Cooperation with African and Middle Eastern countries will enhance Vietnam’s position and soft power
Thứ Hai, 27/11/2023
Pham Thi Kim Hue, MA.
Head of Scientific Management and International
Cooperation
Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies
(2005-2023)
Africa - the cradle of humanity, is
rich in natural resources, in which only its arable area accounts for 60% of
the world's total one. With 55 countries, Africa is the youngest continent of
the largest population under 25 years old in the world and its outlook 2050
will reach 1.2 billion people. However, Africa always faces instabilities,
crises of food and nutrition, ect. The Middle East - a mysterious area with
fairy tales “a thousand and one nights”, having the holy places like Jerusalem,
Mecca, Medina, the world's largest oil and gas reserves, is one of the world's
hottest issues including the seriously unresolved conflict between Israel and
Palestine. Luckily, I have the opportunity of working at the Institute of African
and Middle Eastern Studies (IAMES) since 2005 to study the two regions and to
have the chances to field visit some African and Middle Eastern countries that
made me love their people, cultures and nations. The African and Middle Eastern
countries also love Vietnam resulting from the foundation of traditional
friendly relationships, and increasingly well developed into the equal and
mutually beneficial partnerships. In the context of climate change, the 4th
industrial revolution, the digital era, the green growth, the knowledge economy, ect.
Vietnam should take advantage of the existing strengths, especially in the
fields of agriculture, information technology, education and tourism to promote
cooperative relations with the African and Middle Eastern countries for the
sustainable development and prosperity of all in contribution to improving the
position and "soft power" of Vietnam in the regions and the world.