Communist Review - During its formation and development process, every country needs internal driving forces. One of the most common and decisive internal driving forces is the interests of nation and people. On the basis of the nature of the State and the changing position and power of a country and the external environment, it is crucial for countries to always adopt a dialectical and strategic approach in identifying and securing the interests of nation and people.

The concept of national interest appeared long ago with the birth of nation - states. Different nations have different definitions of interests. Some define their interests in terms of politics, economy, culture, territorial sovereignty, etc. Others base on the level of importance (vital interests, extremely important interests, important interests, less important or secondary interests). These connotations form the background for countries to identify priority and core issues to protect and which ones be temporarily compromised⁽¹⁾. However, to flexibly conduct foreign policy, not every country declares openly what interests it wants to pursue.

Interests in the nation - people and international relationship

In the past, it was commonly believed that diplomacy was a prolongation of domestic affairs. Nevertheless, it has been said that today, due to globalization, domestic affairs are increasingly influenced by foreign affairs. No single country can stand alone without being affected by external factors. The current international context shows that there are two relationships to consider, namely: the relationship between states (represented by classes) and peoples (all walks of life) and the relationship between nations - nations and peoples – peoples in which interests are decisive factors affecting these relationships.

Firstly, nation and people are two similar concepts that have many differences. People are the foundation for a nation while a nation is specifically a political unit of people. People are eternal while a nation is finite. Nation and people are not always coincident in terms of interests. When there are conflicting interests, the socio-political conflict will arise, and consequently, the nation will confront real and serious legitimacy challenges. If their two interests are harmonized, nation and people will develop sustainably. To do that, the class representing a nation must have the competency and take into account the realization of the common good. 

Second, nation and international is the relationship between private and common interests. Nations and relations between them constitute the international where nations interact with each other. International relations, by nature, are cooperation or competition between nations - people for their interests. A state joining international life needs to properly harmonize private and common interests. If too much emphasis is placed on common interests while neglecting private interests, a nation will run the risk of nihilistic internationalism. On the contrary, if only pursuing national interests and ignoring common values, that nation will fall into narrow nationalism. Even if, for its own sake, it uses violence to harm the legitimate interests of another country, regardless of international law, that nation is showing its great power.

The interests of nation - people are the dominant principle of every policy- making of domestic matters and also governs its behavior in the international arena. However, the determination of interests is subjective, depending on the perception of each nation - people. In fact, the interests of nation - people are not always given top priority. In many cases, they are driven by group interests within each country as well as external factors, such as international trends (nationalism, populism, anti-globalization movement, civil protestation, etc) or even direct and indirect external interference.

National interests in the current international context

The history of nations and peoples shows that interests are always the central factor governing war and peace, cooperation, and competition. When the Second World War ended, the world moved into a new era, in which conflict of interests was no longer resolved through war, but through negotiation between countries, even in the context of divisions in international relations. The system of multilateral institutions, in which the center is the United Nations, the World Bank (WB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organization (WTO), etc was established by countries to handle conflicts of interest under laws and agreements. Strong globalization has made countries and peoples aware of the benefits of cooperation and alliance. Since then, the world has witnessed the rise of regional linkages, namely the European Union (EU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)... and international trade agreements at regional and inter-regional levels.

The Cold War ended in the early 90s of the twentieth century, shifting the world from a bipolar world order to a multipolar and multi-centered one. The transition has resulted in three inevitable “power shifts”: The world’s center of gravity is shifting from North to South (the narrowing gap between developed countries and developing ones), from West to East (from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean), and from the superstructure to the base (power moves from state actors to non-state actors).

This world order transition is also subjected to the law of contradiction. Each trend generates one or more counter-trends. For example, globalization is two sides of the same coin as it creates “winners and losers” both within and between countries. Within a country, the gains brought about by globalization are unevenly distributed, causing unemployment of several labor groups of the old mode of production, thus increasing inequality and social conflicts. The drawbacks of the “invisible hand” become more obvious and complicated when states and ruling classes fail to harmonize interests in society in the new circumstance. This is a fertile ground leading to the emergence of manifestations, anti-government movements, and populist nationalism in both developed and developing countries.

In the shifting world order, international relations also change as countries rethink their interests. The current international order and system is thought to be reducing the inherent advantages of developing countries, and considered a “too tight shirt” compared with the goal of developed countries, especially emergent great powers. As a result, the competition between existing great powers and emergent ones has become increasingly fierce to compete for their interests and position. In particular, the relationship US - China after three decades which dominates international relations, has moved from cooperation to comprehensive strategic competition to become the sole superpower for many decades to come.

The movement of the international order has created vibrations and intertwined new and old factors. International law deals with enormous obstacles due to the return of great powers, selfish nationalism, and extremism in many parts of the world. Multilateral institutions face legitimacy challenges. Voices continue to call loudly for the reform of the United Nations, WB, IMF, WTO, and so forth. Besides, one or several countries tend to create their own regional and international institutions, such as the Group of Developed and Emerging Economies (BRICS), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), etc.

In the same context, small and medium-sized countries are well aware that the interests of nation and people will only be guaranteed in an international order based on rules and multilateralism. In fact, these countries have made efforts to protect their national interests in the new challenging context. Along with identity, interests are often a determining factor in whether countries join or not international commitments or the merger or separation of peoples. The benefits here include both the benefits gained when joining and losses when conceding rights to self-determination to a certain extent. Over the past time, phenomena have appeared such as the withdrawal from international commitments of the US under the administration of Donald Trump or the Brexit and the declining importance of institutions and regional links since countries can not harmonize their private and public interests within and between countries.

In the era of industrialization and globalization, global problems are becoming more and more pressing. Typically, challenges from climate change and epidemics are becoming “common enemies” that no single country can solve on its own. Ironically, the biggest barrier of this combat against the common enemy comes from the fact that states still prioritize short-term interests over long-term interests. For instance, industrial powers have not yet reached a consensus on cutting global emissions or the “vaccine nationalism” amid COVID-19 pandemic surge across the world over the past two years. Although the international community has deployed joint efforts, the governance is not conducted globally, timely, and effectively. 

The world is still pondering over the socio-economic growth model in the new context. If efforts towards sustainable development are a story of harmonizing the interests of the present generation with future generations, inclusive development is a matter of ensuring equal interests among communities around the world. The risk of “being left behind” is real for states, peoples, and groups of people in terms of economy, society, politics, culture, healthcare, education... Science and technology development, on the one hand, innovates the world, on the other hand, brings new challenges, such as network security, health security... or the risk of falling behind. These are problems of interest that need to be solved in a globalized and interdependent world. More than ever, it is time for nations and peoples to have a common voice of common interests in order to handle together common and private issues and other conflicts of interest.

Securing the highest interests of Vietnamese nation and people in the new strategic period

Throughout Vietnam history, since the birth of the Van Lang State, the sense of nation - people has appeared. Thousands of years of building and defending the country, especially the combats against foreign invaders and natural disasters, have formed and consolidated that national consciousness. Since then, the thinking about the interests of nation and peoples has appeared along with the rise in the national consciousness. Classical masterpieces such as Nam Quoc Son Ha (Mountains and Rivers of the Southern Country), Binh Ngo Dai Cao (Great proclamation upon the pacification of the Wu), etc. are the clearest evidence showing Vietnam's consciousness of national interests from the very beginning.

History shows that putting the highest priority on national interests has helped Vietnam overcome the most challenging periods. For the sake of nation and peoples, the Vietnamese people are willing to put aside personal grudges so that “the king and citizens are united, brothers and sisters are in harmony, and the whole country joins hands”. For the sake of nation and peoples, the Vietnamese were determined not to lose an inch of the land left by their ancestors, and right after defeating invaders, they sent ambassadors abroad to maintain peace and territorial integrity so as to declare emperor inside and outside.

That tradition was inherited and developed in the modern period. The birth of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in 1930 ended the crisis of leadership and opened the way for national liberation and development. During more than 90 years of leadership, the CPV has always put the highest priority on the interests of nation and people and harmonized class interests and national interests. The Party affirms that the interests of the Vietnamese nation and the interests of Vietnamese people are coincident⁽²⁾. The interests of the working class, represented by the CPV, are harmonized with the interests of the working people and the whole nation.

During the resistance war against colonialism and imperialism, the Party has always put the interests of nation and people on top for the cross-cutting goal of national independence and socialism. Consequently, it led the nation to successfully win two resistance wars and unify the country. Entering the Doi Moi period, the Party looked truth straight, comprehensively renovated and helped the country overcome the socio-economic crisis, lifted the embargo and gradually integrated into the world, opening up new opportunities for the country. Those historical milestones have proved the correctness of persistently pursuing the interests of nation and people based on international cooperation.

During those periods, the thinking of the CPV on the interests of nation and people was inherited, promoted, and adapted to the international context and the domestic situation. Right from the 3^rd Plenum of the 7^th Central Committee (February 1992), the CPV set out one of the four principles in handling international issues which was “securing the real national interests”. The document of the 11^th Party Congress has officially affirmed for the first time the goal of securing the interests of nation and people. The 12^th Party Congress also indicated that it was vital to assure the supreme interests of nation and people under international law, equality, and mutual benefit...”⁽³⁾. The 13^th Party Congress (March 2021) reaffirmed: “Securing the highest interests of nation and people on the basis of the United Nations Charter and international law, equality, cooperation, mutual benefit”⁽⁴⁾.

In the current strategic period, Vietnam's interests of nation and people can be understood as “safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, and security, promoting inclusive and sustainable national development, enhancing the country's international position and prestige”.

Safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and security is to firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the country's territory in associated with the protection of the Party and State, the people and the socialist regime. It also includes the protection of the legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens and businesses abroad. In this case, the interests of nation and people are related to the country and people of Vietnam, the political system and socialist regime in Vietnam as well as the leadership of the Party and State. It also signifies the right of the Vietnamese people to decide their own destiny and future, to choose their political Party to lead the country, the social and political system, and the ideology and values they want to pursue. Interests of nation and people reflect the historical tradition and aspirations of the whole Vietnamese people throughout the national struggle to build and defend the Homeland and through revolutionary periods under the Party leadership.

Promoting comprehensive and sustainable national development is to build a strong and prosperous country by mobilizing internal and external forces towards the goal of “rich people, strong country, democracy, justice, and civilization”. In this connotation, the interests of nation and people require encouraging and promoting internal and external resources for dynamic and sustainable socio-economic growth. Interests of nation and people include the goal of building and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, creating favorable international conditions for the successful implementation of the Doi Moi and the cause of national industrialization and modernization, building and defending the socialist Fatherland amidst changing world, bringing into play the great strength of national unity to realize Vietnam's development vision and aspiration towards the year of 2020, 2025, 2030, and 2045.

Enhancing the country's international position and prestige is to raise Vietnam's soft power and strengthen Vietnamese identity in the international arena. On the one hand, this connotation results from two above-mentioned connotations. On the other hand, it complements and supports them. The country's international stature and prestige manifest in the world's respect and confidence in Vietnam - a background and premise for Vietnam to integrate into the world and gain cooperation and support of the international community. The international position and prestige, therefore, becomes a decisive factor in safeguarding national sovereignty and security as well as strongly promoting comprehensive and sustainable national development, contributing to the common struggle of the world's people for peace, national independence, democracy, and progress.

These three aspects constitute a unified and harmonious pillar of interests of nation and people. They complement and affect each other, creating the wholeness in interests of nation and people, thus making the realization of these interests feasible.

For Vietnam, at different historical periods, there may be different priorities, but these three goals are always harmonized to form a unified whole. For the present and coming period, the goal of security is the core, that of development is the center, and that of international stature is an important complement to security and development goals. Development must be central as the ultimate purpose and condition of every nation's existence is prosperity. Once developed, a country could remain its sustainable position.

The motto of securing the highest interests of nation and people becomes the lodestar lighting the way for Vietnam in the coming period. The document of the 13th Party Congress confirmed this principle in the part “Policy positions and directions”, showing the highest coherence in awareness. All directions and tasks in the coming period are for the sake of the interests of nation and people and all other interests must serve them.

Simultaneously, amid the global rise of nationalism and great power, the CPV has affirmed that Vietnam does not follow narrow-minded and selfish nationalism, that its national interests are placed under fundamental principles of UN Charter and international law which consist of equality of national sovereignty, respect for territorial integrity and national political independence, non-use of armed forces in international relations; non-interference in the internal affairs of States, respect of international duties and international law, amicable settlement of international disputes. These are universal and progressive principles that all mankind is striving to uphold. During the globalization process, although all countries, organizations, and individuals want to secure the highest interests of their country and people, they must strictly obey international practices and principles of international institutions in foreign relations. It is required to avoid extremist ideas and actions for local and national interests regardless of international law. Vietnam respects and protects these principles as well as its own interests and the common good. Over the past decades, the Party's comprehensive policy and consistent foreign policy in dealing with conflicts of interest, disputes over territorial sovereignty, and Vietnam’s success in assuming international responsibilities are the clearest evidence.

By conducting a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, openness, multilateralization, and diversification, Vietnam aims at “equal and mutually beneficial” cooperation to secure its national interests and harmonize regional and international interests. Over 35 years of renovation, Vietnam has demonstrated its role as a friend, a reliable partner, an active and responsible member of the international community, actively contributing to the peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

In conclusion, in every stage of the Vietnamese revolution, the interests of nation and people are both the goal, the motto, and the driving force for development. After more than 35 years of reform, the CVP made great strides in changing thinking on national interests.

These great strides result from the correct thinking about the interests of nation and people and the adaptability in each specific period of the country's development and amid a changing world. Specifically, it is to correctly determine the interests of nation and people for each period, point out what is the constant and what is the variable in interests of nation and people and formulate an appropriate and feasible strategy to secure national interests. Therefore, the thinking and renewing the thinking of the CPVon this issue is therefore always reasonable, timely, and adaptable, effective.

Giving the highest priority to securing the interests of nation and people is the cross-cutting point of view that governs the formulation of guidelines and policies of the Party and the State of Vietnam. The country's achievements today show that the CPV's point of view on putting the national interests first is completely correct and wise.

In the coming years, the regional and global environment is predicted to be very complicated, with great risks and challenges posed to national security and development. Firm in pursuing the goal of national independence and socialism, Vietnam needs to continue to put the national interests first on the basis of harmony with the interests of partners, the region, and the world. That is both a constant goal and a lodestar helping Vietnam concretize its development aspirations towards important historical milestones of the country in 2025, 2030, and 2045 and successfully build socialism.

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(1) For example, China identifies core interests including: national sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity, national reunification, and national political regime established by the Chinese constitution, and stable society, sustainable socio-economic development. The US identifies “four paramount national interests” as protecting the American people, America, and the American way of life; promoting the prosperity of America; maintaining peace through power; increasing US influence.

(2) Dang Dinh Quy: “Interests of nation and people are the supreme principle in foreign policy”. https://vov.vn/chinh-tri/loi-ich-quoc-gia-dan-toc-la-nguyen-tac-toi-cao-cua-hoat-dong-doi-ngoa-543351.vov 

(3) Documents of the 12^th National Congress, Office of the Party Central Committee, Hanoi, 2016, p. 153 

(4) Documents of the 13^th National Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, vol. I, p. 110 

This article was published in the Communist Review No. 973 (November 2021)