ベトナム新体制―政治改革にもドイモイを

2011/01/25
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 24
EDITORIAL: Change in Vietnam
ベトナム新体制―政治改革にもドイモイを

In Japanese eyes, what kind of country is Vietnam? For the older generation, Vietnam evokes images of winning its war of national liberation against France and the United States. For the young generation, Vietnam might be a cheap vacation spot where they can buy cute bric-a-brac. Of late, Vietnam is gaining attention as a potential buyer of nuclear power plants and Shinkansen trains.
　日本にとって、ベトナムとはどんな国だろう。

　年配の人にはフランス、米国との戦争に勝って民族解放を遂げたイメージが強いだろう。若い世代にとっては、かわいい雑貨が安く手に入る旅行先かもしれない。最近は原発や新幹線の売り込み先としても耳目を集めている。

But, the Japanese don't know much about Vietnam's political system or its society.
　ところが政治体制や社会のあり方についてはあまり知られていない。

And now in Vietnam, the Communist Party that single-handedly rules the country has held its party congress, which takes place once every five years, and selected as its new general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong. This is the first change of party leader in 10 years.
　そのベトナムで一党独裁を続ける共産党が５年に一度の大会を開き、グエン・フー・チョン氏を新書記長に選んだ。１０年ぶりの最高指導者交代だ。

In the 10-year plan adopted by the congress, the leaders intend to carry on the annual 7-8 percent average economic growth, and become an industrialized country by 2020 by nearly tripling the GDP per capita to $3,000 (249,000 yen).
　大会で承認された１０カ年計画では、今後も年平均７～８％の経済成長を続け、２０２０年には１人当たりの国内総生産を現在の３倍近い３千ドルにして工業国入りをめざすという。

An ambitious goal, but the economic environment changing.
　意欲的な目標だが、足元の経済環境は最近、変調を来している。

Vietnam's currency is losing value, inflation is on the rise, fiscal and trade deficits are increasing. The national shipbuilding company is in a management crisis, and investors are losing trust.
　通貨安とインフレが進み、財政と貿易の赤字が膨らむ。国営造船会社の経営危機が投資家の不信を招いている。

It has been a quarter of a century since the country began its "doi moi" policies of creating a market economy. Despite great progress economically, the income disparity is growing larger. The people are disgruntled by corruption that permeates the government.
　市場経済化を中心に据えたドイモイ政策を始めてから四半世紀。経済を大きく発展させた半面、貧富の差は拡大する一方だ。政権に染みついた汚職体質に国民の不満は高まっている。

For the new administration, its immediate task is to purge itself of this corruption, ease the disparity and manage economic policies.
　新執行部にとっては、経済政策のかじ取りとともに、腐敗の根絶や格差是正が喫緊の課題だ。

In contrast to economic growth, progress in political-social reform, in things like democratization and human rights protection, tend to be extremely slow. It seems that within the party, there was much debate about the latest shuffling. Almost nothing of what was actually said has been made public, and a review is impossible.
　経済成長に比べ、民主化や人権保障といった政治・社会改革の歩みはきわめて遅い。党内では、今回の人事をめぐって様々な論争があったようだが、議論の中身はほとんど公開されておらず、検証するすべはない。

There is no end to the incarceration of anti-government activists and repression of religion. According to Reporters without Borders and its ratings of countries and journalistic freedoms, Vietnam ranks 165th among 178 countries and regions.
　反体制活動家の拘束や宗教者への弾圧も絶えない。「国境なき記者団」が発表する報道の自由度のランクでは、１７８カ国・地域中１６５位だ。

Doi moi means renovation. The new administration needs to embark upon an ambitious doi moi in its political and social reform, as well.
　ドイモイとは刷新を意味する。新執行部は、政治や社会改革の面でも大胆なドイモイに踏み出す必要がある。

In that sense, the general election scheduled for May is gaining attention. The right of people to stand for office is limited, so just how many non-Communist Party nominees and nominees without support from party-related organizations manage to gain office is a thing to watch. There were less than 10 percent in the last election.
　その意味で注目されるのは、５月の国会議員選挙だ。立候補に制限があるなかで、共産党員以外の人や党傘下組織の推薦を得ない候補がどの程度当選するか。前回は１割に満たなかった。

For Japan, Vietnam is a promising market and a place for investment. The Kan government seems intent on living or dying by the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, and Vietnam has already started negotiations with other countries about its entry.
　日本にとって、ベトナムは有望な市場であり投資先だ。菅政権が命運をかける環太平洋パートナーシップ協定への加盟交渉にもすでに入っている。

Japan is also seeking cooperation in national security, with an eye on China's rapid military expansion, and intends to start a joint development project with Vietnam for rare earth minerals.
　軍事力を急拡大させる中国との見合いで安全保障面での協調も模索し、レアアースの共同開発にも踏み出す。

Japan and Vietnam consider each other as "strategic partners for peace and prosperity in Asia."
　日本とベトナムはお互いを「アジアの平和と繁栄のための戦略的なパートナー」と位置づけている。

If so, the Japanese government should also encourage Vietnam in its democratization and political reform efforts.
　とすれば日本政府は、民主化や政治改革をも後押しするべきだろう。

Japan should occasionally point out to Vietnam things that may not necessarily sit well, like human rights issues. That kind of attitude should, in the long run, lead to a better relationship between the two countries, and help create a stable Vietnam.
　人権問題など相手の耳に痛いことでも時には注文をつける。そうした姿勢が長期的には両国関係の発展やベトナムの安定にもつながるはずだ。