VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s diplomatic activities in October are clear proofs for a multilateral diplomatic policy with two emphasizes. The first is reconfirming Vietnam’s interests with close and direct strategic partners. The second is approaching new partners, through balancing common interests.

Vietnam-Japan issue joint statement
Vietnam, Philippines issue joint communiqué
First Vietnam-UK strategic dialogue opens in London
East Sea in Party Chief’s visit to China
Vietnam President’s historical visit to South Asia

“Multilateralism” is normally understood as the interaction of a country with international organizations or forums. The media often mentions Vietnam’s admission to more than 60 international organizations, its relations with over 500 non-governmental organizations and its host of many significant international events as the country’s multilateral diplomatic achievements.

In a broader meaning, “multilateralism” implies the diplomatic approach based on the participation of many countries, which share interests, pursue same goals and same guidelines in action. Joining the multilateral game, nations are tied through rules and frameworks but they can rely on this to enhance the leverage of power.

Vietnam’s diplomatic activities in October are clear proofs for a multilateral diplomatic policy with two emphasizes. The first is reconfirming Vietnam’s interests with close and direct strategic partners. The second is approaching new partners, through balancing common interests.

October highlights

October can be called the “peak” of Vietnam’s diplomacy in 2011, which ended by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Japan. During the visit, Dung and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda signed a joint statement on the implementation of action within the framework of the Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia between the two countries.

Earlier, also in Japan, Vietnamese Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defense cooperation.

President Truong Tan Sang paid a visit to India to sign six cooperation agreements on oil and gas, culture, sports and tourism. He also was a guest in the Philippines, where the two sides signed important agreements on marine security.

Also in October, Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong visited China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. The two countries signed a significant agreement with six basic principles to solve sea-related issues.

During German Chancelor Angela Merkel’s visit to Vietnam, the two sides signed the Hanoi joint statement – strategic partnership for the future.

On October 26, the first Vietnam-US strategic dialogue took place in London, discussing strategic cooperation between the two countries. The UK is the third country that signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Vietnam.

Many observers said that these separate activities support the strategy on building a new regional security order, particular after the recent clash in the East Sea. In most talks, marine security was always a very important topic.

Some others said that this is the continuity of Vietnam’s open, diverse and multilateral diplomatic policy which was issued in 1988, under which Vietnam wants to be a friend with countries in the international community.

Internal and outside interests

Japan, China and the Philippines (or other Southeast Asian countries) are Vietnam’s top important partners. Any mutation in these countries can make impacts on the region and on Vietnam. Good relationships with these countries, especially China, will help ensure outside interests.

With China, a rising star and the motive force of growth and prosperity of the regional economy, it is important to link to this huge market and ensure that link is good for power balance.

Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines share the same view on this issue. After Vietnam and Japan signed the memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation, the Japanese Minister of Defense said that this MoU is the basis for strengthening defense exchange and cooperation between Japan and Vietnam, as a big nation in Southeast Asia.

For the Philippines, besides the signing of an agreement on sharing information between the two navies, cooperation in monitoring and mutual assistance on the sea of Truong Sa (Spratly Islands), the two countries called for the establishment of a “peaceful area” in the East Sea. Regional stability is the key for development and this is not the affair of Vietnam alone.

In the outer world, Vietnam has a chance to expand its relations with other countries. The European Union’s Look East policy is not a shout slogan. Germany, the UK and France – powers of the old continent – are moving towards Asia. Attending the Germany-Vietnam economic forum in HCM City, German Chancelor Angela Merkel emphasized: “There are 100,000 Vietnamese in Germany and there are over 100,000 people who can speak German. As the German Chancelor, I’m proud of the long-term, good and promising relations between the two countries.”

Expanding outside interests means the further cooperation with countries outside the region through commercial, economic, education and investment interdependence.

Between the dark and the bright is an unnamed zone. The role of India and its common interest with Vietnam is considered as that zone. Geographic distance has made the link between Vietnam and India is in the form of “friendship relations”. However, recent moves in the bilateral ties have made the regional painting more colorful, commented The Economist. The cooperation model between the two countries seems to be different from the trend of military alias against the common rival (similar to the three-no viewpoint: not relying on a country against another of Deputy Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh).

The PhilStar newspaper said that the move of Vietnam and the Philippines contributes to stabilizing the region.

Another unnamed zone, which did not appear in Vietnam’s diplomatic activities in October, is the USA. This power’s strategy is quite clear: re-focusing on Asia-Pacific. At the 10th Asia Security Forum in Singapore, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that the US’ presence will be stronger in this region in the next 5-10 years.

In an article on the Foreign Policy magazine, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for increasing investment in diplomacy, economics, strategy and other fields in Asia-Pacific.

“Give me a fulcrum, I will lift off the earth”. With the multilateral leverage, what will Vietnam do to benefit the country? There are bright signals from October.

DNSGCT