Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) welcomes Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” has been a hallmark of its engagement with the international community, stated formerGovernor-General of Australia Peter Cosgroven in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on achievements of the “bamboodiplomacy”.
To an Australian, the features of this approach – a firm foundation of idealswith the ability to accommodate the world as it is – are very familiar, hestated.
Australia’s foreign policy is similarly characterised bypurpose, principle and pragmatism. The country applies Australia’s own agencyto the task of securing its interests – anticipating the future and charting acourse through it. That is why the Australian Government has made deepeningengagement with Southeast Asia a top priority. “I believe the strong strategictrust between our two nations is grounded in this shared perspective,” he said.
Cosgroven underscored that Australia respects Vietnam’s roleas a leader in ASEAN. This has stemmed from a confidence in Vietnam’s conductof foreign affairs, to know how to work with close neighbours and partners toshape a stable region that allows for the prosperity and security of all.Australia sees Vietnam as playing an important leadership role in the Mekongsubregion. Its engagement in institutions like the Mekong River Commissionensures strong coordination on transboundary water issues, climate change, andfood security.
Australia has also supported and commended Vietnam’sleadership on the East Sea, particularly promoting the role of internationallaw through UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) – a position Australia shares.
Regarding the relations between Vietnam and Australia, hesaid that Vietnam is an enduring partner and friend of Australia, and it ismomentous that this year the two countries are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.
Australia and Vietnam enjoy vibrant trade, investment, education and defencelinks. Vietnam’s impressive economic growth is being watched by Australiancompanies. The Australia‑Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy has set thetwo countries on a course to expand their connections, and to expand cooperationto cover the digital transformation and digital economy. Already Vietnam hasbecome Australia’s 12th largest trading partner. There is significantpotential to take bilateral trade and investment relationship further.
Former Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgroven (Photo: AAP) Australia has been a consistent and reliable partner in Vietnam’s development,having delivered over 3 billion USD in official development assistance.Over the years, it have adjusted its approach to meet Vietnam’s rapidlyevolving needs. It was Australia that helped build the electricity connectionbetween the North and South of Vietnam, the first satellite links for telephonecalls, and the first undersea cable.
These links are also evolving as cooperation between Australia and Vietnamexpands into climate change, energy and the environment. This is underpinned by Prime Minister Albanese’s commitment of 105 million USD to supportVietnam’s sustainable economic growth and energy transition. The partnership isfurther enriched by close people-to-people bonds and the contribution of themore than 300,000 Australians of Vietnamese heritage to the Australian society.
Meanwhile, Indonesian scholar and journalist Mohammah Anthony said that Vietnam’scurrent diplomatic policy, developed by President Ho Chi Minh, has beencreatively and flexibly applied to suit the domestic and global situation inthe new period.
The former senior editor of Indonesia’s Antara News Agencysaid that Vietnam has adjusted its external policy to become more open, with thekey factors being Vietnam’s economic and political interest.
The highest interest of Vietnam in its external relations ismaintaining peace for development, which means a peaceful and favourableenvironment for renovation and socio-economic development efforts towardssocialism, along with the goal of wealthy people, strong country and firmlysafeguarded independence, sovereignty and national security, he said.
According to Anthony, the major principle in all foreign activities of Vietnam is to protect the nation’s independence, unityand socialism, and to optimise the country’s creativity, dynamism and flexibilityto suit the domestic, regional and world situation.
He also highlighted Vietnam’s external relations principleof staying firm in principle and flexible in methods.
Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai (L) meets his Indonesian counterpart Rachmat Gobel on the sidelines of the ASEAN- ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Leaders' Interface Meeting in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia in May (Photo: VNA) Anthony underlined that Vietnam has built itsown diplomatic and external relations style since President Ho Chi Minh era,featuring the typical characteristics of Vietnamese bamboo – strong root,sturdy stem, and flexible branches. It is a combination of patriotism, nationalculture, traditional diplomacy and the quintessence of the culture anddiplomatic experience of the world, he said.
He noted that Vietnam has shown strong economic growthtowards sustainable development. The country’s “Doi Moi” (Renewal) causestarted in 1986, turning the country from an underdeveloped country with 90% ofthe population working in the agricultural sector into one of the most dynamic economies in Asia with diverse bilateral and multilateral relations.
Commenting on the relations between Vietnam and Indonesia, Anthony said thatthe two sides share many similarities in culture and history, and have enjoyedsound and growing ties in many areas.
He noted that in June 2013, the two sides lifted their bilateral relationsto a strategic partnership, which is an important milestone in the bilateralrelations, showing the efforts of high-ranking leaders and consensus of peoples ofthe two countries. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of thebilateral strategic partnership, they shared a hope to bolster cooperation inall fields from diplomacy, politics, economy, socio-culture andpeople-to-people exchanges, he said./.
