Sovereignty issues are associated with economic issues. When we lose the economic sovereignty, we will be easily disregarded and we will lose sovereignty in other aspects more publicly, Lawyer Nguyen Tran Bat said in an interview on his multidimensional perspectives on Vietnam – China relationships and Vietnam’s behaviours in economic ties to China. Minh Chau reports.Recently, the Vietnam Centre for Economics and Policy Research under the Vietnam National University released an annual report saying that Vietnam’s economic growth is likely to be less than 5 percent this year. HSBC also released a report saying that Vietnam stands at a crossroads. It seems that many are afraid of the worst economic scenario may occur because of impacts from East Sea tensions. What is your opinion about this?
In my opinion, Vietnam does not stand in the crossroads but HSBC does. That is an inherent issue of Vietnam. Perhaps, the reaction of the Vietnamese Government or the attitude of Vietnamese people is clearer to an objective reality.
In Vietnam, many issues appear to unhinge everyone’s thoughts and the economic issue thus draws less attention. Vietnam is nervous about its sovereignty and seems to forget its economic problems. In my point of view, the growth rate of less than 5 percent may occur but only when we have other sources of data. I must admit that an individual or a group of scientists hardly has such data nor can they assure of data accuracy.
At the ongoing National Assembly meeting, many deputies urged less dependence on big countries. On mass media, some economists also warned of this. How should we look at dependence or independence issues?
That is one of very wrong stances. Many expect to deprive of China’s influence. I cannot agree with that point of view. Vietnam has a strong connection with China and we should think of how to live in the neighbourhood of them smoothly, beneficially.
Vietnamese people have many ways to solve the challenge and solutions are basically categorised into two groups. The first group is going mad or angry and the other is behaving cleverly. To ensure stability and peace, we have to be clever and smart solutions are long-termed and regularly used. Indeed, the society is now very angry. The Chinese know that not all Vietnamese people are pleasant people, and some are hot-tempered and easily enraged. But, we need to let them know that we are also very brainy.
China neighbours Vietnam forever. We should not think that if we want to play with them, we do; and if we do not want to play with them, we don’t. Immediately, cross-border trade will carry their goods all over Vietnam and we have difficulty coping with it. If China sends its troops to invade Vietnam, Vietnam can fight back well. But, it cannot fight back the flooding of goods via regular cross-border trade. Vietnam – China commercial and economic ties can be hard to be disconnected. For that reason, Vietnam must be wiser and stronger and strive to raise its competences to balance interests.
In my opinion, our attitude is soft but our will must be indomitable. The nation’s will to independence is iron and unchangeable while the attitude must be flexible and wise.
What do you think Vietnam could receive support from countries when their economic benefits from the maritime trade will be negatively affected by the on-going tensions at the East Sea?
I know very well that Vietnam will find it unlikely to explain how their economic benefits from the maritime trade will be affected.
The country, where the rig is located, must solve it in the way that it does not hinder the freedom of navigation of the world. Vietnam should not set a target to explain the benefits of the world, but to learn how the world thinks about their benefits and what consensus Vietnam may expect to obtain from them to create advantages.
I must admit that it is extremely difficult to deprive of connection with China but finding new partners and new markets is necessary now and in the long run?
Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group has expanded its investments into Laos and Cambodia. I think it is not wise not to invest in China. We must have wise methods and we should not consider China a battlefield but a market. When we see it as a market, we will have enough ways to infiltrate their economic lives and be more active with our own ways. While Vietnam is busily negotiating Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, the Chinese are willing to spend money building a garment and textile complex in Nam Dinh province of Vietnam for export to TPP-member nations. So, why does Vietnam not join hands with the Americans to export to China when it enters TPP, for instance? Vietnamese people must dare think and do like them. I think this is the way for us to survive in the neighbourhood of them. There is no easy way to do with China.
Đăng ký: VietNam News