Former Israeli ambassador highly values “bamboo diplomacy” of Vietnam
The “bamboo diplomacy” of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is a good policy for the sake of the Vietnamese people, said Chairman of the Israel - Vietnam Friendship Association Amikam Levy.
Participants pose for a group photo at a ceremony establishing the Israel - Vietnam Friendship Association on January 22, 2023. (Photo: VNA)
Tel Aviv (VNA) – The “bamboo diplomacy” of theCommunist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is a good policy for the sake of theVietnamese people, said Chairman of the Israel - Vietnam Friendship AssociationAmikam Levy.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency's resident reporter in Tel Aviv, Levy, who served as IsraeliAmbassador to Vietnam from 2001 to 2003, described the “bamboo diplomacy” as anexcellent initiative, a style of leadership, and a commitment.
Having come to many localities in Vietnam, including ruralareas, he knows about the bamboo very well, he said.
He expressed his admiration for the combination of “diplomacy”and “bamboo”, and considered this as a smart combination as the plant is alwaysflexible, strong, and highly communal.
It is not easy to carry out the “bamboo diplomacy” policy since theimplementation may encounter many obstacles and requires a high sense ofresponsibility, Levy opined. But he believed that Vietnam can surmount thoseobstacles soon.
Levy added that he is impressedwith the CPV’s leadership role in Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, andthat the country has chosen a right direction, had a strong leadership, and also shown its aspirations and clear commitments.
He held that Vietnamese leaders are visionary and have madededications for the sake of the people, and that Israel can learn many things fromVietnam and also have many things to contribute to the latter.
Talking about Israel-Vietnam relations,Levy said the two countries share a similarity in history when both had struggled forindependence, as well as similarities in fundamental values, strong will, andcommitments to bringing security and prosperity to their people.
The bilateral relations are flourishing, he wenton, suggesting that to boost mutual understanding between their people, the two countriesshould organise more events and talks, especially about culture, learn fromeach other, and never cease working to seek measures for enhancing the ties.
From now to the end of 2023, many impressiveand meaningful activities will take place to mark the 30th founding anniversaryof bilateral diplomatic relations, he said./.
Bamboo holds a significant place in Vietnamese history, culture, and people’s daily lives, symbolising strength, flexibility, and resilience. Vietnam’s determination to pursue a foreign policy that draws on these characteristics is seen as a pragmatic response to the challenges facing the country in a rapidly-changing world, according to scholars.
External relations have helped Vietnam improve its international position and step by step enhanced the country’s reputation in the world arena, Wei Wei, head of the Vietnamese department under China’s central TV and radio station, said during an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on Vietnam’s achievements in external relations and the role of “bamboo diplomacy” policy.
Veeramalla Anjaiah, a senior research fellow at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) and senior journalist based in Jakarta, has commended Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” for its contributions to national achievements.
Vietnam’s foreign policy described by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as “bamboo with strong roots, solid stems and flexible branches” has its essence in, and represents the development of a positive and progressive foreign policy based on Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought.
Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” is suitable for all times, said senior reporter Khamvisan Keosouphan, former Assistant to the Chairperson of the Propaganda and Training Commission of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
Participants pose for a group photo at a ceremony establishing the Israel - Vietnam Friendship Association on January 22, 2023. (Photo: VNA) 
