Shortly after he arrived in Hanoi, Professor Joseph Nye met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in the early afternoon on January 12.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung briefed the professor on the economic situation in Vietnam and wished to know the famous American’s opinions on the domestic economy, the situation in Asia and ASEAN as well as seeking advice for Vietnam’s sustainable development.

Professor Nye said Vietnam needs to pursue its current strategy, with an open economy, to further attract foreign investment and boost exports.

He said Vietnam would benefit once the recovery is more widespread in the region and the world.  He added: “Vietnam can take advantage of the current trend to promote exports, attract investment and serve economic growth.”

Mentioning Singapore and South Korea’s success, the American believed that Vietnam would be a future success story.

According to the US professor, American businessmen are very optimistic about the future for Vietnam, saying the US wants to see a prosperous Vietnam and wants to repay the debts of the past.

Emphasizing that the Vietnam-US relationship is based on both the history and future of East Asia, the American professor noted the emergence of China in the region.

Along with economic development, China is enhancing its influence and expanding its power as noted by the statement of Chinese President Hu Jintao at the 17th Communist Party Congress.

According to the American professor, the organization of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the construction of over 200 Institutes of Confucius in the world are the symbols of success in spreading China’s “soft power".

The US wants to see a peacefully emerging China but China’s economic development must go along with its responsibility to the world, he said. It means that China need to treat its neighbors well and assume responsibility in global issues like climate change and international trade. Japan, India and ASEAN have to persuade China to play the role of a responsible subject in the region, he said.

“The US closely follows China’s behavior with its neighbors like Vietnam, especially sea-related issues,” the professor said.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung said that both Vietnam and ASEAN want to see a developed China with a policy to ensure peace, friendship and cooperation for mutual benefit in the region and the world.

The PM emphasized that cooperation and friendship for mutual development is indispensable.

“It is obsolete for a country to bully others. It’s time for all nations to cooperate for peace, friendship and mutual development to benefit the whole world and each country. It’s time for the nations in the world to cope with global issues like climate change, epidemics, natural calamities and hunger together,” the PM said.

He confirmed Vietnam’s policy of international integration and transformation into the market-based economy, mobilizing inner and outside resources for sustainable development and overcoming the middle-income trap.

The PM hoped that following the recent crisis, the world economy would restructure to develop rapidly and sustainably based on the development of science and technology.

He expressed a wish to promote friendly relations and cooperation between Vietnam and the US. He hoped that Professor Nye, with his broad understanding and prestige, would help promote US-Vietnam relationship as well as the relations between Vietnam and the Harvard University, where he is the distinguished service professor.

 

Professor Nye hopes to have Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung speaking at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in the near future.

After the meeting with PM Nguyen Tan Dung, the American professor had an online talk with VietNamNet’s readers. Tomorrow, January 13, he will speak to leaders of 500 top businesses of Vietnam at the VNR500 forum and meet with high-ranking officials from the Foreign Ministry.

(Vietnamnet)