International press praises former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai for his reformist thinking

Sputnik reported that during nearly 9 years of leading the Government (1997 - 2006), former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai was recognized as a reformist and integrationist.

In the minds of many leading economic experts, former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai is always highly appreciated, especially when the Vietnamese economy was in the difficult years of the early period of integration and opening up, Sputnik clearly stated.

The Washington Post once interviewed Mr. Phan Van Khai as Prime Minister when he visited the US in 2005. This was the first time a Vietnamese Prime Minister visited the US in 30 years, up to 2005.

Asked why space for political freedom in Vietnam has not improved as quickly as economic reform, Mr. Khai said: "Do you know why we have achieved great success in economic reform? Political reform is the premise for economic reform."

"In the past, Vietnam pursued a centrally planned economy. Then, new mechanisms were applied to the market economy in Vietnam. That was not purely economic reform, it must have been an important policy decision in the context of political reform," Mr. Phan Van Khai affirmed.

The New York Times commented on Mr. Khai's agenda in the United States at that time, pointing out that "it was clear" that Mr. Khai "wanted Vietnam to be quickly approved to join the World Trade Organization."

"Mr. Khai built his image as an economic reformer," the New York Times article wrote.

Former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also discussed democracy in an interview with the Washington Post."You can see that democracy has been promoted and improved in Vietnam. In the past, the Vietnamese economy consisted of only two sectors, the state and the cooperatives. And now many other economic sectors have been established and all Vietnamese people are allowed to develop businesses in different sectors," said Mr. Phan Van Khai.

"I want to emphasize that freedom and democracy are the ultimate goals of our reforms and are stated in the constitution."

On the issue of human rights, Mr. Khai said that 'the ultimate goals of Vietnam and the US are the same' despite differences in 'historical origins', 'political regimes', and 'economic conditions'.

"In Vietnam, the people have the ultimate power to determine the fate of their country," Mr. Khai shared in the Washington Post.

"Over the past 70 years, the party has made every effort to bring benefits to the people, which has been recognized by the entire population. In Vietnam, there is no need for more than one party because the Vietnamese people still have trust in the party," Mr. Khai affirmed.

Mr. Phan Van Khai was the first Vietnamese leader in the position of Prime Minister to make a historic visit to the United States on May 19, 2005.

This trip marked a new milestone in the relationship between the two countries, especially in the economic field, many major contracts were signed.

Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of Vietnam from 1997 to 2006, was awarded an honorary doctorate in economics by the University of Sydney, Australia.

The University of Sydney praised Mr. Khai for his good understanding of market economics, helping him play a key role in economic reform./.

Former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai was born on December 25, 1933 in Tan Thong Hoi Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City. He joined the commune's National Salvation Youth Team in 1947 and joined the Communist Party at the age of 26.

He used to be Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers, and Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr. Phan Van Khai was elected Prime Minister for the first time in 1997 at the first session of the 10th National Assembly, and was elected Prime Minister for the second time in 2002 at the first session of the 11th National Assembly.

In late 1991, he was elected as a member of the Politburo and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister of the Government.

In September 1997, he was a National Assembly Delegate, Politburo member, Standing Member of the 8th Politburo, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

He resigned in 2006. His successor was former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.