Malaysian Ambassador highlights significance of 13th National Party Congress

Ambassador of Malaysia to Viet Nam Dato’ Shariffah Norhana Syed Mustaffa - Photo: VGP/Thuy Dung

Ambassador of Malaysia to Viet Nam Dato’ Shariffah Norhana Syed Mustaffa granted an exclusive interview to the Viet Nam Government Portal regarding Viet Nam’s socio-economic achievements during 2016-2020 period and prospects in the bilateral relations in the upcoming years.

How do you assess the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam in socio-economic development over the recent five years?

Ms. Dato’ Shariffah Norhana Syed Mustaffa: Throughout the period of 2016 – 2020, Viet Nam’s socio-economic development has gained comprehensive achievements with the introduction of the Doi Moi policy. Some analysts recognized Viet Nam’s success story by nicknaming the country “a rising star” or “the brightest economy” in Asia.

During the past five years, the world has seen complicated and unpredictable developments. Although peace, co-operation and development remain a major trend worldwide, local wars, armed conflicts, terrorism, socio-political instability, and sovereign and territorial disputes still exist in many places with complicated developments. In addition, natural disasters, pandemics, energy crises, environmental pollution, and climate change have become serious issues on the global scale.

With these challenges, Viet Nam managed to successfully implement the Resolution of the 12^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam by restructuring its economy and renewing its growth model for the period of 2016 – 2020. The result can be seen through Viet Nam’s GDP growth averaging 6.8% in the 2016 – 2019 period. Although the year 2020 presented an unprecedented challenge in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic, Viet Nam still managed to record a positive GDP growth of 2.91%, while the world’s GDP suffered a negative growth of 4.4%.

Without a doubt, such achievements could not be reached without the full support from its leaders. The overall success of Viet Nam’s socio-economic development is guided by its political stability whereby the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam determines the plans and reforms needed for the country based on the guidelines of the party and the government.

Viet Nam’s positive achievements and developments despite the uncertainties and challenges the world is facing, contained many lessons that we could all learn from. In this connection, I would like to congratulate the leadership of Viet Nam, the party, the people and the army for becoming one of the few successful countries who managed to achieve positive growth and rapid development over the recent five years.

What are your expectations about orientations adopted by the Communist Party of Viet Nam and Vietnamese senior leaders at the 13th National Party Congress, particularly issues relevant to the development of the two nations’ relationship?

Ms. Dato’ Shariffah Norhana Syed Mustaffa: The 13^th National Party Congress is a significant political event of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), as well as for the country. Under the steadfast leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam headed by H.E. Nguyen Phu Trong, the General Secretary of the party, Viet Nam managed to successfully implement the Resolutions of the 12^th National Congress of the CPV and stepped up party building, combating corruption, governmental reforms and economic development. Amid the fast changing and unpredictable world, building a clean and strong Party through its leaders in facing the challenges ahead is the key foundation for Viet Nam to continue achieving more success in the future.

The outcome of this congress will provide an important milestone for Viet Nam in setting up its vision and goals for the country’s socio-economic development in the years to come. Under the leadership of the new Central Committee of the CPV, Viet Nam will continue to maintain and develop peace and security, establish new ways in building and developing the nation and enhance greater cooperation domestically and internationally for the party, the country and its people. Based on the goals set at the 13^th National Congress, I believe Viet Nam will attain greater progress in the socio-economic and nation building efforts in the coming years.

On foreign relations, for the first time in the history of CPV, the 13^th National Congress has stated that the party will be focusing on the three pillars of diplomacy namely Party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy. The congress also stressed on the need to further elevate the role of multilateral diplomacy and to actively contribute in the building and shaping of multilateral institutions.

Malaysia and Viet Nam have experienced a warm, cordial, broad-based, substantive and vibrant cooperative relations throughout the 48 years since the establishment of our diplomatic relations on 30 March 1973. The elevation of our bilateral relation is evident with the establishment of our Strategic Partnership in August 2015. Viet Nam continues to be an important neighbor and partner to Malaysia in all areas including trade and investment, financial sector, defense and security, agriculture, education, labor, energy, culture, youth and sports, tourism and transportation.

With the new decisions adopted by the CPV in the 13^th National Congress, Malaysia is ready to work closely with the new leadership of the CPV and the Government of Viet Nam in all areas be it bilateral cooperation and also through multilateral forums.

 By Thuy Dung