General Secretary To Lam held talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Photo: VNA

As Vietnamese, we have the right to be proud of our nation's glorious history. However, the affirmations of the greatness of Vietnam and its people from the head of state of a leading developed country in Asia and the world carry a very special nuance and meaning – the history of Vietnam and its people is a symbol for all nations of the spirit of fighting against foreign invaders to gain control of their own destiny, while Vietnam's present is a shining example of the aspirations of a nation that has suffered much pain and loss. A nation with a glorious history and a promising present will certainly have a bright future.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the South Korean President's remarks about Vietnam come as Vietnam is preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd - the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Vietnam is a great country, and the Vietnamese people are great because throughout its thousands of years of history, the Vietnamese nation has never submitted to any invading force, and even in the most difficult circumstances, the spirit of independence and self-reliance has always been present in the will and thoughts of every Vietnamese citizen.

The greatness of the Vietnamese people is also reflected in their aspiration to rise up and build a strong nation from the ashes of war, refusing to succumb to poverty and backwardness. Over the past three decades, Vietnam has truly transformed, from one of the poorest countries with the lowest per capita income in the world to one of the top 35 economies globally; in terms of trade volume alone, it ranks 20th in the world. This can be considered a miracle, and many observers believe that, in the foreseeable future, Vietnam will become one of the leading economies in the Asian region. These achievements demonstrate the will, resilience, and intelligence of the Vietnamese people.

Many countries regard Vietnam as a model in international relations, with its unique and distinctive "bamboo diplomacy" style. Few countries have established comprehensive strategic partnerships with the United States, the Russian Federation, and China simultaneously, as well as maintaining a comprehensive strategic partnership with South Korea while preserving a good traditional friendship with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea... as Vietnam has. All of this is only possible because our country has consistently upheld its self-reliance and independence, based on justice and morality.

Historically, South Korea and Vietnam share similarities: both were colonized by foreign powers, and both gained independence in 1945. After World War II, rising from the ashes of war, South Korea, with its sound strategic development path and the resilience and intelligence of its people, has become one of the world's leading developed nations and today is one of Vietnam's most important partners in the region.

Hoang Ngoc Anh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-polit-xa-hoi/theo-dong-thoi-su/dat-nuoc-viet-nam-vi-dai-con-nguoi-viet-nam-vi-dai-157000.html