Asean

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai sat for a 45-minute interview with The Cambodia Daily’s publisher, Bernard Krisher, and Associate Editor Brian Calvert on Oct 15 in his Hanoi office.

Born in 1933 in Ho Chi Minh City, Khai served with the resistance against the French in the 1940s and 1950s, and

Bernard Krisher/The Cambodia Daily

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai

went on to work at rural affairs in northern Vietnam. In the 1960s, Khai studied at the National Economics University in Moscow. Throughout the following decades, he held numerous posts within the Vietnamese government, which included a seat on the Party Central Committee as well as with the Political Bureau.

Khai became prime minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1997. He is married with one son and one daughter.

Following is our edited version of the interview, which was submitted to Prime Minister Khai, as was the practice with all other interviewees. At the time of publication the Cambodia Daily was informed, because Mr Khai had been traveling, a response could not be obtained until Nov 5. We have decided to publish this version in time for the summit but will publish any revisions if requested when received.

Bernard Krisher and Brian Calvert: What should the richer countries of Asean do for the poorer ones?

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai: Asean, founded more than 30 years ago, has proved its relevance in today’s complex world. During its development Asean faced numerous challenges, experiencing dynamic growth as well as a recession. In today’s world Asean is compelled to strengthen its cooperation in all fields ranging from the political, economic and security to the cultural, scientific and technological. To integrate and link all the countries in the region we need to strengthen intra-Asean cooperation particularly through projects that involve many countries. At present several major projects are being implemented, including the railway from Singapore to Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and to Kunming, China. Also The West-East corridor, the Greater Mekong Subregion project is moving ahead. All are in the interest of all the countries in the region and contribute to reducing poverty. By supporting such projects across borders the richer countries can contribute to reducing poverty and narrowing the development gap among Asean coummunities. Thus, with time, we can also establish a common power grid and pipeline to support one another in our project development.

Q: Do you see terrorism as an issue at this summit?

A: Terrorism and security issues will be among the issues raised. We have already introduced several declarations on terrorism, including one with the United States. The attack in Bali will draw great attention at the summit. The situation in Indonesia and the Philippines remains unstable.

Q: Do you view China as a possible economic threat to Asean?

A: China is growing at a very rapid pace. Competitiveness of Chinese goods also remains high. Asean countries should find ways and means to assess and benefit from China’s huge market.China has a population of over one billion. The needs and demands of the Chinese people is very diversified due to their differences in income. Asean countries have the opportunity to export their goods to this market. At present, Asean is working together with China to formulate the framework for cooperation in developing the free-trade area between Asean and China. We view if Asean Plus China, Japan and South Korea can cooperate more closely it will form a strong and dynamic economic region. For the moment we must face competition from Chinese goods but we must turn those challenges into opportunities so as to serve the interests of both sides. The leaders of each Asean country must consider an economic structure that will best tap the opportunities and develop them in the new context.

Q: Will Asean ever develop into an organization such as the EU?

A: The future development of Asean will be decided upon by the Asean leaders. At present we try to strengthen economic integration and cooperation in security and political issues. Someday we may develop as has the EU but that is in the future. We still need to face a number of more pressing issues. The European Union members could easily link with each other. They could introduce a common currency, the Euro, thanks to their very strong political and economic cooperation as well as their scientific and technological conditions. All such conditions would be required for our countries to develop along the EU’s lines. I recently visited four European countries and noted that while they joined the EU, the EC, and the European Parliament, this has not restricted the development of each individual country.

Q: Asean has a non-intervention policy, yet aren’t there good reasons when intervention is justified, such as liberating people from tyrants like Hitler and Pol Pot. Didn’t you find such justification when you intervened to oust Pol Pot?

A: At present, we place a premium on the respect for each others’ independence and sovereignty. Asean’s two major principles are consensus and non-intervention. In the current context we believe all these principles are relevant. In the past Vietnam intervened into Cambodia, but that was under very special circumstances. I’m sure you understand how the Pol Pot regime had devastated the country and the people of Cambodia. I recently visited Germany where members of the parliament did not understand that Vietnam had helped the Cambodian people and thought only that Vietnam simply intervened into Cambodia. Today Vietnam has no ambition to bring our troops to any country. Our key objective and task now is to develop our country and improve our people’s lives. That can only be accomplished if we have a peaceful and stable environment. In order to have such an environment we decided to withdraw our troops from Cambodia and normalize our relations with China and the United States, after a long period of friction. We have since been very successful in implementing a policy of multilaterializing and diversifying our external relations.

Q: But shouldn’t countries intervene against leaders such as Saddam Hussein, who pose a threat to their own people as well as to stability in the world?

A: I believe your initial purpose in your meeting with me today was the Asean meeting. With regard to that issue, I believe Vietnam has expressed its opinion very clearly. Historically, we have had strong countries invading weaker countries. But as we have now entered the 21st century, each and every nation should have the right of self determination to deal with their affairs by themselves. If this year we bring our troops into one country and the next year we bring them to another country this century will be full of disasters. History has shown that even super powers may lose when they invade weaker countries. If one country has too many enemies, then that country will certainly fail.

Q: What would Vietnam like to see accomplished at this year’s Asean Summit?

A: We wish to see security issues discussed in order to ensure peace and stability for the sake of all our countries’ development. At present we have the issues of dealing with the South China Sea and relations between our countries and China. Issues related to Indonesia and the Philippines will certainly be discussed. We will aim to find ways and means to help these countries stabilize and deal with all the insecurities. We must strengthen our cooperation in fighting transnational crimes, piracy and the trafficking of women and children. And trafficking in drugs. We also need to discuss means of strengthening economic cooperation to bring into full swing the potential of our nations. We need to have concrete action on the issues we have already agreed upon and to take quick measures in implementing them.

Q: Do you have any formula for eradicating poverty in Asia?

A: We have implemented a successful national program to eradicate poverty which has been highly evaluated by the World Bank and other international organizations as well as by donors. We’ve reduced poverty annually by 2 percent. The key factor in poverty reduction is in creating favorable conditions to get people involved in production. The government must help with land, irrigation, providing seeds and also in teaching agricultural skills. After that we assist in exports and find markets for their goods. The poor live mostly in mountainous and remote areas where there is no infrastructure and their intellectual and educational level is very low. We remedy these deficiencies and also provide loans.

Under the poverty reduction program we are also building more roads, schools, clinics, market places and power grids. We have built schools where the children from the minorities come and stay the whole day. We provide health care services free of charge for the poor and provide their children books and teaching materials. Where they do not have electricity we provide them with oil to light their houses. We do this because, in the past, these areas were important to the revolution, when we struggled against the invaders of our country.

Q: Is Asia ready for Western style of democracy? Malaysia’s Mohammad Mahathir contends Asians have different values. Do you agree?

A: Every country has a different history and culture. The declaration of independence written by our late president, Ho Chi Minh, quotes from the declarations of independence of the United States and of France. He aimed to enforce the rights of the people and democracy in our country from the very beginning. We enforce human rights gradually, step by step. The first step is to ensure freedom and independence and security from foreign invasion. At present we strive to reach sufficiency in food and clothes for everyone and establish universal education. Our elections are democratic. Everyone can participate. Since the time of President Ho Chi Minh we have done our very best to realize the right of every individual person in our country, and their rights to the freedom of religion and belief are guanteed in our Constitution. We have been accused of violating the freedom of our people, but those people were only arrested because they violated Vietnamese law. As for religious practitioners, we always respect that. The development in areas such as Christianity and capitalism has been very good. The [Christian believers] have shown few social vices, little abuse of drugs, and they have developed very well. Their children all go to school. They act in accordance with Vietnamese laws and policies.

I totally share Mr Mahatir’s vision, that each continent and each country has their own values. America and European countries enjoy a great deal of freedom but that has taken hundreds of years to develop. I recently visited North European countries and saw their progress but that was achieved over a very long period of time. Their level of development is very high, and the people’s standard of living is also very high. In Vietnam, as we makes plans for the cities, the people still violate all those plans. That’s because their awareness of respecting the law is not as high, as good, as the Europeans. You can also see that very clearly on the streets: The people do not respect the traffic law. Thus we have been forced to take measures in ensuring such violations won’t be continued.

Q: What is the role of women in Vietnam and Asia? And what will that role be in the future?

A: If you traveled around Asian you’ll know Vietnam was among the very first to ensure equality between men and women. Women take part in every field of life. The law ensures equality for women.

Q: But do they reach higher levels or positions?

A: Twenty-seven percent of National Assembly members are women; we also have many women leaders within our party, within the local authorities and in other organizations. At present, we don’t have any women among the top leaders but we have many women leaders. In North European countries I noted there were many women politicians, but in doing business there were only men. That’s vice-versa in Vietnam. The men pay more attention to politics, while the women do the economic activities. There is no discrimination—anyone who is talented and posesses good ethics can be the leader of our country. Vietnam has just emerged from a feudal regime that lasted more than 100 years. Therefore women always tended to pay more attention to taking care of their children and husband. If the husband has very favorable conditions to get promoted, the wife will encourage them in their work and they will stay at home, taking care of the family, to facilitate his promotion. I must add that Vietnamese women are very talented and capable of performing any job well.