"What did the Chinese gain from 30 years of continuous reform and opening-up to the outside world?" The answer to this question may be as varied as there are people in the world. For Do Tien Sam, a Vietnamese scholar on Chinese affairs, the answer is "happiness and freedom."

"The Chinese now enjoy greater protection of their property and freedom after years of reform and opening-up. We can say that they enjoy greater freedom and happiness today," said Do in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The scholar, who can speak fluent Chinese, has read many books on China and visited a number of provinces along the China-Vietnam border and on the eastern coast of China.

Professor Do, who has accumulated comprehensive and in-depth knowledge about Chinese affairs through years of study, is currently director of the Institute of Chinese Studies under the Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences.

He believes that the great achievements of China's reform and opening-up policy are visible in all aspects of the Chinese society, including the economic, scientific and cultural sectors.

The recent successful mission of the Shenzhou-7 manned spacecraft and China's successful hosting of the Beijing Olympics are further proof of the country's growth, said Do. These major events have enhanced the national strength of China and highlighted its role in the international arena, he added.

Behind such enormous achievements lies the acumen of Chinese leaders such as Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, revealed at different stages of the reform and opening-up process, said Do.

They devised policies that suited the domestic situation of China and the development trend of the times. Their measures lifted China out of poverty, advanced the country on the path to modernization, and strengthened and developed socialism in China, he said.

The Chinese reform and opening-up policy has been beneficial not only to China, but also to the world, Do pointed out.

He said that in the economic sector, China has become an important engine driving world economic growth. Its huge import volume has created jobs in many countries, especially neighboring ones.

In the political sector, China's experience in developing its economy could be emulated by other developing countries, Do suggested.

It is important that China sticks to its reform and opening-up policy, the professor said, adding that the path of peaceful development chosen by China contributes to the stability of East Asia.

A close neighbor of China, Vietnam embarked on the road to innovation more than two decades ago and has made huge achievements since then, said Do.

Vietnam and China share many similarities in their history, culture, politics and economy and it is thus necessary to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the scholar said.

With increasing uncertainty in the world economy and rapid changes inside China and Vietnam, both countries are faced with new challenges, said Do. It is therefore even more important to implement pragmatic cooperation and exchanges at this point.

Do believes one of the key areas of cooperation between the two countries should be innovation in theory and thinking, including addressing economic development and social justice, and independence and economic globalization; exploring the party's role in national management as well as economic and social development; making political reform keep pace with social and economic development, environmental conservation and sustainable development; preserving national cultural identity and absorbing the essence of other cultures.

Earlier this year, top Chinese and Vietnamese leaders agreed to further develop their partnership of comprehensive, strategic cooperation. This will give a new impetus to bilateral ties in the new era, said Do.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2008)