Vietnam - A peaceful country, full of goodwill and aspirations to rise up

At the end of 2022, domestic public opinion and world media paid attention to the visit to Vietnam by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres. This meaningful visit comes at a time when our country celebrates 45 years of joining the UN; has just successfully completed its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, and has just been elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

In Vietnam, Mr. António Guterres, head of the world's largest multilateral organization, affirmed that 45 years ago when Vietnam joined the UN, it was a poor and backward country, but now Vietnam is becoming a dynamic economy not only in the region but also in the world. Vietnam's position and role are increasingly respected and appreciated at the UN forum.

In fact, not only Mr. António Guterres, the head of the world's largest multilateral organization, felt the warmth and hospitality of the people across the S-shaped strip of land, but before him, many heads of state and political activists who visited Vietnam felt the friendliness and hospitality of the Vietnamese people and the world media preserved very ordinary images - ordinary to the point of being special of this country. That was US President Bill Clinton being welcomed by the people of the capital when he came to Hanoi to normalize diplomatic relations after 25 years of ending the war in Vietnam. Mr. Bill Clinton, his wife and daughter visited Vietnam many times after that. The Vietnamese people still have not forgotten the image of Mrs. Hillary Clinton wearing a conical hat to visit this special country. Also from the US, there was the image of President Barack Obama, simple and natural, when he went to a humble restaurant to enjoy the traditional Vietnamese dish of bun cha on Le Van Huu Street in Hanoi. That is also the image of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jogging on the banks of the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal in Ho Chi Minh City. More specifically, Vietnam is the country chosen by US President Donald Trump and North Korean President Kim Jong-un to host the second US - North Korea Summit on February 28, 2019. Westerners and the world were amazed and bowed their heads to the Vietnamese State and people, a country that has not been ravaged by war for a century. However, the world did not see a resentful, hostile Vietnam; instead, the Vietnamese people showed the world a friendly, peaceful and well-intentioned Vietnam...

Our Party and State have affirmed that we will not trade national interests for any illusory power. Vietnam's highest goal is to protect the country's independence and autonomy and protect the happiness of the people. The consistent viewpoint of our Party and State is not to join military alliances, not to ally with one country to fight another; not to allow foreign countries to set up military bases or use Vietnamese territory to fight against other countries, not to use force or threaten to use force in international relations. Besides, Vietnam is also a country that actively and fully implements international commitments and effectively implements the UN Millennium Development Goals.

It is also worth mentioning that it is no coincidence that Vietnam was recently elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term. This and all that has been mentioned above contribute to dispelling international doubts about Vietnam in the trend of integration and development. According to the latest assessment of the World Bank (WB), in 2022, Vietnam's economic growth rate is forecast to reach 7.2%. With the above-mentioned positive growth rate, it can be affirmed that Vietnam has achieved its aspiration of becoming a strong country in many ways and we have every reason to believe in that.

Dang Cong Thanh (Academy of Politics, Ministry of National Defense)