Message by Ambassador of Viet Nam in Kuwait, H.E. Ngo Toan Thang
Viet Nam National Day, also known as Viet Nam Independence Day is observed annually on 2 September, commemorating the day in 1945 when President Ho Chi Minh declared its independence from French colonial rule at Ba Dinh Square in the capital Hanoi. The Day of September 2 dawned with a high patriotic spirit in Viet Nam.
Over the past 76 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), the people of Viet Nam have recorded full victories in the cause of national liberation and reunification, as well as tremendous and significant achievements in Doi Moi (Renewal) economic reforms, thus turning Viet Nam from a war-torn, poor and underdeveloped country into a land of vibrant economy, peaceful development, industrialization and modernization, and successful integration into the region and the world over.
“Doi Moi” (Renewal) policy, launched during the Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam in 1986, has helped Viet Nam record remarkable, comprehensive and historical achievements, with a high economic growth, better living conditions for people amd a stable socio-political situation, expanded foreign relations and enhanced international prestige. During the past 35 years, Viet Nam’s GDP growth remained stable and at a relatively high 6.8 percent in the 2016-2019 period.
Now Viet Nam is a country of nearly 100 million people. The size of the economy had grown substantially to about USD343 billion in 2020 from the $6.3 billion in 1989, while the income per capita reached $3,521 per year in 2020 from $159 in 1985. The country exported $282 billion and imported $262 billion worth of goods in 2020. Viet Nam ranks first in the world in exporting pepper and cashew nut,second in exporting rice and coffee, and fourth in exporting natural rubber. There are 139 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam with 33,070 total projects valued at more than $388 billion.
From a country once put under international isolation and embargo, Viet Nam has established diplomatic relations with 189 countries in the world, integrated itself deeply into the world economy at different levels and in different forms, with the formation of strategic and comprehensive partnership with 30 partners. Since its accession to WTO in 2007, Viet Nam has signed 17 free trade agreements (FTAs). These agreements have brought about great opportunities for Viet Nam to boost its economic development, enhance national competitiveness and tourism attraction. Viet Nam is also an active and responsible member of ASEAN, APEC, UN as well as international organizations and currently a non-permanent member of United Nations Security Council.
In January 2021, the Communist Party of Viet Nam successfully organized the 13th National Congress and elected a new leadership: General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue. Promoting the country’s achievements after 35 years of Doi Moi, with consensus and determination in both the political system and its people, Viet Nam is firmly stepping into a new period of development with a new mindset to realize its aspiration to build a powerful country.
Despite the adverse impacts of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Viet Nam was still among a few countries in the world with positive GDP growth of 2.9 percent. However, with the spreading of the Delta variant for the past four months, Viet Nam has undergone a difficult time when the number of COVID-19 cases skyrocketing every day, with over ten thousand cases and four hundred deaths daily. This put the country in lockdown for months, affecting heavily the supply chain, and sabotaging the economy. Due to the shortage of vaccines, Viet Nam cannot easily recover from this situation. Therefore, we are in urgent need of getting vaccines through the COVAX program and bilateral countries.
This year also marks the 45 anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Kuwait. On 10 January, 1976, Viet Nam and Kuwait established diplomatic relations. Viet Nam is grateful as Kuwait was the first country in the Gulf to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam.
Since then, the efforts of leaders and people of the two countries have been demonstrated in many activities that have contributed to boost the relationship between Viet Nam and Kuwait. The outstanding progress in the Viet Nam – Kuwait relations is marked by achievements in the trading and economic sector, reflected by the $3.6 billion in two-way trade turnover achieved in 2019 between the two countries. Moreover, a number of mechanisms of cooperation and agreements in other fields such as sports, culture, arts, … have been signed.
With achievements of the past 45 years, we can proudly affirm that the two countries Viet Nam and Kuwait have developed together and moved forward with the belief of a good future, and to continually promote the friendly relationship between the two countries, thus helping the Vietnamese and Kuwaiti people to understand each other better and nurturing the traditional and friendly cooperation.
In tourism, the two countries have witnessed the prospective inflow of Kuwaiti visitors to Viet Nam with an averaged relative increase of 40 – 50 percent year-on-year since the beginning of 2017. In the coming years, there will be many activities and events taking place to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. These activities are expected to help the Viet Nam and Kuwait tourism sectors recover after a period of serious impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 45-year long journey of the relationship between Viet Nam and Kuwait originated from the belief of mutual understanding. That belief will also be a solid base for Viet Nam and Kuwait to move forward, helping to build the bridge of friendship and solidarity between the Gulf countries and the Southeast Asian countries in the interest of peace, stability and prosperity around the world.