Ottawa (VNA) – Canadian scholars have highly appreciated the thoughts thatGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong had mentioned in hisrecent article entitled “A number of theoretical and practical issues on socialismand the path towards socialism in Vietnam”.

They said that the article has raised a number of issues withbroad and diverse connotations on both theoretical and practical basis, andemphasised that the socialism mentioned in the article is scientific socialismbased on the Marxist-Leninist doctrine in modern times.

Professor Julie Nguyen, President of the Canada - ASEANInitiatives at York University, said that the article showed the heart ofthe leader who has deep concern for the people and the wish of leaving no onebehind, especially in the context that the country is still poor and has tocompete economically with the outside world. This is a decisive factor ensuring the people's support to the Party, she stressed.

According to the professor, a socialist-oriented marketeconomy is the right way for leaders to achieve the goal for the people.

She expressed interest in the Vietnamese Party chief’sopinion stating that a fundamental characteristic and important feature of thesocialist orientation in the Vietnam’s market economy is the combination ofeconomy and society, the coordination of economic and social policies, and the economicgrowth being accompanied by social progress and equality in every stage, everypolicy, and throughout the development process.

Trong’s highlighting the importance of social policies inthe socialist-oriented market economy is of special significance in human andhuman resource development to build the country, and is a strategic directionfor the future of the country and the happiness of the people, Julie Nguyensaid.

Meanwhile, Luis Silva, an expert on government relations, suggestedVietnam recognise the accompanying rewards and risks as the country seeks toachieve more social and economic progress for its people.

According to the expert, Vietnam has demonstrated how iswell-equipped the country is in managing a public health crisis that hasgripped the entire world with the outbreak of COVID-19. By applyingevidence-based, scientific and technological solutions in the fight againstCOVID-19, Vietnam has positioned itself as an ideal place in East Asia toattract more investments from the scientific and technological industries inthe future as the world slowly emerges from the pandemic.

The opportunities for greater investments in the Vietnameseeconomy by these industries will provide better standards of living for theVietnamese people and more prosperity for Vietnam, he said.

Silva noted the potential risks of nationalist governmentswithdrawing from trade agreements in the future can pose a serious threat tothe international investments made in Vietnam, and thus hamper Vietnam’seconomic prosperity.

Vietnam can minimise the threat of this potential disruptionby diversifying and expanding the number of international trade agreements withmore countries, he suggested./.