Comrade Nguyen Xuan Thang – Member of the Politburo, President of the Academy, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council welcomed and worked with the Swiss Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Vietnam

Attending the meeting and working session were Assoc.Prof., Dr. Duong Trung Y, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; Representatives of the Academy’s units’ leadership and staff of the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam.

Expressing his joy at visiting and working at the Academy, the Swiss Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Vietnam Thomas Gass affirmed the good diplomatic relationship established since 1971 through to the present between Switzerland and Vietnam.

Ambassador Thomas Gass emphasized the positive cooperation results achieved by the two sides in the fields of politics, economics, trade, investment, development cooperation, technical assistance, education and training, culture, tourism... Among them, cooperation in training is always a focus of the two countries. At the beginning of 2024, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under the Ministry of Science and Technology of announced the second call for proposals under the joint funding program between the two foundations. This program aims to encourage and promote joint research projects and programs between Swiss and Vietnamese scientists. To date, this program has provided $8 million for joint research projects between the two countries.

Affirming the important role of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics in training and fostering cadres and advising on policies to the Party and State of Vietnam, Ambassador Thomas Gass expressed his desire to increase the exchanges and connect between the Academy and its Swiss partners in research people-centered economic development, government accountability to the people, humanitarian issues and human rights people... On this occasion, Ambassador Thomas Gass also proposed to coordinate with the Academy to organize a discussion to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Convention (1949 - 2024) during the visit of the Swiss Secretary of State to Vietnam at the end of July 2024.

Welcoming the initiatives and specific cooperation proposals of Ambassador Thomas Gass, Prof., Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang said that the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics is always ready to connect and strengthen cooperation with Swiss partners in areas and issues of common interest.

Clarifying the contents that the Ambassador wishes to promote cooperation in, comrade Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council affirmed that the topics range from people-centered economic development to humanitarian and human rights dialogue all demonstrate a people-centered approach. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang said that this is the core principle in Vietnam’s development since President Ho Chi Minh founded the Communist Party of Vietnam with the overarching goal of fighting for national independence and the freedom and happiness of the people.

According to Prof., Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, the core value in Vietnam’s development ideology is centered on the people. In Vietnam’s development, growth must be associated with progress and social justice. Taking care of people’s material and spiritual lives is considered at every step and in every development policy. President Ho Chi Minh in his “Letter to the People’s Committees of all areas, provinces, districts and villages” in 1945 affirmed, “If the country is independent but the people do not enjoy happiness and freedom, then the independence has no meaning”. Thus, later on, while world discussed the i rule of law and people’s sovereignty, Vietnam had already begun with such easy-to-understand approaches.

Regarding the accountability of governments at all levels, Prof., Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang said that this is a requirement of Vietnam in its efforts to transform from a management government to a government that serves and creates development. At the same time, stemming from the characteristics of traditional Vietnamese culture of kindness and “loving others as loving yourself”, Vietnam is very interested in humanitarian and human rights issues. Due to its history of having to endure many wars to gain independence, unification and the defense of the Fatherland, Vietnam understands the value of peace and opposes any threat or use of force to infringe upon independence, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of states. In the 1945 Declaration of Independence, President Ho Chi Minh quoted America’s 1776 Declaration of Independence: “All people are created equal. The Creator gave them inalienable rights, among those rights, are the right to life, the right to liberty and the right to pursue happiness” to affirm the rights of every human being - inherent natural rights of humans, are “undeniable truths”.

The Comrade Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council expressed that based on shared international standards and Vietnam’s unique approaches, the two sides will cooperate, research and deepen these contents. Prof., Dr, Nguyen Xuan Thang also agreed and supported the coordination between the two sides to organize a discussion to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Convention (1949 - 2024) and requested the Academy’s International Cooperation Department, along with other specialized agencies of the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam, promptly coordinate and discuss specific plans and timelines for implementation.