FOR so long, Vietnam has always engaged China diplomatically despite the rising tensions due to territorial disputes.
“Compared with Vietnam, China has always been, economically, a very powerful country. But it is the will and determination of our people to defend our country, sovereignty and territorial integrity that is the key to success,” Ambassador Duong Truong Trieu told the BusinessMirror when asked to explain how they deal with the issue.
He added: “We are ready to sacrifice everything for our country, for the land, for territorial integrity. It is our sovereign rights to do that.”
Duong said that despite skirmishes, their relation with China is improving, especially after the visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong to China recently.
“We are trying to find ways and means to settle our differences. We try to explore any aspect that we can cooperate with each other for the improvement of our relations and for common development and prosperity of the two countries,” Duong said.
United as one
According to Duong, they try to avoid activities that might spark a new round of conflict while exerting effort toward a peaceful solution. He said the use of arms will be their last resort.
Duong also clarified that they have never waged war against China over territory.
He said that like the Philippines, Vietnam is a small country as compared to China which has risen to become an economic juggernaut.
However, Duong said their country standing and speaking as one has served them in good stead.
“The government is always enjoying the support of the people. We all gather around the government. And when we stand united, we will win,” Duong said.
Unlimited rice
Duong said bilateral trade between Manila and Hanoi reached $3 billion in 2013. He said with a combined population of almost 200 million, the current trade has a lot of room for improvement.
“Vietnam has 90 million citizens and Philippines is now up to 100 million. With such population, we have to find what we can do next,” Duong said.
One of the main exports of Vietnam to the Philippines is rice. The country is currently the fourth largest rice-producing country in the world after China, India and Indonesia.
“We send a lot of our experts to the Philippines and learn in the International Rice Research Institute. Our experts back home have been trained here,” Duong said.
He added that they do not subsidize but have ways and means to support farmers including a sound irrigation system and by adopting the latest technology in producing agricultural products.
Because of their developed agriculture system, Duong said Vietnam is now able to have three harvest cycles in one year as compared to the Philippines which could manage only two. Duong remembers that in 1989, while a student at The Hague, a Filipino classmate asked him how his country became a rice exporter. He smiled at his classmate and said: “And now you are asking me the same question?”
Vietnam’s other produce are coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugarcane, peanuts, bananas, fish, seafood and poultry.
“Our food is very traditional. We learn from others too. We are at the crossroads of many different cultures. We learn something from China, Japan, Thailand, but the French has a great influence in our country,” Duong said.
Local flavor
“The thing I love here is all about the people. They are very friendly and hospitable. Philippine hospitality is legendary,” Duong said.
Ambassador Duong also does not have any complaints with their dealings in the Philippines.
“It is so easy to get along with those high-ranking officials in the Philippines. All the government agencies, the mass media, and the business community are all wonderful. It feels like home,” Duong said.
He said the Philippines and Vietnam share a long history together and have a lot of things in common.
Duong said they are looking forward to the Asean integration where he sees everyone becoming members of one big family.
“I believe we will continue to cooperate, collaborate, and stand hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder with each other. We can work together for the common good, for all countries,” Duong said.
Duong added that as an ambassador to the Philippines, he will try everything within his power to promote good relations between the two countries politically, economically and culturally.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano