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SEA-CSN Vietnam's
3rd National Workshop on "Development: Economic,
Environmental Impacts and Solutions"
(October 2-3, 2002)
Within the programme of activities for 2001-2003 of the
Vietnam Network for Conflict Studies, a national workshop
was held under the theme “Development: Economic,
Environmental Impacts and Solutions” by the Institute
for International Relations, Vietnam. The workshop was
attended by representatives of various ministries, agencies,
research institutes and universities from different provinces
in Vietnam. Discussions focused on the impact of the
national development process on the economy, the environment
and ways to remove negative impacts so as to prevent
potential conflicts that may arise from the process.
Participants at the workshop identified the conflicts,
existing and potential, arising from the economic development
in Vietnam, particularly the transformation from the
command economy to the socialist-oriented market economy.
These conflicts are continuously transforming in various
forms. They include structural economic conflicts, conflicts
among different economic sectors, between the domestic
and the international legal systems, between the state’s
economic management policies and policies of enterprises,
between integration into the world economy and the low
competitiveness of many domestic industries. Emphasis
was made on the uneven development among areas and the
conflict arising from the implementation of state’s
development policies at local levels. The two issues
may result in the gap between the rich and poor widening,
leading to conflicts of economic and social rights which
are root causes of internal instability. Studying the
experience of other Southeast Asian countries in their
national development, some participants were of the view
that uneven development and the widening development
gap among areas might lead to the increase in localisation
and decentralisation which are threats to the national
traditional security and political stability.
Regarding the impacts on the environment, a conclusion
was reached that the recently witnessed serious environmental
problems are the consequences of economic growth, urbanisation
and industrialisation. Vietnam is currently facing environmental
problems such as deforestation, soil erosion, the decline
in available cultivation land per capita, water, land
and air pollutions, contamination of the sea, and ineffective
use leading to shortage of natural resources. The environmental
degradation highlights the need to pay more attention
to the sustainability of development.
The last session of the workshop was for recommendations
on how to deal with the economic and environmental impacts
of the development process in Vietnam. A majority of
the participants agreed on the view that the conflict
between economic growth and sustainable development is
the common problem of every economic model. Settling
the economic and environmental issues arising from the
development process means accepting a modest, economic
growth rate. In this regards, each country has their
own options, both short and long-term. What is necessary
for Vietnam is to study different development models
and the experience of other countries in their development
path in order to make the best option for development
strategy suitable to the actual conditions of Vietnam
and its provinces.
Many concrete technical and humanity measures were proposed
to be taken simultaneously in order to achieve sustainable
development in Vietnam. However, humanity measures were
emphasized with the argument that sustainable development
is, in essence, the issue of culture and mankind. Therefore,
humanity measures, particularly education and human resources
development, are the root solutions to balancing economic
growth, environmental protection, and social equity.
Although the focus of the workshop was on economic and
environment issues, social and cultural issues could
not be separated from the former in the development process.
Participants also touched upon social and cultural conflicts
that may arise on the development path of the country
and looked forwards to the next workshop to be organised
on such issues by the Vietnam Network for Conflict Studies.
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