Question 1: Could you describe the changes in the Vietnamese society over the past thirty years, particularly since the Doi moi reform?

Answer:  

During the past 30 years, especially since 1986 when the Doi moi reform was launched, Vietnam has recorded enormous and comprehensive achievements of historic significance. These achievements, which have brought about changes in all aspects of the society, include high economic growth, improved living standards of the people, maintained socio-political stability, expanded foreign relations and enhanced position of the nation in the world arena.

The most outstanding achievement is sustained high economic growth rates for consecutive years. (From 1991 to 2000, Vietnam had doubled its GDP with the annual growth rate of 7.5%. For the past three years, the average growth rate is was 7.1%, the figure in 2004 was 7.6%). The economic structure has been shifted in a positive direction with increasing shares of the industrial and service sectors and declining proportion of agriculture in the GDP.

The environment for foreign investment has become more attractive and liberal. In 2004, Vietnam attracted US$4.1 billion of FDI, in which US$2.3 billion was from new projects and US$1.8 billion was supplementary capital. By the end of 2004, more than 5,100 foreign invested projects were still in effect with the registered capital of US$45.7 billion, and over 50% of the projects had operated with the implemented realized capital of over US$26 billion. Vietnam's export in the past years has also increased, reaching US$26 billion in 2004. Vietnam is one of the world's leading exporters of agricultural products namely rice, coffee and pepper. Market institutions such as stock, financial, labor and real estate markets have been established and started to operate in Vietnam.

While promoting economic development, the State of Vietnam also pays great attention to addressing social issues, spending more than one third1/3 of the total investment capital on poverty reduction, human resource development, education-training, science-technology, health and culture. The people's life has been improved substantially. (From 1995 to 2003, GDP per capita had doubled. The poverty rate according to international standards reduced from 58% to 28.9% within 10 years, from 1993 to 2002, which meant around 25 million people escaped poverty. Vietnam has been recognized by the United Nations as one of the world's most successful countries in poverty reduction).

The foreign policy "Vietnam is willing to be a friend and a reliable partner of all countries" has yielded positive results. To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic ties with 168 countries and trade relations with 165 countries and territories worldwide. Vietnam is now an active member of many international and regional organizations and forums such as the UN, ASEAN, APEC and ASEM. Vietnam is also expected to join the WTO soon.

Question 2: How did the Vietnam War have impact on Vietnamese people?

The Vietnam war has left grave consequences for the Vietnamese nation. Perhaps, only a few countries in the world have had to endure war devastation, losses and lingering impacts on humans, the economy, and the ecological environment like as Vietnam has.

During the past 30 years, the State and the people of Vietnam have worked hard to overcome those consequences. The country has been rebuilt. The nation's strength and people's living standards have been improved significantly. However, much remains to be done. We still have to account for about 300,.000 people missing in action, providing regular allowance for over 1.5 million war invalids, families of war martyrs, victims and family members of victims of the Agent Orange.

The Vietnamese will never forget what the war had done to them. But as a peace-loving nation, Vietnam continues to pursue a policy of attaching importance to promoting current relations and looking forward to the future in relations with other countries while not forgetting the past.

Question 3: What are the plans to promote the image of Vietnam in South Korea in a bid to change the war image?

Answer:

The Vietnam-ROK relationship over the last ten years has grown strongly rapidly. The increased high-level visits as well asand people-to-people exchange have enabled the two peoples to better understand each other's country, history and culture, and build the relations of peace, friendship, cooperation and development between the two countries. More and more people of the ROK know about Vietnam as a dynamic, peaceful and stable country, a safe destination to visit and an attractive venue for investment. I hope that the ROK's media will be active in making the country and people of Vietnam known to the Korean people.

Question 4: Could you briefly describe the Vietnam-ROK relationship? What are the advantages and obstacles? What kind of cooperation is most desirable and urgent between the two countries?

Answer:

During President Roh Moo-Hyun's visit to Vietnam last October, the President and I reaffirmed our determination to build a the "stable, long-term and comprehensive partnership in the 21^st century" that we agreed upon earlier in August 2001.

As the two Asian countries that have many things in common, Vietnam and the ROK possess vast potentials for cooperation in various areas. Vietnam is rich in natural resources and a fast growing economy with low a cheap labor costforce. Vietnam also enjoys socio-political stability and is actively integrating itself into the regional and world economy. The ROK, for its part, is an industrial country with strong advantages in high technology and capital. The two countries can, therefore, complement to each other through cooperation for shared development. In deed, the ROK is now one of the Vietnam's leading partners in trade and investment. The two countries also enjoy fine relations in the political, cultural and social fields.

We have the potentials for effective cooperation in areas like such as manufacturing, mining, oil and gas exploration and production, petroleum chemicals, energy, transport, urban and housing development, aquaculture and agricultural processing for export, and especially areas in which the ROK has advantages such as electronics and ICT. I hope that the ROK will continue to promote accelerate the implementation of projects funded by the ROK's development assistance for Vietnam, especially major projects that we have agreed on. I also look forward to effective measures taken by the ROK side to conclude the bilateral negotiations on Vietnam's accession to the WTO at an early date and to improve the trade deficit for Vietnam.

Vietnam considers the ROK a comprehensive partner in its development strategy. Vietnam is resolved to work with the ROK to build a stable and long-term partnership in the interests of the two peoples and for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in Asia and the world.

Question 5: What is Vietnam's position on the situation on the Korean peninsula? What can Vietnam play a role in peace and stability on the Korean peninsula?

Vietnam follows with keen interest the situation on the Korean peninsular and holds that it is right to settle differences should be settled through peaceful dialogue for reconciliation and harmony and reconciliation.

Peace and stability on the Korean peninsula is closely linked to a peaceful and stable Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region region have much stake in peace and stability on the Korean peninsular. Vietnam welcomes efforts of parties concerned to address the nuclear issue via negotiations in order to maintain peace and stability of the peninsular and the region. In that spirit, Vietnam welcomes endeavors aimed at resuming the six-party talks, which we hope will produce a fruitful outcomes. As a country having good relations with both thethe ROK and the DPRK, Vietnam will do its utmost to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean peninsular./.