Vietnam, a model of modern and civilised socialism: Professor A. Lilov
Mr A. Lilov, also former president of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), had many opportunities to visit and work in Vietnam. After each visit to Vietnam, he often wrote articles, introducing the achievements and changes in the country. This year, he had three stories published in the Duma newspaper, one of the leading newspaper in Bulgaria.
In the article entitled “Vietnam, a new tiger in Asia,” he introduced Vietnam’s achievements in the on-going renovation process, the victory regarding its model of socialism as well as his deep impressions on the country.
He said: “My deepest impression is from the country’s second victory, the Vietnamese people’s victory in peace time. It is the successful implementation of the renovation policy and national modernisation. This victory is as important as the victory made by Vietnamese people in the past struggle for national liberation.”
Then, he praised the significant changes in the country’s socio-economic development including a continued GDP growth in the past 20 years. It was wonderful that Vietnam jumped from an importer of half a million tonnes of rice in 1986 to the world’s second largest exporter, he said.
Vietnam’s export turnover increased from US $734.9 million in 1987 to US $26 billion in 2004 and then US $33 billion in 2005, equivalent to the figure of a developed country. The country’s annual growth was a challenge for others in the world to match. They are great achievements. Furthermore, Vietnam targets to become an industrial nation and remove all pressing social issues by 2020.
He said his next impression was that the young human force in Vietnam doubled within 30-40 years. This could be easily found when watching the streams of people in streets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
He predicted that in the first half of the 21st century, Vietnam will be in the list of top 20 developed countries in the world.
He stressed: “The Vietnam example is developing beyond its national significance. Vietnam is proving that appropriate strategies can help underdeveloped countries speed up their development to join the globalisation process and transfer from the industrial period to information technology period.”
On the other hand, he added: “Vietnam is providing historically valuable experience in terms of reform and modernisation of socialism in the 21st century. Therefore, it is necessary to have a new and modern viewpoint on socialism. History have proved that there is no common model of socialism for the whole world. In the future, we will be able to witness many modern and civilised socialist models including the current model which Vietnam has created.”
He stressed that the heroic and intelligent Vietnamese people were not only reflected in war time but also in peace time.
He said: “Those people around the world paying attention to the renovation process in Vietnam are glad when viewing the great achievements made by the country. During my stay in Vietnam, I could feel such rapid and significant changes. Vietnam is on the path of development featured with high economic growth, stable political and social situation, people’s improved living standards and expanded foreign relations.”
He pointed to the fact that “the renovation policy initiated by the Communist Party of Vietnam has received strong support from the people and therefore has become a reality.”
“No country could expect more than that. We want to share these remarkable achievements with Vietnamese friends,” he said.
Regarding relations between Vietnam and Bulgaria, Professor Lilov said that the two countries owned time-honoured ties and the Bulgarian people have given unity and hearty and all-sided support towards the Vietnamese people in different periods. The Bulgarian people have always shown close sentiments to the Vietnamese people.
He concluded: “Nothing can prevent the development of relations between the two counties. Political ties between Vietnam and Bulgaria are fine. Both countries need to pay more attention to economic and commercial co-operation to make it equal to political ties. Vietnam’s achievements are an important source of encouragement for Bulgaria.”
