Author: Ambassador (p) Gheorghe Savuica, President of IRSEA
In his speech on the occasion of the 79th National Day Celebration of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Do Duc Thanh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Romania, started by pinpointing that the event is “marking the anniversary of September 2, 1945, when President Ho Chi Minh solemnly read the Declaration of Independence, founding the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam.
Since then, Viet Nam has raised strongly, from a country with a poor, heavily devastated economy by war 40 years ago, to become one ranked among the top 35 economies in the world, with a favorable business environment, a consistently high growth rate, guaranteed socio-political stability, etc.
In 2023, Viet Nam achieved very positive economic results with a growth rate of 5.05% (USD 429.72 billion), total import-export turnover reached USD 683 billion, and the trade balance is estimated to have a surplus of USD 28 billion. Notably, Viet Nam leads globally in several products such as cashew nuts and pepper (holding 60% of the global market), coffee (second in the world after Brazil), seafood, rice, natural rubber, textiles (third in the world after China and Bangladesh), footwear (second in the world after China), mobile phones and components (second after China), wood (top 5), and electronic products and computer components (top 10).
In foreign affairs, the persistence of the policy of independence, autonomy, peace, cooperation, and development - a policy of openness, diversification of its external relations, and active integration into international and regional cooperation processes - has enabled Viet Nam to increasingly strengthen its international position and, over the past year, has upgraded relations with three countries to the level of comprehensive strategic 2 partnership (USA, Japan, Australia), while deepening relations with all other comprehensive strategic partners.”
Romania and Vietnam, a very important regional power with substantial contribution to strengthening the role of ASEAN in Asia-Pacific region, have developed close relationship over the years as true partners and friends.
The latest remarks on their bilateral relations have been expressed further in his speech by the Ambassador Do Duc Thanh, emphasising that “the bilateral friendship between Viet Nam and Romania marks a special highlight with the official visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, in January 2024. This visit, the first since 2019, is an important milestone, reaffirming the commitment of the two governments to promote bilateral relations more deeply and substantively, towards new development.
The embassy has organized and participated in many meaningful activities to introduce and promote Vietnamese culture and products in Bucharest, other localities, universities, festivals, and exhibitions to enhance mutual understanding between our two people.
In this regard, the recent contact with Constanța paved the way for cooperation in twinning, education, and in particular the direct exchange of goods via this port, which can contribute to our ongoing efforts to increase the bilateral turnover, with the goal of reaching a billion dollars, as agreed by the two prime ministers last January.
In education, the recent re-signing of the Cooperation program between the two Governments has relaunched a fruitful collaboration. Trade relations have continued to strengthen, ensuring that Viet Nam remains Romania's main economic partners in Southeast Asia…
2025 will hold special significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Romania. The traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, having been formed and nurtured over many generations, are now developing well. This is a solid foundation and premise for breakthroughs in the future. Accordingly, the Viet Nam Embassy is planning a series of activities throughout the year, such as organizing seminars, cultural days, musical performances of Vietnamese artists… We hope that you will join us in organizing these meaningful activities.
The Vietnamese idiom "Fire proves gold" rings true for the relationship between Vietnam and Romania, since the relations between both nations have weathered many challenges and still growing well. With what history has proven, I am confident that this relationship will continue to flourish, serving as a solid foundation for deepening multifaceted bilateral cooperation in the future, to the benefit of both sides.
I reiterate that Viet Nam wishes to strengthen our mechanisms of political dialogue and mutual consultation in international forums, multiply delegation exchanges, expand our economic ties to emerging areas such as digital transformation and green energy, and deepen cultural and educational cooperation. My embassy hopes that the Vietnamese entrepreneurs as well as the Vietnamese community in Romania are facilitated to settle in Romania, and will always receive support for the regular operation of the mission.
On this occasion, I would like to send my congratulations to the Romanian Government for the great achievements that have been made in terms of development, reform, and the enhancement of your international position, as an increasingly important actor in the European and global scene. I therefore hope that you will very soon be a full member of the Schengen area and the OECD. I also hope that your region is free of war and conflict. “
The remarks were published by IRSEA with the consent of H.E. Ambassador Do Duc Thanh, based on the excellent relations so happily existing between the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Romanian Institute for Europe –Asia Studies.
* The author is the Founder and President of IRSEA and Founder and Honorary President of Romania-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is a graduate of Moscow State Institute of International Relations. As a career diplomat with over four decades of diplomatic service, an University recognized specialist on Southeast Asia and ASEAN, speaker of Bahasa Indonesia, Russian and English, he represented Romania as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Pakistan and Indonesia and Chief of Mission, with Cabinet Letter, to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cyprus, Finland and Estonia.
He published multiple articles, thought-pieces and commentaries reflecting his views on current dynamics in International Affairs and the ongoing developments related to the greater scope of Europe Asia relations. He authored several major chapters in edited volumes on Romania’s Foreign Policy, published by the Romanian Academy.
Ambassador (p) Savuica is a former Director of the Republic of Moldova Division, former Director of the Asia Pacific Division and former Director General of the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROMANIA.
He is married and has two daughters, a granddaughter and a grandson.