‘Independence and Self-determination’ - Roles and meanings to Vietnam and experience shared with African and Middle Eastern countries
WVR - On November 10, a seminar themed ‘Independence and Self-determination’ - Roles and meanings to Vietnam and experience shared with African and Middle Eastern countries’ was held by the Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies (IAMES) in Hanoi.
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| Delegates attending conference in group photo. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The region of great significance
Africa and the Middle East are tied together not only by geographical connections, but also by cultural and linguistic similarities. Besides the wealth of some Gulf countries, these two regions are known for instability, violence, conflict, war, poverty and epidemics.
However, not many people know that, between 2000 and 2010, six of the ten fastest growing countries in the world were in sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Mozambique and Rwanda. Today's Africa is Kenya and West African countries actively using blockchain to verify property records; South Africa ranks first in the ranking of African Tech Ecosystems, Lagos (Nigeria) records the highest number of startups in Africa, Nigeria is a leader in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.
More than 400 tech clusters have sprung up across the continent, with 3 main hubs Lagos, Nairobi and Cape Town. Morocco promotes digitization towards a fully digital financial environment. Egypt aims to produce 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035, etc.
In the Middle East, governments and the emerging generation of entrepreneurs in this region focus on developing the fields of science and innovation, providing great support for young people in learning new technology skills. These are the most popular career paths for young people in the Middle East.
UNESCO research has found that from 34% to 57% of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates in Arab countries are women – much higher than at European or American universities. Countries with variety resources are implementing reform programs to diversify their economies, transform digitally, and reduce dependence on oil.
The UAE has set a net zero emissions target by 2050, and to achieve it the UAE aims to increase the contribution of renewables to its energy mix from the current level of 13% to 31% by 2025. Saudi Arabia launches the 300 MW Sakaka solar power plant, the country's first utility-scale renewable energy project, which will be one of the largest in the world upon completion. Qatar has also focused on increasing self-sufficiency in several areas, such as improving food security by investing in high-tech agricultural solutions, establishing industrial recycling facilities industry to reduce carbon emissions of heavy industry...
Qatar has also focused on increasing self-supporting in several areas, such as improving food security by investing in high-tech agricultural solutions, establishing industrial recycling facilities industry to reduce carbon emissions of heavy industry, etc.
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| Speakers in the discussion session at the conference. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
At the conference, speakers participating in the discussion shared about the importance of the Africa-Middle East region, along with the special relationships of countries with Vietnam, emphasizing that many countries in the region consider Vietnam an example of the struggle for national independence and have actively supported and helped Vietnam in the resistance war to liberate the country.
Lession that can be shared
In his opening remarks, Assoc Prof Dr. Le Phuoc Minh, Director of the Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies noted that the situation of contradictions and conflicts in some African and Middle Eastern countries recently has raised the world community's concerns about rapid, unstable, and difficult to predict changes.
“Meanwhile, looking back to Vietnam, we have strong belief in the Party's leadership and the Government's foreign policy. Thanks to this, Vietnam is now becoming a country with the fastest and sustainable growth model in the world. Many African and Middle Eastern countries want to learn experience from Vietnam's economic and political model”, he said.
Delegates attending the conference exchanged and discussed issues such as: The role and meaning of independence for Vietnam’s development; the view of the Communist Party of Vietnam on independence in the current period; the issue of independence – self-determination in international relations; what Vietnam needs to pay attention to to avoid instability like some Middle East - Africa countries today; how the path of "Independence - Freedom - Happiness" that President Ho Chi Minh and our Party pursue for the Vietnamese people can be shared with friends in five continents, with Africa and the Middle East,…
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| Assoc Prof. Dr. Le Phuoc Minh, Director of the Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies delivered the opening remarks at the conference. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Through discussion, delegates affirmed that national independence is a common aspiration for all humanity. For the Vietnamese people, it is also a sacred value, protected and preserved by the blood, bones, and strength of countless generations of Vietnamese people.
In Ho Chi Minh's thought, national independence must be associated with the national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. National independence is always associated with freedom, democracy, prosperity and the people’s happiness. When the Fatherland was in danger from internal and external enemies, He affirmed with the immortal words: "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom". This is not only an ideology but also a reason for living, a reason to fight, a source of strength to create victory in the cause of fighting for independence and freedom of the Vietnamese people, and a source of encouragement for the oppressed people around the world, including African and Middle Eastern countries.
Delegates also said that Vietnam was increasingly understanding the great thought of President Ho Chi Minh, which was "Only true national independence can there be genuine peace, and then have complete national independence" and need to continue implementing policies to diversify and multilateralize relations with countries around the world, maintain independence and autonomy in political - economic - cultural aspects, etc.
This is a scientific conference of urgent significance both theoretically, practically and topically when the regional geopolitical situation is volatile. The conference is also a practical activity to contribute to the successful implementation of Resolution No. 35/NQ-TW dated October 22th, 2018 of the Politburo on "Strengthening the protection of the Party's ideological foundation, fighting against wrong and hostile ideas in the new situation" and continue to implement Decision No. 2015/QĐ-TTg dated October 24, 2016 on "Project for developing relations between Vietnam and African - Middle Eastern countries in the period 2016-2025”.
The Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies affiliated with the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, was established on January 15, 2004. IAMES is assigned the task of carrying out research on basic issues of African and Middle East region and providing scientific arguments for the policy-making process of Vietnamese government; to hold conferences, scientific seminars, postgraduate training, and consult on basic issues of the region; to develop scientific research, teaching and training on African and Middle East regions; to participate in expanding the scientific cooperative relation and other collaborative fields with Africa and Middle East.
After 20 years of development, the Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies is about to turn a new page, with a new mission and goals according to Decision 108/TTg of the Prime Minister, which is to merge with the Institute for Indian and Southwest Asian Studies, into the Institute of South Asian, West Asian and African Studies.
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