Listen and understand

(Baonghean) - Life cannot exist without debates. Many issues and events have a better outcome thanks to debate. Because, in its original sense, debate is about discussing to find the truth. Thus, debate is not about determining who wins or loses, but about discerning right from wrong, what should or shouldn't be done.

However, often due to differing perspectives and objectives, debates deviate from their proper meaning and become a "verbal battle" to determine victory or defeat, aiming to satisfy personal egos or achieve goals that benefit a particular individual or group, rather than seeking the truth. For example, the ongoing heated debate surrounding the Ministry of Transport's proposal to build Long Thanh International Airport (Dong Nai province) is a case in point. Those advocating for the airport's construction emphasize its necessity, arguing that by 2017, Tan Son Nhat Airport will be overloaded and unable to meet the socio-economic development needs of Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces.

A perspective view of Long Thanh Airport.

The biggest obstacle is the enormous cost of implementation; phase 1 alone is estimated to cost nearly 8 billion USD (equivalent to over 160 trillion VND). Naturally, the national budget doesn't have enough money to cover such a huge sum, and borrowing is unavoidable. And borrowing means paying interest, sometimes high interest rates. But that's only if the project is successful and there's enough money to repay both principal and interest. If the project fails, it's unclear how the government will cope with such a massive debt. This is also the main reason why those opposing the construction of Long Thanh Airport are so vehemently critical. To alleviate this concern, those in favor propose a solution where the State invests in the "hard" infrastructure, which doesn't generate profit (land acquisition, runways, etc.), while the rest is invested in by private businesses, eliminating the need for government borrowing. Another suggestion is to use the land at Tan Son Nhat Airport to invest in the construction of Long Thanh Airport.

In short, according to these opinions, building a new Long Thanh Airport is entirely feasible and can be considered a rather attractive project. However, that is only the theoretical attractiveness. Opponents have their own arguments. They argue that Tan Son Nhat Airport is not yet overloaded because its runway, apron, and terminal capacity meet current and future requirements. Furthermore, they point out that the current infrastructure of Tan Son Nhat Airport is still not optimally managed; with better planning and operation, it might take several more years to reach the capacity of both terminals. Regarding economic efficiency, many are concerned that investing in Long Thanh Airport, even just phase 1 with a capacity of approximately 20 million passengers per year, would require 164,000 billion VND. Investing to achieve a capacity of 100 million passengers per year would require double the capital for phase 1.

Given the current funding situation, even if the State only invests 50% of the budget for phase 1, it will be very difficult to attract domestic and foreign investors for the remaining portion. Not to mention whether any businesses would be willing to invest in the airport, because even if the State agrees, the funding of 4 billion USD would be difficult to secure. Even if ODA loans were possible, would it be feasible and advisable, considering that a few years ago, approximately 50% of total budget revenue was used for recurrent expenditures, and now it has risen to 72%. The President himself, during a meeting with constituents, stated: "At this rate, it will increase further; the remaining funds will not be enough to repay debts due, so we will have to borrow to repay debts." Therefore, in the future, borrowing will primarily be for repaying existing debts, not just for investment in development. Currently, public debt has reached a safe level, with an average of about 20 million VND per Vietnamese citizen. Vinashin has also been cited as a "great failure" of investment based on the principle of "counting chickens before they hatch," by borrowing heavily from foreign sources to invest in a world-class shipbuilding industry.

And in the end, all that remains are billion-dollar projects left exposed to the elements. It becomes clear here that the debate between the two sides has deviated from its original purpose of finding the truth, instead clinging to their own viewpoints to try and secure victory. And usually, debates aimed at determining a winner and loser are endless and pointless. However, this doesn't mean debate is unnecessary; it must continue to gain a clearer understanding of the issue, to discover more perspectives and solutions to address it effectively. Returning to the issue of whether or not to build Long Thanh Airport, both sides believe they are right and neither is willing to listen to the other. Each side tries to prove the other wrong, neither can convince the other, and the situation only becomes more complicated and confusing. Therefore, it is necessary to have a mediator who listens carefully and fully to all opinions from both sides with an impartial attitude in order to gain a multifaceted, unbiased perspective and gather all the necessary information to reach a final decision.

The role of "always listening," "always understanding," and making the right decisions is played by the people's representatives. At this National Assembly session, the issue of building Long Thanh Airport will be on the agenda. We hope that the National Assembly representatives will listen to the arguments from all sides and even debate among themselves to clarify the issue. Understanding the problem thoroughly, down to the smallest detail, is crucial for making the right decision. If the decision is correct, it will create further impetus for the national economy to take off; if it is wrong, the damage will be immense and not limited to just economic and financial matters. Therefore, listening and understanding are absolutely essential!

Buddha Mountain