaining and developing national industry. People's living standards have continuously improved, environmental protection efforts have been strengthened, and workers' rights have been strongly protected. Vietnam can be proud of the handicraft products of its craft villages that are present all over the world , or Vietnamese rice and coffee are world-famous for their special quality and taste. Vietnam's current foreign policy has contributed to this success and helped Vietnam's exports continue to grow.

Commenting on the diplomatic style of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Mr. Whittaker said that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong ensured that Vietnam's international relations were increasingly developing, with an increasing international presence. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also made great contributions to theoretical analysis of building socialism for readers around the world, Mr. Whittaker said, citing the article "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam". He assessed this as a typical work that highlights the contradictions of capitalism in the modern era and points out the path to socialism in Vietnam. Published in many countries around the world, the article clarifies important issues and analyzes the development of neoliberal capitalism, highlighting current issues and how the path to socialism has helped solve these issues. The article also mentions Vietnam's foreign policy, which is: "independent, self-reliant, multilateral, diversified foreign policy for peace, friendship, cooperation for mutual development and active international integration", and at the same time mentions lessons from international integration, emphasizing that while culture is the 'engine of development', Vietnamese culture also maintains and develops its unique identity while 'learning from humanity'.

The book “Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam”. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA

Mr. Whittaker pointed out that this is also the ideology in the diplomatic style and works of President Ho Chi Minh and throughout the history of the Communist Party of Vietnam, not only showing that these views are increasingly applied and developed in Vietnam's foreign policy but also demonstrating the solid ideological foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam under the leadership of the Vietnamese people. Assessing the Vietnam - UK relationship, Mr. Whittaker said that the British and Vietnamese people have a long-standing friendship and a history of deep cooperation despite the geographical distance between the two countries and in the present era, this friendship and cooperation are being raised to new heights. He said that the bilateral relationship is constantly developing in many areas such as trade and cultural exchange. He commented that although it is considered to be in its best development period, the Vietnam - UK relationship will be raised to new heights. He hopes that through Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy, the British people will easily learn about and develop friendship with the Vietnamese people. He also believes that Vietnam’s positive example will help the UK learn many things, especially in the fields of workers’ rights, foreign policy, economic development and environmental protection.

Minh Hop (Vietnam News Agency)