Germany workshop reviews Vietnam’s progress 40 years since war’s end
21:51, 2015/05/25
The development of Vietnam 40 years since the end of the war in the country was the focus of a recent Berlin workshop co-hosted by the Rosa – Luxembourg Foundation in Brandendburg and German international policy research magazine WeltTrends.
In his keynote speech, Prof. Wilfried Lulei, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Vietnam – Germany Friendship Association, recalled the historic day of April 30, 1975 when a Vietnam People’s Army tank crashed through the gate of Independence Palace in the then Sai Gon, forcing the then President of South Vietnam Duong Van Minh to surrender unconditionally.
Millions of people across Vietnam and in many other countries were rejoiced at the news on the victory which marked the glorious triumph of the Vietnamese people’s struggle for independence lasting several decades, he said.
Lulei told the workshop that after the national reunification, the fourth National Party Congress (December 1976) and National Assembly of Vietnam adopted a comprehensive programme on building socialism and launching revolutions across production, science-technology and culture, which he said, met obstacles as a result of the long-time war aftermath, the western embargo and falling foreign assistance.
However, the ‘Doi Moi’ (renovation) policy introduced in 1986 has brought about a range of successes, with a focus on open-door political and economic regulations, a shift from socialist centralised economy to socialist-oriented market economy, democracy development and anti-corruption.
The professor noted that between 1990-2014, the Vietnamese economy expanded by 6-10 percent annually with doubled food output, controlled inflation and improved public well-being.
According to him, more and more foreign investors are arriving in Vietnam, which is earning increasing international prestige as a responsible member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The country once served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and is now a member of the UN Human Rights Council.
However, he also pointed out challenges facing the country, including flaws in infrastructure and economic structure, the wealth gap between urban and rural areas as well as in society.
Concluding his speech, Lulei said 40 years after the Saigon victory, pains and losses from the past remain but a majority of Vietnamese are optimistic about their future.
The event also heard opinions of former Chairman of the Ministers’ Council of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) Hans Modrow, former General Secretary of the Solidarity Committee of the GDR Achim Reichardt, political scientist Peter Linke and representatives from Vietnam Peace and Development Fund, the Rosa – Luxembourg Foundation and the Michael Schumann Foundation.
Prof. Wilfried Lulei, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Vietnam – Germany Friendship Association. Photo: VNA
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Lulei told the workshop that after the national reunification, the fourth National Party Congress (December 1976) and National Assembly of Vietnam adopted a comprehensive programme on building socialism and launching revolutions across production, science-technology and culture, which he said, met obstacles as a result of the long-time war aftermath, the western embargo and falling foreign assistance.
However, the ‘Doi Moi’ (renovation) policy introduced in 1986 has brought about a range of successes, with a focus on open-door political and economic regulations, a shift from socialist centralised economy to socialist-oriented market economy, democracy development and anti-corruption.
The professor noted that between 1990-2014, the Vietnamese economy expanded by 6-10 percent annually with doubled food output, controlled inflation and improved public well-being.
According to him, more and more foreign investors are arriving in Vietnam, which is earning increasing international prestige as a responsible member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The country once served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and is now a member of the UN Human Rights Council.
However, he also pointed out challenges facing the country, including flaws in infrastructure and economic structure, the wealth gap between urban and rural areas as well as in society.
Concluding his speech, Lulei said 40 years after the Saigon victory, pains and losses from the past remain but a majority of Vietnamese are optimistic about their future.
The event also heard opinions of former Chairman of the Ministers’ Council of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) Hans Modrow, former General Secretary of the Solidarity Committee of the GDR Achim Reichardt, political scientist Peter Linke and representatives from Vietnam Peace and Development Fund, the Rosa – Luxembourg Foundation and the Michael Schumann Foundation.
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