The Ambassador and Uncle Sau Khai's advice: "You must translate all my ideas and feelings"
(Baonghean.vn) - We respectfully introduce the sharing of Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Sanh Chau with Nghe An Newspaper about former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. Mr. Pham Sanh Chau is a famous diplomat, who was a close interpreter from the time comrade Phan Van Khai was Deputy Prime Minister until he became Prime Minister.
Reporter:Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, as someone who was closely associated with former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, could you share your own feelings about the leader whom you had many opportunities to accompany, serve, bond with, and who had a great impact on your diplomatic career?
Mr. Pham Sanh Chau:Prime Minister Phan Van Khai is a very careful person in foreign affairs. Every time he goes on a business trip abroad or receives international guests, he prepares his speech very carefully.
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| Prime Minister Phan Van Khai is known as the first Vietnamese leader to meet and contact the US President. In the photo, Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau stands fourth from the left, after former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. Photo provided by Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau. |
Right before the meeting with the client, he sat down at his desk to “review” his lesson one last time. As his interpreter, I prepared as carefully as he did, to the point where I knew exactly what he would say and what his thoughts would be if asked suddenly. However, the way he expressed himself would depend on the content, the context, and the conversation partner.
Reporter:Can you share a memory that left a deep and strong impression on you about the ability to make decisions, demonstrate talent and courage of the head of government that you directly witnessed?
Mr. Pham Sanh Chau:In the 1998 Informal ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam aimed to ensure the success of the conference in terms of organization, protocol, and logistics, and to build consensus to adopt the Hanoi Declaration, defining the vision for the entire Association. Vietnam also wanted to actively contribute to realizing the dream of ASEAN leaders to admit all 10 member countries in the Southeast Asian region, first of all, admitting Cambodia into ASEAN at this Summit.
According to Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai was a Vietnamese politician belonging to the first generation of Vietnamese technocratic leaders. He wisely steered the Vietnamese economic ship through the most turbulent economic period in the region caused by the 1997 Asian financial crisis, sustaining the average annual growth rate of 7% of the Vietnamese economy during his 9 years as Prime Minister.
However, the political instability in Cambodia in 1997 made several ASEAN countries skeptical, leading to disagreement in accepting Cambodia.
Uncle Sau Khai then called me and instructed: "You must translate all my ideas and feelings so that in the end they will have to accept my proposal."
The discussion at the Foreign Minister level chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam lasted until midnight at the Daewoo Hotel but failed to reach an agreement on Cambodia’s admission. The issue was referred to senior leaders for resolution.
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| Former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (sitting in the middle) and overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese students studying in New Zealand in 1999. Mr. Pham Sanh Chau stands first on the right. Photo: Archive |
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai tried three times to convince each leader who still had different opinions. The third time, he fought more fiercely and showed a determined attitude although very polite. I still remember having to use very sharp and sweet words to argue for the necessity of admitting the remaining three countries, including Cambodia, into ASEAN for the benefit of each country and the whole region.
When the countries still had conflicting opinions, the Prime Minister kept his voice stern but his face was downcast, his thick eyebrows were raised. I couldn't express this expression of his, so I had to raise the volume to express my dissatisfaction on his behalf.
"Prime Minister Phan Van Khai went down in history as the first high-ranking Vietnamese leader to officially contact the US president and invite him to Vietnam. Five years later, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai became the first Vietnamese leader to officially visit the United States."
Finally, the parties reached a compromise plan to declare Cambodia's admission right at the Conference as our original goal, but the admission ceremony would be held half a year later.
Every time I think of Cambodia joining ASEAN, I think of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's wholehearted efforts to "fight" not only for Vietnam, for friendship with Cambodia, but also for peace and stability in Southeast Asia and for a prosperous community of 10 ASEAN countries, which more than 15 years later became a reality.
Reporter:Thank you very much for sharing with Nghe An Newspaper!
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| Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau at a UNESCO meeting. Photo: File. |
In the election for the position of Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2017-2021 term, Mr. Pham Sanh Chau was one of seven candidates who made it to the final round of voting. The secret ballot of 58 member countries on October 9, 2017 in Paris (France) within the framework of the 202nd UNESCO Executive Board, chaired by German Ambassador to UNESCO Michael Worbs.
Mr. Pham Sanh Chau is currently Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister on UNESCO issues, Secretary General of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO. He began his diplomatic career in 1983, serving as Ambassador of Vietnam to Belgium, Luxembourg... In 1999-2003, he was the youngest person to be appointed as Ambassador, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO, Paris, France.