Swiss Journalist Hails Solid and Flexible Vietnam’s Bamboo Diplomacy

Swiss journalist Guy Mettan has highlighted Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” and “Make in Vietnam” chip production efforts in an article published on online newspaper bonpourlatete.com on January 12.

According to VNA, the article was released ahead of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s attendance at the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

The article of Swiss journalist Guy Mettan. Photo: VNA

The author said that in the early 2000s, he visited Vietnam many times to prepare for a book on the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina in 1954 and was fascinated by the remarkable changes in the country since then.

According to the article, 2023 was a busy year for Vietnam with its "bamboo diplomacy" policy and efforts to become a new hub of the semiconductor industry. Taking full advantage of opportunities brought by the international situation, Vietnam increased its foreign activities and strengthened relations with its partners.

Last year, the country had a range of high-level foreign activities with other countries, including state visits to Vietnam by US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

For the first time, the Holy See has a resident papal representative in Vietnam, adding that this marked a historic moment in diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Holy See.

The author wrote that Vietnam expects GDP growth of 6-6.5% in 2024 thanks to robust imports and exports, as well as stronger manufacturing activity.

The Southeast Asia country has the ambition to become a new center of the semiconductor industry with a series of investment projects worth billions of dollars. It targets to master 100% of the production stages of “Make in Vietnam” chips and intends to train 50,000 specialized engineers by 2030.

Vietnam is attracting more big semiconductor companies from the US, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan (China). It accounts for more than 10% of the total number of semiconductor chips imported into the US, ranking third in chip exports to the US, after Malaysia and Taiwan (China).

Sharing the same idea, Argentina’s Equilibrium Global news website recently ran a story highlighting the unique values of Vietnam’s “Bamboo diplomacy” and the rising role of the Southeast Asian country in the world arena.

The journal commented that the “Bamboo diplomacy” of Vietnam shows the strategic balance in relations with world powers and the world based on the core principle of ensuring the national interest, independence, and self-reliance in external relations, which have been deeply ingrained in President Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic ideology.

The article added that the “Bamboo diplomacy” has elevated Vietnam's role in the international arena, helping the country maintain relations with world powers while ensuring national interests.

It affirmed that by applying the “Bamboo diplomacy,” Vietnam has affirmed that it is a trustworthy partner and an active and responsible member in the international and regional integration process.

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