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Criteria for assessing the relation between independence and self-reliance and proactive and active international integration (Part 1)

17/9/17

The thorough understanding and successful handling the relation between independence, self-reliance and proactive and active international integration have made important contribution to Vietnam's achievements of great historical significance for the past 30 years of renewal. The documents of the 12th National Party Congress continue to affirm that the full understanding and handling of major relations, including the relation between independence and self-reliance and proactive and active international integration, are one of the key tasks of Vietnam in the coming period.
Enhance national synergy
International integration is the process to engage the country to become an integral part that plays a certain role in the international community. In essence, international integration is the process of both cooperation and struggle for national and country’s interests in multifaceted, bilateral and multilateral relations with different stakeholders in the international community (such as nations, political parties, people's organizations, NGOs, international organizations, sub-regional, regional and inter-regional organizations, corporations, associations, businesses). 
Proactive and active international integration is firstly to proactively and actively grasp development trends of the world; well prepare and have appropriate strategy to catch up or accompany those trends. The level of proactiveness depends on a number of factors, including vision of leaders, quality of policymaking, professionalism of administration, accuracy of forecasting and strategic research, the agility of businesses, the flexibility of the education system, and dynamism of the people. Often, success depends on the aggregation of all these elements. Without a factor, or lack of effective strategy for coordination of such factors, failure can occur. The ultimate effect is to consolidate and enhance independence, self-reliance, promote national advantages and competitiveness of the country in the international economy and politics. 
Only by enhancing national synergy can we maintain independence and self-reliance; any policy that enhances national aggregated strength is to safeguard independence and self-reliance. The Communist Party of Vietnam has stated: "They will only “take us into account” if we are strong. If we are weak, we will only be an instrument in the hands of others, although they may be our ally." Enhancing national synergy should be placed in the context when Vietnam is deepening international integration; collaboration and struggle in the international arena are complicatedly intertwined and international competition becomes increasingly fierce. In that context, only by properly handling the relation between independence, self-reliance and proactiveness and active international integration can national synergy be strengthened.
First, heightened national synergy is the goal that governs the handling of relation between independence, self-reliance and proactive and active international integration. All activities to deal with the relation must be for national interests; and contribute to increase national strength. 
Second, the development and strength of components of national synergy in a unified form are the principal basis for assessing the effective handling of the relations between independence, self-reliance and proactive and active international integration. Vietnam's national aggregated strength consists of four main elements: 1. The Party's position, role and wise leadership; 2. Vietnamese values, especially patriotism and strength of national unity; 3. Economic, cultural, defense, security, science-technology potential; 4. Position in the international arena. If any of the integral components of the national synergy is weak, for example, the economy is underdeveloped, national defense and security are week, it can not be said that the handling of the relations is successful and effective. This criterion should be concretized into parameters on the development of integral components of national synergy in comparison with previous periods and in relation with other countries. 
Enhance the position and strength of the country
International integration has created new challenges to the task of firmly maintaining independence and self-reliance. Interdependence among countries can be transformed into dependence of one country on another. This case easily happens for poor and small countries in relation to rich countries and large countries. International integration can also affect the social stratification of individual country, as the benefits of integration are divided unequally between different groups in society, and thus contributing to further aggravating social issues.
In the process of international integration, the decision-making process will be more difficult because it must be in harmony with regulations and commitments with international practices and international organizations that Vietnam is a signatory. Other complicating factors are the emergence of "interest groups," especially in the case of domestic "group interests" associated with foreign elements. Inefficient international integration will weaken national independence, self-reliance and national sovereignty. If efforts are not proactively and creatively made to find new approaches suitable to the context and conditions resulted from the process of international integration, the guarantee of independence and self-reliance will also meet many challenges.
Improving national position and strength is the basic criterion for assessing the relation between independence, self-reliance and proactive and active international integration. The handling of the relation must contribute to strengthening the internal strength of the country and at the same time to improve national position. Enhancing national position while promoting national strength are the orientation and fundamental requirements governing all activities to handle the relation between independence, self-reliance and proactive and active international integration.
This criterion requires maintaining independence, self-reliance and promoting international integration. Maintaining independence and self-reliance must create favorable conditions for international integration; proactive, active international integration must contribute to maintaining independence, self-reliance. If national internal strength is consolidated, economic potentials increase, national defense and security are safeguarded, but the position of the country is not high, the handling of the relation between independence, self-reliant and proactive, active international integration cannot yet be said to be effective. This criterion should be developed into concrete parameters on national independence and self-reliance in all fields; on level, efficiency of international and regional integration of the country.

These two fundamental criteria are the basis for assessing the success and effectiveness of dealing with the relation between independence, self-reliance and proactive and active international integration. These two criteria are closely interrelated and need to be implemented with specific qualitative and quantitative parameters and appropriate application in each period and time to ensure the objective accurate assessment and avoid subjective and bias assessment. 
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