Vietnam’s state-controlled media reported that State President To Lam has completed his first overseas trips to Laos and Cambodia on July 11-13. The Voice of Vietnam – VOV reported on the evening of July 13 that the high-level Vietnamese delegation, led by the state president ended its visit to Laos and Cambodia, and returned to Hanoi.
This is To Lam’s maiden foreign visit as State President. This trip also shows the respect of Vietnamese state leaders for neighboring countries to the west. After a visit to the capital Vientiane of Laos, on July 11, the high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived in the capital Phnom Penh of Cambodia on the afternoon of July 12 to continue the visit to this country.
The trip of the Vietnamese head of state takes place in the context of China’s increasing influence on Laos and Cambodia – which are two strategic allies with a long tradition of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Among them, the relationship with many disagreements between Vietnam and Cambodia has become especially complicated, related to the Funan Techo Canal Project, making Vietnamese leaders extremely confused and passive recently.
According to the plan, on August 5, the Cambodian government will officially break ground on the Funan Techo Canal Project, on the birthday of Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. This project, once implemented, will worsen drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, as well as affect the lives of about 20 million people there.
However, international news agencies commented that when meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet; Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen; National Assembly Chairman Khuon Sudary; King Norodom Sihamoni, etc. Lam did not mention anything about the Funan Techo canal issue.
According to Vietnam’s state-controlled media, when meeting Hun Sen, Lam still optimistically emphasized: “Do not let hostile forces distort and divide the friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.”
This is contrary to the expectations of domestic and international observers. Before that, many people still hoped that the Vietnamese state president would have appropriate solutions to reconcile the interests of Vietnam and Cambodia related to the Funan Techo Canal Project. But that did not happen.
Notably, during his visit to Laos on July 11, an event considered the “focus” of the press was that, on behalf of the Party and State of Vietnam, Lam presented 20 VinFast VF9 electric cars. He even “personally took the wheel” driving the VF9 car, carrying General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, for reporters to take pictures and advertise electric motorbike car of billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong.
This event has caused controversy on Vietnamese social networks. The majority of opinions disagree, saying that Lam himself acting as “brand ambassador for VinFast” in Laos is very inappropriate.
Recently, related to the power struggle between Lam and his faction, the case of “Mobifone buying 95% of the shares of AVG Company, related to billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong” has been mentioned again. Accordingly, Lam was accused of being jointly responsible for causing the state to lose nearly VND7 trillion ($40 million) in 2015.
There are direct criticisms, saying that Lam’s position is now different. When “walking through a melon field, don’t tie your shoelaces” to avoid unnecessary and unnecessary suspicions.
Leaders should not, and must not, be taken advantage of by interest groups to advertise for them. This will affect the prestige and honor of the country./.
Tra My – Thoibao.de
