Conference participants from Vietnam are Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, President of VASS, Director of Institute of Chinese Studies; other leaders representing member institutes of VASS; leaders of North East Asia Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), North East Asia - China Department (Commission for Foreign Relations of the Party Central Committee); and experts from Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Planning and Investment. Conference attendees from China are Prof. Mei Xin Lin, Secretary of Party Committee, Zhejiang Industrial University; Ms Huang Dong Mei, First Secretary, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; leaders of Chinese institutes, universities; and experts from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, Zhejiang Industrial University.
In his opening speech addressed to the conference, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan warmly welcomed the presence of delegates, scientists from China and Vietnam. He iterated the great achievements of the Vietnam - China relations following 25 years of normalization in all areas (namely politics, diplomacy, economy, culture, society, national defense and security). At the same time, he affirmed that it was the great importance of traditional cooperation and the ever growing appreciation thereof by senior leaders of both China and Vietnam that made the relations between two countries to grow exponentially. This statement was vividly reflected in the political, diplomatic and economic areas. Other relations such as people-to-people diplomacy, cooperative activities in the area of science and technology between ministries, public sectors, provinces of Vietnam and China, have been upgraded and proved to be effective in practice. In addition, President of VASS also pointed out a number of problems existing in the relations between two countries in political, diplomatic and economic aspects. It follows that both parties should have more discussions and in-depth research in order to redress these problems; set out requirements for changes in the economic cooperation towards sustainable development of both countries. He insisted that Vietnamese and Chinese enterprises should view and assess the relations between two countries in the new circumstances in order to meet demands and interests of both parties. In so doing, it contributes to boosting the relations between Vietnam and China to a new level in the context of current international, regional, bilateral interaction fraught with increased changes and complexities.
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Mr. President of VASS expected that delegates and scientists would have discussions and assessment of both achievements and limitations in the Vietnam - China relations over the last 25 years, and hence propose solutions to improve the cooperative relationships between two countries towards agreed goals based on the principle of mutual benefit. He suggested that they should take into account an ever changing world at global and regional scales in order to ensure a comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China and advance it to a new level.
In his welcome address to the conference, Prof. Mei Xin Lin began with a brief introduction of main features pertaining to Zhejiang Industrial University and then, summarized 4 years of organizing Vietnam - China business forum. He insisted that the 5th forum took place in the context of celebration of 25 years of normalizing the relations between Vietnam and China, in the process of advancing industrialization and modernization in both countries. Therefore he suggested that conference participants focus on in-depth discussions of the prevailing issues relating to investment environment in Vietnam, experiences from foreign enterprises in Vietnam, and the ways to advance the relations between Vietnam and China. In doing so, he expected, they would propose recommendations for making public policies and enhancing the economic and diplomatic relations between two countries.
At the same time, Prof. Mei Xin Lin supposed, the conference would help both parties to reach a shared voice, to have an opportunity to further understanding and cooperation. He stated that Zhejiang Industrial University would take more advantage of its scientific research and human resources in order to build a channel of cooperation between Vietnam and China based on the principle of mutual benefit and joint development.
The conference accepted 6 papers and was divided into 2 sessions, which focused on 2 main issues as follows:
Session 1: General issues of politics and diplomacy (Dr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong - Vietnam, and Prof. Li Jian Liang - China, co-chaired). Experts including Prof., Dr. Do Tien Sam and Ass. Prof. Nguyen Huy Quy, Institute of Chinese Studies; Dr. Zhou Shi Xin, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China delivered 3 papers, focusing on reassessment of the relations between Vietnam and China after 25 years of normalization; the relations between Vietnam and China: adjustments and prospects; discussing cooperation in research into the theoretical and practical issues undertaken by Vietnamese and Chinese scholars in the new era. It is hoped that this cooperation will help to find out a number of pressing theoretical and practical issues facing both countries in the period of innovation and reform. Therefore, sharing of information and experiences will help to enrich the content of the comprehensive strategic partnership, contributing to enhancement of mutual trust in the political and strategic aspects between two countries.
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Session 2: The issues of economy and non-traditional security (Prof., Dr. Do Tien Sam - Vietnam, and Ass. Prof. Chen Hong Sheng - China, co-chaired). Three papers were presented by Chinese and Vietnamese experts (Prof. Dr. Huang Xing Qiu, Centre for Vietnam Studies, Zhejiang Industrial University; Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, Institute of Chinese Studies; Ass. Prof., Dr. Chen Hong Sheng and Ass. Prof., Dr. Li Bi Hua, Institute of South East Asia Studies, Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, China). These papers focused on assessing and addressing the issue of trade deficit of Vietnam and China; discussed some issues of non-traditional security in land borders between Vietnam and China; 25 years of normalized relations between Guangxi, China and Vietnam: a look back and prospects.
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Conference participants provided a range of frank and constructive ideas on cooperation between Vietnam and China. They recommended that the relations between two countries be maintained in a healthy and stable manner long into the future, especially in the political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, educational areas, as well as in the domain of non-traditional security and in the particular bilateral relations (between Guangxi, Zhejiang and Vietnam).
Based on a synopsis of ideas discussed at the conference, Prof., Dr. Do Tien Sam confirmed that potential of cooperation between Vietnam and China would become increasingly enormous in the coming years. This potential is not only limited to clarification of the theoretical issues, but also extends to cover practical problems arising from the relations between two countries, especially in trade relations, in addressing historical problems with the aim of developing a more effective cooperative relationship between Vietnam and China.
In summary, the 25 year period of normalized relations formed a firm foundation on which two countries could be able to enter into a new stage where the bilateral relations can reach new levels. Therefore, in the process of regional integration and building a regional community, both Vietnam and China should enhance the cooperation and coordination based on a strategy of more tolerance and open towards improving the comprehensive strategic partnership, and good neighborhood. In so doing, the cooperative relationships between Vietnam and China, between Vietnam/China and other countries will be improved and sustainable in decades to come.
Nguyen Thu Trang
