London (VNA) - Vietnam’s foreign policydescribed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as “bamboo with strongroots, solid stems and flexible branches” has its essence in, and representsthe development of a positive and progressive foreign policy based onMarxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought.

The remark was made by Kyril Whittaker, aresearcher of Vietnamese politics and history and member of the Communist Partyof Great Britain (CPB) in an interview with Vietnam News Agency correspondentsin London.

According to Whittaker, the foreign policy of the current day is based upon flexibility andstrength, that is Vietnam consistently develops its foreign policy based uponmutual respect in the context of independence and territorial integrity andmaintains and develops increasing relationships with all countries.

The strength of Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy lies in its non-abandonment ofprinciples whilst simultaneously being flexible and adaptive to a changingworld, seeking to create new relationships and increase existing ones.

He said it is most certainly a policy of ‘strongroots’ and ‘flexible branches’ as it is resilient and strong, yet open,pointing to such small aspects of cooperation as the cooperation between the HoChi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Unionin exchanging skills and engaging in projects together.

This can also be seen in bigger ways with Vietnam’s involvement in more than 70 international organisations and forums, which can be seen most clearlyexemplified by the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020 and Vietnams chairmanship ofthe UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s internationalism was seen in itsprovision of face masks and other aid to states in need. The British researcherpointed out bamboo diplomacy is based upon the qualities present in Vietnamesehistory and present-day material conditions and emphasises particular qualitieswhich are represented in bamboo, such as resilience, flexibility, utility, andthe qualities often stressed by Uncle Ho, which are industriousness, thrift,uprightness and strength in unity.

Whittaker stressed that bamboo diplomacy means Vietnam has an opening andwelcoming foreign policy which is adaptable to the changing climate and canweather tough situations. It is a policy underlined by fixed principles such asrespect for independence, peace and non-interference whilst advocating anopenness and flexibility and an ever-increasing effort for improvedinternational relationships and involvement in all arenas.

He said historically Ho Chi Minh’s diplomaticstyle was also characterised by its openness, internationalism and a strongvoice on the international stage, pointing out that Vietnam’s foreign policyencapsulates this and further continues to develop a course of foreign policywhich seeks to give Vietnamese culture and the nation a strong voice, defendingits independence and territorial integrity whilst simultaneously being awelcoming nation with an increasing role in international affairs, everescalating its peaceful cooperation and friendship with nations around theworld.

Speaking about Vietnams achievements ininternational integration, Whittaker said these achievements are well known. At abasic day-to-day level, Vietnam is well known as a friendly country which issafe and provides visitors with unique cultural experiences. The country isknown to be one which has long lasting and developed relationships with manynations, whilst simultaneously defending the rights of nations to independenceand freedom for their citizens to enjoy peaceful development.

He pointed out that the recent visits by PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh to China, head of the Party'sCommission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung to Cuba, DeputyPrime Minister Tran Luu Quang to Japan and others have resulted in enhancingthe friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.

Likewise, Vietnam’s participation in international forums such as the recentWorld Economic Forum in Tianjin have resulted in bilateral meetings with thePrime Ministers of several countries such as Barbados and Mongolia with eachside indicating interests in further developing cooperation between the twonations in fields such as tourism, aviation and cooperation in multilateralforums

He noted that the development of thesocialist-oriented market economy under Doi Moi has led to a flourishingeconomy with deep international ties whilst simultaneously maintaining anddeveloping national industry. Whilst people’s standard of living continuouslyimproves and environmental protections are strengthened amongst a backdrop ofstrong workers’ rights, Vietnamese craft villages are sharing with the worldtheir handicrafts, and the agricultural sector being able to boast of havingrice and coffee crops which are renowned worldwide for their exceptional tasteand quality. With Vietnam’s diplomacy this is only increasing as can be seen inthe recent discussions of increased export of fruit to the British market.

Commenting about General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s leadership and hisdiplomacy style, Whittaker said the Vietnamese General Secretary has ensured anincreased development of international relations, with Vietnam’s increasedinternational presence and the further development of international ties.

He stressed that General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong has provided immense contributions to the theoretical analysis ofsocialist construction for a worldwide audience, notably with his popular work‘Some Theoretical and Practical Issues on Socialism and the Path towardsSocialism in Vietnam’ as an exceptional work which highlighted thecontradictions of capitalism in the modern era and highlighted Vietnam’s pathto socialism.

This article was published worldwide in many countries, and it is unsurprisingthat this was the case, he said, pointing out the article not only clarifiedimportant questions and gave an analysis of the development of neoliberalcapitalism highlighting the current issues of the day and how the path tosocialism helps to deal with these issues, but it also presents view onVietnam’s foreign policy, which is “the foreign policy of independence,self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification for peace, friendship,cooperation and development and actively engage in international integration.”

The article also talks about learning from international integration and statesthat whilst culture is an ‘engine of development’, this culture is one whichwhilst maintaining and developing its unique features also ‘learns fromhumanity at large’.

He pointed out these are thoughts, which have beenclearly expressed in the diplomatic style and in the writings of Uncle Ho andthe Communist Party of Vietnam throughout its history, show not only theincreasing development and exercise of these concepts in Vietnamese foreignpolicy but also the firm ideological foundation of the party under theleadership of the Vietnamese people.

Assessing the current Vietnam-UK relations, Whittakersaid Vietnam-UK relations are constantly increasing in many areas such as tradeand cultural exchange.  The peoples of the UK and Vietnam also have along-lasting friendship and deep history of co-operation despite the largedistance which separates the two countries and is being heightened to newlevels.

Whittaker believed the current bilateralrelations, told to be in ‘the most flourishing period, will heighten to newlevels in the current era this friendship and cooperation. He also saidVietnam’s positive example will provide the UK with much to learn from,especially in the areas of worker’s rights, foreign policy, economicdevelopment and environmental protections./.