Viet Nam's soft power rises on successful social policies

The Government's soft power, the ability to obtain goals through co-option and attraction rather than coercion, is increasing said Nguyen Van Trung, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment in an interview with Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times).

What is your assessment of Viet Nam's soft power?

Viet Nam has enough power to promote it and facts have shown that our soft power is increasingly developing. This is manifested in many policies, and the social welfare policy is the one imbued with the Government's efforts in developing the country's soft power over recent years.

On a working visit to a poor district in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, I heard the locals there saying they was inspired because the Government had helped them build houses. Obviously, if we want the world to have confidence in us, it is a prerequisite for people to trust the Government first.

More attention has been paid to our social welfare policy, especially in the context of the economic downturn. Total spending for social welfare activities was about VND22.5 trillion (US$1.2 billion) last year, an increase of 62 per cent compared with 2008. About VND36.7 trillion ($2 billion) was also spent on paying additional salaries and allowances to labourers.

In my opinion, our soft power has been increasingly recognised not only among Vietnamese people but also in the world. It is manifested by a record high Overseas Development Aid commitments made to Viet Nam this year.

But there are many opinions that Viet Nam would have to work hard to repay ODA loans so as we should not be optimistic about the record?

It's not really true. Donors would not want to lend us if they did not trust us. With over US$8 billion in ODA for Viet Nam this year, it is obvious that international community increasingly appreciates Viet Nam. The country has received nearly $40 billion over the past 16 years.

Over $8 billion is an impressive figure. But the support of international community over policies that the Government has been developing and implementing is more important. An increase in ODA commitment to Viet Nam manifests strong support from donors for the Government and its development policy, helping the country integrate into international community.

As Professor Joseph Nye who is distinguished service professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and author of ‘soft power' theory already warned it is difficult to use soft power effectively and it requires patience.

The Government is implementing existing social welfare policies, programmes and projects while issuing new ones for this year and the 2011-15 period. Efforts will also concentrate on overcoming the aftermath of natural disasters, helping people in flood-stricken areas stabilise their lives and restore production. It is also essential to strengthen the ability of officials at the grassroots level in implementing social welfare policies, while combining it with the oversight of different organisations in the political system and people.

The State will also increase investment and diversify different resources and measures to firmly reduce poverty, especially in the 62 poorest districts nation-wide. Building houses for the poor will also be strengthened.

I feel rather optimistic about this year's socio-economic situation. We will achieve an economic growth of 6.5 per cent and we have the foundation to believe that this figure may be higher. —VNS