65th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
By : H.E. Nguyen Danh Sao
Thursday, 02nd September 2010
H.E. Nguyen Danh Sao, the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the State of Kuwait
On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Sept. 2), I would like to convey my warmest congratulations and best wishes to the members of the Vietnamese community who currently stay and work in Kuwait. I would also like to express my most heartfelt gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf A-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, and all our Kuwaiti friends for their great hospitality and contributions in maintaining good a relationship between Kuwait and Vietnam. May the relations of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Kuwait further develop in accordance to the aspirations of the two peoples!
On this day, Sept. 2, 65 years ago, at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, our first President, read the Proclamation of Independence to found the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the presence of hundreds of thousands of people. The country then had to endure two long wars of resistance over a 30-year period, which witnessed the famous victory at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 with the formulation of the Geneva Agreement, putting an end to the French colonialism, which culminated in the Great Spring 1975 Victory that resulted in the country's reunification.
For the past 65 years, particularly since "Doi Moi," the comprehensive reform, which was introduced in 1986, Vietnam has consistently implemented a policy of openness, multi-lateralization and diversification of international relations. As a result, external relations have constantly broadened and international economic integration has been effectively deepened. Vietnam has strengthened friendly relations and multi-faceted cooperation with all powers, neighboring countries and nations around the world.
Now it has diplomatic relations with more than 170 countries. It has also been active in promoting the evolution of international institutions such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), ASEAN, APEC and ASEM. After tireless efforts, Vietnam officially joined the WTO in 2007 and successfully held a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council in 2008-2009. This year Vietnam is holding the presidency of ASEAN.
Vietnam is now deeply engaged with regional and global economies. The government is aware of its internal strength as an important condition to its successful integration into the global economy. Vietnam's strategy for sustainable development, with growth quality, human resources development, a civilized society and environmental protection being at its core, has been devised and translated into concrete action plans. Vietnam, although a food importing country in the past, has now become the second largest rice exporter in the world.
On Foreign Direct Investment, the Foreign Direct Investment Law of Vietnam was introduced in December 1987 to help form the basic legal framework for foreign investment activities in Vietnam. To better respond to business requirements and feedback from foreign investors, this law was amended and supplemented several times, notably in 1996 and 2002, which created a more open and attractive environment to draw foreign investors into crucial industries, such as export-oriented processing and manufacturing, and key economic zones of the country.
Over the past years, Vietnam has drawn increasing inflows of FDI. From a negligible figure in 1986, FDI into Vietnam accounted for $3.2 billion in 1997. Due to the negative impacts of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the FDI flow then saw a sharp drop during the 1998-2000 period, accounting for a mere $1.58 billion in 1999. Vietnam enjoyed a recovery of FDI, from $2.6 billion in 2001 to $ 67 billion in 2008 and US$ 19 billion in 2009. FDI not only generates profits for foreign investors but also represents a significant capital source which comes along with technology transfer and advanced managerial skills.
Vietnam is now popularly known as one of the most impressive tourism destinations in the world. It has become an ideal destination for international visitors and holiday makers during their vacations. Vietnam possesses beautiful and bountiful natural sceneries and also has a number of the world's listed heritage sites. The country has two major deltas namely the Red River Delta and the Cuu Long River Delta; the two "rice baskets" of the country. It also possesses huge highlands, abundant forests and jungles as well as a dense river system. These are ideal eco-tour destinations for tourists.
This year of 2010 is a very special year for the Vietnamese people. It is a year full of events. Prominently, the country celebrates the 65th Anniversary of the Independence (September 2), 35 years of the reunification (April 30), and 1,000 years of the foundation of Thang Long-Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam (October 10).
With regard to Vietnam-Kuwait bilateral relations, Vietnam is looking forward to celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Kuwait. So far the fine traditional relations between the two countries have been continuously broadened and deepened in so many varied areas and have reached a new level ever since.
The Government of Vietnam encourages Kuwaiti businesses to invest in areas where they can utilize their strengths such as infrastructure construction, agriculture, finance and banking and energy. The government of Vietnam renders favorable conditions for Kuwaiti investors as they invest in the country. Coming to Vietnam, they will not only access to a prospective and attractive market of over 86 million people but they will also have access to other larger markets through Southeast Asia and China.
Through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), more than $100 million have been granted as loans to Vietnam for rural infrastructure projects. A joint venture contract on Nghi Son oil refinery and petrochemical project was also signed in April 2008, between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the Kuwaiti Petroleum Corporation and a Japanese partner. The complex, the largest so far, is being built in Nghi Son in the central province of Thanh Hoa with an investment capital of $6 billion for its first phase.
Vietnam also exports a number of products to Kuwait, including garments and textiles, seafood, hardwood, computer and electronic appliances, vegetables, pepper, footwear and chinaware. It imports oil, urine fertilizer, plastic material, textiles, chemical products, leather materials and accessories. There is, however, still more room for cooperation and investment between the two countries.
The leaders of the two countries have exchanged visits at all levels to strengthen their relations and cooperation. Prominently, an official visit by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah to Vietnam in May 2007 and the opening of the Embassy and Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Vietnam the same year, as well as the official visit of his Vietnamese counterpart, H.E. Nguyen Tan Dzung, to the State of Kuwait in March 2009 have all marked a milestone in the history of the friendly relations between our two countries.
On this very significant Day of Vietnam, I wish earnestly that the relationship of cooperation between Vietnam and Kuwait will further develop for the interests and prosperity of the two countries, contributing to peace, cooperation and stability in the region and the world./.