Vietnam is increasingly seen as a regional player by countries, both inside and outside the region, said an Australian expert.

At a recent interview granted to the Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency, Prof. Carl Thayer, a Vietnam specialist of the Australian Defence Force Academy said that Vietnam ’s increasing role in Asia as well as the world is attributable to its rapid economic growth, political stability and willingness to cooperate with partners outside the region.

Besides, the country will assume the ASEAN Chair next year and is going to complete its mission as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during the 2008-2009 term, he said.

According to Thayer , Vietnam has well weathered the global economic and financial crisis through effective economic stimulus packages. The country’s own monetary policies have proven effective and its economy is going to grow stably.

Though the country’s growth rate may reach only 5.2 percent this year, it is still a high rate in the region, he added./.