越南駐香港及澳門總領事 阮氏雅：

越南駐香港及澳門總領事 阮氏雅：致力加強越港友好合作關係

二零一三年九月二日是越南社會主義共和國成立六十八周年，在越南國慶節前夕，越南駐香港及澳門總領事阮氏雅接受了本刊的訪問，以下是採訪的主要內容：

1、 在過去數年來，香港與越南的雙邊貿易有顯著的發展，請問是否仍存增長空間？
總領事：越南與香港在經濟、貿易和金融等領域享有長久和相互有利的合作關係。數年來，在與越南保有貿易關係的九十二個國家和地區當中，香港列居第十八位。根據我們的統計，單是二零一三年上半年，兩地的雙邊貿易總額達二十一億二千萬美元，與去年同期相比，約增長了百分之八，使越南成為香港第十四大貿易夥伴。越南出口至香港的商品計有海產食品、蔬果、大米、腰果、橡膠、紡織品及服裝、電器產品、電腦、照相機等；從香港進口的商品有石油、化工、各種纖維、紡織原料、鋼鐵品、電子芯片等。考慮到兩地都具潛力，因此確是會存有很多的增長空間。舉例而言，越南菜式是少油膩、美味可口和非常健康的，因而深受香港市民歡迎。遺憾的是，現時只有少量餐廳及超級市場提供正宗的越南食品，而越南材料或商品等在香港很難找到。談到食品，本人對香港市民的口味甚為欣賞，假若香港有更多的正宗越南餐廳和越南廚師以及越南食材，相信對雙方都有利。

2、 近年來，香港一直是越南十名內的最大外來投資地，請問您會向香港商界傳達甚麼訊息？
總領事：多年以來，香港一直是越南最大外來投資地之一。根據我們的統計，香港是越南第六大外來投資地，最新批准的四十三個項目的金額便達六億五千七百六十三萬美元。截至今年七月二十三日，按照累積統計，香港在越南的投資項目達七百三十七個，註冊資本達一百二十六億美元，使香港成為越南的第六大外來投資地。以上投資項目主要涉及生產、組裝和出口紡織品及服裝、包裝加工、塑膠製品、品牌專利以及與旅遊、轉運與物流、運輸、進出口業、加工等的相關服務。
目前，越南正聚焦於經濟的可持續發展；促進經濟轉型；重視質量、生產力和最具競爭力。越南政府集中於具深度的知識型經濟、重視保護和改善社會經濟發展的環境。在這種情況下，外來直接投資已成為經濟的一個重要組成部分。政府通過多種法律和規定，為國內外的所有營商夥伴提供有利條件和確保平等相待。基於我們長久的和富有成果的合作關係，企業家們應考慮以下一系列的優勢，包括豐富的天然資源；年青且佔人口總數百分之五十三的龐大而具知識的勞工隊伍；一個穩定的政經環境；在過去數年以來有相對較高的經濟增長以及在地區內擴展市場等。以上這些因素，促進了政府與商界的合作與發展。我們歡迎商界投資於傳統的優勢領域，例如銀行和金融服務業以及新興的新材料和能源、高科技產業、生物工業和資訊業、環境保護業等等。

3、 香港特別行政區政府正尋求與東盟國家建立雙邊自由貿易協定，這協定如何令雙方得益？
總領事：在過去的數年當中，香港憑藉其優越的地理位置以及先進的銀行和金融服務，使其成為一個進出口貨物和服務的國際供應鏈城市。與此同時，香港亦成為在一個地區內向其他市場進行貿易的門戶，特別是作為中國內地與東盟國家的通道。據統計數字顯示，在二零一一年，東盟是香港第二大貿易夥伴，而在二零零九年，香港是東盟第七大貿易夥伴。在二零一一年，東盟與香港的雙邊貿易總額達九百三十億美元，佔香港全球貿易總額的百分之十以上，而東盟國家當中的新加坡、泰國、馬來西亞、越南和菲律賓都位列香港貿易夥伴的頭二十名內。由於香港與東盟在多個領域，包括電訊、教育、文化，特別是金融業等都有良好的合作，因此，香港與東盟國家加強聯繫，對雙方都會帶來實際的經濟利益。東盟國家，特別是越南是歡迎在不久之將來能與香港特別行政區政府簽署雙邊自由貿易協議。

4、 根據您的個人經歷，作為一位女性外交官有甚麼優勢？
總領事：我是在一個傳統家庭和社會環境長大的人，使我相信男性與女性之間是平等相待。然而，當我在紐約和日內瓦的聯合國論壇做遊說工作時(我以前曾駐的地方)，我的經歷證明，女性外交官確是有些優勢。當然，那些女性外交官必須是勝任這份工作，此外，由於她們的女性外觀、個性以及具備令人信服的能力，從而較容易地實現她們要達致的目標。另外一方面，我們也要多謝那些男性外交官，因為外交界，男性外交官佔大多數，而女性外交官較少，所以通常會有些優勢和特權。然而，我也有一些痛苦的經歷，在多種原因當中，包括宗教的差異，令女性外交官不能與男性外交官享有同等的權利。

5、 你對香港的看法如何？你任內的工作重點是甚麼事情？
總領事：我於二零一一年五月來港任職，對香港這城市印象深刻。相對我先前曾工作過的地方，紐約、日內瓦、倫敦，香港確是獨特的「東方遇上西方」之地。我喜愛這城市的一切，特別是其活力、動感和創新！
在我任內，我的工作重點是要加強香港和越南業已擁有的良好友誼和合作關係，促進經濟、貿易、金融的合作至更高層次、擴闊文化和教育的關係、繼續為香港和澳門的越南社群提供迅速和具效率的領事服務和保護。我相信香港和越南之間的關係在未來將會更加深化和擴闊！

駱勵生

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Madam Nguyen Thi Nha, Consul General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR interviewed by Mr. Frank Lok, President and Editor-in-Chief, International Link Magazine, on the occasion of the 68th National Day of Vietnam (September 2nd 1945 - September 2nd 2013)

1. The bilateral trade relations between Hong Kong and Vietnam has been developed remarkablely during the last few years. Do you think there is room to growth?

Vietnam and Hong Kong have been enjoying an increasing long term and mutual beneficial cooperation relationship in the fields of economic, trade and finance. For several years, Hong Kong ranks number 18th among 92 countries and territories having trading relations with Vietnam. According to our statistics, in the first half of 2013 alone, two way trade between the two sides has reached 2.12 billion US dollars representing an increase of about 8% compared to the same period of time last year. Vietnam ranks number 14th among the top 30 countries and territories having high volumes of trade with Hong Kong. Essentially Vietnam exports to Hong Kong sea food, vegetables, rice, cashew-nuts, rubber, textiles and garments, electronic appliances, computers, cameras...and imports from Hong Kong petroleum, chemicals, fibers of all sorts, textile materials, iron and steel products, electronic chips....Taking into consideration the potentials of both sides, there is much more room to growth. For example, Vietnamese cusines are very much appreciated in Hong Kong for being less oily, tasty and very healthy. However, few restaurants and super markets can offer authentic Vietnamese food and Vietnamese ingredients or products can rarely be found in Hong Kong. When it comes to food, I highly appreciate the Hong Kong people for their tastes. I am sure it would be of mutual benefit to have more authentic Vietnamese restaurants with Vietnamese chefs working as well as Vietnamese ingredient and products to be consumed in this city.

2. Hong Kong has been ranking among the top ten foreign investors in Vietnam for several years. What is your message to the Hong Kong business community?

Over the years, Hong Kong has always been ranking among the top investors in Vietnam. According to our statistics, last year, Hong Kong ranks number 6th among foreign investors in Vietnam having 43 newly approved projects worth 657, 63 million US dollars. As of July 23rd this year, in terms of accumulative volume, Hong Kong ranks number 6th among foreign investors in Vietnam with total 737 projects worth almost 12, 6 billion US dollars of registered capital. Most of these projects involve mainly in production, assemble and export of textile and garments, package processing, plastic products, brand name patents... as well as in services concerning tourism, forwarding and logistics, transportation, import - export, processing etc...

At present, Vietnam focuses on developing a sustainable economy, promoting economic restructures, considering quality, productivity, efficiency and competitiveness as top priorities. The government of Vietnam concentrates on intensive knowledge economy and attaches importance to protecting and improving the environment for socio-economic development. In this context, FDI has become an important part of the economy and the government has adopted various laws and regulations creating favorable conditions for the business sectors and ensuring an equal playground for all partners be they domestic or foreign. Stemming from our long term and fruitful relations of cooperation, its entrepreneurs should take into consideration a number of advantages including rich natural resources, young and abundant work force accounting for 53% of the population with growing intellectual standards, a stable socio - political environment, rather high economic growth rate for several years, extended market in the region, and above all, the government's pro-business and cooperation for development approach. Their investments are most welcome in the areas of traditional advantages such as banking and financial services as well as the emerging production of new materials and energy, high-tech product industry, bio-industry and IT, environment protection...etc.

3. How can both sides benifit from the fact that the Hong Kong SAR government is seeking to set up bilateral free trade agreement with ASEAN countries?

During the last few years, with its advantages of geographical location and advanced development such as banking and financial services, Hong Kong has emerged as an international supply chain of import - export in goods and services and at the same time, an important gateway of trade towards other market in the region, especially the gateway between China and ASEAN countries. Statistics shows that ASEAN was Hong Kong's second largest trading partner in 2011 whereas Hong Kong was ASEAN's 7th largest trading partner in 2009. Total bilateral trade in goods between ASEAN and Hong Kong amounted to over 93 billion US dollars representing over 10% of Hong Kong's total trade with the world in 2011 and five ASEAN countries namely Sinngapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines were among Hong Kong's tóp 20 trading partners. In this context, there has been good cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN in various areas including telecommunication, education, culture and notably financial matters. Therefore, to strengthen the connection between Hong Kong and the ASEAN countries will definitely bring real economic benefits for both sides. The ASEAN countries in general and Vietnam in particular, welcome the Hong Kong SAR government to set up a bilateral free trade agreement for the near future.

4. About your personal experience, how do you see the advantages of female diplomats?

I was brought up in a family tradition and social environment to be treated with and believe in equality among men and women. However, when it comes to lobbying at the United Nations' Forums in New York and Geneva - where I had been posted previously - experiences proved to be true that female diplomats could have some advantages. First of all, the female diplomats must be qualified for the job. In addition, due to their feminine appearance, personality as well as persuasive capability, in certain circumstances, female diplomats can easily achieve what they aim for. Morover, it is thankful to the manly characters of male diplomats - who are always of the majority in diplomacy that female diplomats - who usually are few - can easily be given priorities and privileges. However, I have also had some bitter experiences relating to various reasons including religious differences where female diplomats couldn't enjoy even their equal rights as male diplomats let alone advantages over them.

5. How do you see Hong Kong and what are your work priorities at this stage?

I came to Hong Kong in May 2011 and was very much impressed about this city. Compared to my previous postings in New York, Geneva and London, Hong Kong has the uniqueness of a location where East meets West. I love the city very much for everything especially its dynamics, vibration and innovation.

At this stage, my work priorities are to strengthen the current excellent friendship and cooperation relations, to promote economic, trade, finance cooperation to a higher level, to widen cultural and educational relations between Hong Kong and Vietnam, to continue providing prompt and efficient consular service and protection to the Vietnamese community in Hong Kong and Macao. I am confident that a more deepened and broadened relationship between Hong Kong and Vietnam can be achieved in the ears to come.