In interviews with VNA reporters, international diplomats who have served as ambassadors to Vietnam all affirmed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has played a huge role in the development and achievements of Vietnam in recent times, both domestically and internationally.
The passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left behind boundless sorrow among international friends, especially the people of the brotherly country of Cuba. That is the sentiment and respect for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong that former Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, Fredesmán Turró González, shared with VNA reporters in Cuba.
Former Ambassador Fredesman affirmed: "Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong is a great friend of Cuba". He is the Vietnamese leader who has visited Cuba the most, with 5 times, in many different positions. He maintains personal relationships with key Cuban leaders, always understands the situation of the friendly country, and promotes the sentiments of the Vietnamese people, especially the youth, towards Cuba. In his positions, he always promotes the development of economic and trade relations and enhances the exchange of experiences in economic development of the two countries and political work of the two Parties, especially in the field of ideology.
Recalling with sadness the memories of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the Cuban diplomat said: “I met him in 1989, when I was Counselor of the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam and I arranged his working trip to Cuba to attend an event of the theoretical organ of the communist and leftist parties in Havana. Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong was then Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Review. Later, we met many times, when he was Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, sometimes for work reasons, other times by chance on the streets of Hanoi, where he liked to walk. When he held the positions of Chairman of the National Assembly and General Secretary, I accompanied him on two official visits to Cuba as Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam. I always admired him for his simplicity, warm personality, sharpness and certainty in his criteria. We last met in the summer of 2013, when I ended my second term as Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam. He liked to call I am by Vietnamese name".
Assessing the role of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in leading and consolidating the Communist Party of Vietnam in recent times, former Ambassador Fredesman stated that under the leadership of the General Secretary, the Communist Party of Vietnam has led the country to achieve new and important successes in economic and social development, as well as set new goals and tasks to turn Vietnam into a prosperous country with an upper middle income in the coming time. According to him, in addition to his leadership role, "Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong is also an outstanding scholar. In his books, he not only left us theoretical and conceptual explanations of the renovation process in Vietnam, but also theories and practices in the transition period to socialism".
Sharing the same view, Mr. Feda El Taify, Director of the Egyptian Public Library Foundation and former Egyptian Ambassador to Vietnam from 2010 to 2014, commented that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is an outstanding leader who plays a huge role in the modern history of Vietnam. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam has achieved many important achievements and created many great miracles in many fields, especially in socio-economics and foreign affairs.
Sharing with VNA reporters in Cairo about his impressions and admiration for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Ambassador El Taify highly appreciated his extremely important leadership role in developing cooperative and friendly relations between Vietnam and countries around the world, typically the good relations between Vietnam and Egypt, Arab countries, African countries, as well as many other countries around the world.
The former Egyptian Ambassador to Vietnam stated that in recent years, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese leaders have promoted Vietnam's prosperity in all fields, especially in the socio-economic field. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam led by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam has transformed strongly and achieved great economic breakthroughs. Vietnamese goods are exported to all markets around the world. Vietnam has risen to become an industrialized nation, an economy with great potential. Mr. El Taify expressed his admiration for promoting the endogenous strength of the Vietnamese people, when creating miracles in economic development. He said that it was the "Miracle of the Red River", to compare with the "Miracle of the Han River" created by the Korean people.
Regarding foreign affairs, Mr. El Taify assessed that with an independent, autonomous but flexible foreign policy, also known as "bamboo diplomacy", Vietnam has become a very important member of the international community, an important economic and diplomatic partner not only in Asia, but also globally.
Former Ambassador El Taify believes that the leaders succeeding General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will continue to promote the General Secretary's vision of Vietnam's development strategies.
While following the development of the country he was once attached to, Mr. John McCarthy, former Australian Ambassador to Vietnam from 1981 to 1983, said that under the leadership of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam has demonstrated a skillful and flexible foreign policy; demonstrating a true sense of independence and strategic autonomy.
Speaking to a VNA reporter in Sydney about the relationship between Vietnam and Australia, former Ambassador John McCarthy said that during the tenure of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam has risen to the top position in Australia's relations in Asia. Evidence of this is the recent decision by the leaders of the two countries to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - a move of special significance.
Having been in Vietnam since before the economic reforms in the 1980s, Mr. John McCarthy witnessed Vietnam go from a country with shortages and difficulties due to the impact of war to now having great and clear changes. Major cities have developed rapidly and Vietnam's economy has been on par with many economies in the region. According to former Ambassador John McCarthy, that is truly admirable.
Sharing the same opinion, former Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Susan Boyd (1994-1998) said that when she worked in Vietnam, this "S-shaped" country had implemented the "Doi Moi" process, opening its economy to the outside world. Vietnamese enterprises entered into joint ventures with Western countries, including many Australian enterprises and companies such as ANZ Bank, Telstra network operator, BHP Petroleum group... Since then, especially in recent years, under the leadership of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam has expanded relations in many fields with many countries around the world, from politics, diplomacy to education, arts... It can be said that Vietnam has taken advantage of the changes and rapidly expanding economy, as well as its broader political relationships to develop and build the country, bringing a prosperous life to its people. Vietnam's education system also develops with high educational standards, facilitating high-quality leadership, with enhanced political leadership and international links.
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