Ho Chi Minh’s ideas on international economic integration created substantial foundations for Vietnam’s relations with other countries in the world, particularly the nation’s recent 12th round of negotiations with the US on Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The young Democratic Republic of Vietnam faced numerous difficulties and found itself in especially precarious position as soon as it was established. In that context, President Ho Chi Minh had to handle the most urgent task of protecting national sovereignty on one hand, and on the other hand, initiated the issue of international economic integration with the modus vivendi between the Vietnamese Government and the French Government on March 6, 1946. In the third session of the first National Assembly in the same year, he further affirmed his opinion: “Our country is part of the world; happenings in Vietnam can bring about impacts on the world’s affairs and vice-versa.”
Later, during the country’s arduous and long resistance wars against French and US invaders, President Ho Chi Minh reiterated his thoughts on international economic integration many times in his letters, speeches and interviews granted to foreign correspondents.
Nowadays, Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on economic integration have developed into an immutable line and policy adopted by the Vietnamese Government, said director of the International Laws Department under the Ministry of Justice Dr. Hoang Phuoc Hiep, who is also a member of the Vietnamese delegation negotiating with the US on Vietnam’s entry to the WTO. President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on international economic integration, Mr Hiep explained, were quite flexible and led the country to success.
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Rene Defourneaux was present at the Viet Bac military base before August 19, 1945, and then arrived in Hanoi to work for the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS). His letter was delivered from New Jersey in the US. The letter expressed an interesting idea of returning to the former battlefield to do business. |
Mr Defourneaux, a French-US intelligence officer, sent the letter to President Ho Chi Minh to discuss business operations (the letter is now kept at the Vietnam Revolution Museum). “As I said, I am just involved in trading activities and producing appliances. This may surprise you, but I am a labourer. I was a labourer and will be always a labourer. I also have many relations and friends at seaports, radio stations and at Wall Street. I am sure that I can do something for your country,” the letter read.
Although more than half a century has passed, Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on international economic integration still remain a topical theme and show his great stature. Vietnam has been co-operating with hundreds of countries and territories around the world for mutual benefits in an attempt to realise Uncle Ho’s desire to build Vietnam into a more beautiful and prosperous country.
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