Research On The Comparison Of Economic Reform Of China And Vietnam Since The1980s

China and Vietnam are close neighbors since ancient times. The two peoples have forged a profound traditional friendship. The Communist Parties of both countries support each other, fighting together since their founding by the great Chairman Mao Zedong and Chairman Ho ChiMinh. The blood becomes capable of evoking praises and tears from true comrades and brothers of friendship. After years of revolutionary struggle, the two countries embarked on the socialist road by following the Soviet model in specific historical conditions. Both of them formed a highly centralized political and economic system, and a diplomatic "one-sided" closed situation. China and Vietnam started the great cause with a reform of the economic system as their core content in the late1970s and early1980s. Compared with the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries’ reform process. China and Vietnam have distinctive features in their reform process. The two countries have a similar understanding of the guiding ideology for economic reform, and of the economic reform process itself, and both countries have experienced the process of reform roughly the same. The economic reforms in the two countries have garnered great successes, and opened up their new ways which are unprecedented in history. These reforms are China’s "socialist market economy", and Vietnam’s "socialist oriented market economy" However. China and Vietnam are two different countries. The economic reform process still reflects many differences. This article is trying to compare the background, theory, and practice of economic reform between China and Vietnam on the basis of exploring the background, theory, and practice of economic reform in Vietnam. This article will deepen the understanding of how the two countries carry out their economic reform in the ever-changing condition of international economic situations, and gain inspiration from it. and draw upon its experience and lessons to learn from. This will also deepen the understanding of the commonalities and differences of the economic reforms between China and Vietnam. At the same time, we can make a useful and necessary discussion based on a weak comparative study on Chinese and Vietnamese economic reform while hoping to provide some new information and ideas, and to enrich both of their theories. More importantly, the research can be used in the practice of economic reform in Vietnam and to play a guiding role to help solve some problems that exist in the relations between China and Vietnam. The findings can be used in history lessons and research in both China and Vietnam, and also may be used in Chinese as a second language lesson. This will hopefully make the teaching of Chinese history to have more relevance in Vietnam, and therefore make due contributions to the comprehensive cooperation between China and Vietnam. This is also the author’s first attempt in this subject as a Vietnamese student studying in China.This article has three parts, which includes the introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction part is the reason and significance for choosing the topic. The research ideas, the status of academic research, and the theoretical basis of the study are described.The body is divided into six chapters. The first chapter discusses and compares the background of reform between China and Vietnam on the basis of exploring diachronic and synchronic. Also pointed out are the inherent contradictions of economic policies in China and Vietnam before the reform which caused the need for reform. I show that the background and initial conditions of economic reform in China and Vietnam have many similarities and differences. It should be noted, in the overall level of national economic development, degree of industrialization, science and technology, and culture and education, etc, Vietnam lags behind China. In other words, the conditions of China’s reform are better than Vietnam’s. These initial results also have some impact on bilateral economic transitions which follow. The second chapter compares China and Vietnam’s socialist innovation theory. This part introduces the views and innovation theories of the two communist parties of China and Vietnam and the problems of a socialist market economy with ownership and distribution system. This chapter also argues that the specific practices of China and Vietnam according to their national conditions are generally the same with some differences. In summation, the theory and experience of reform in the two countries is roughly the same. The main content of innovation theory is similar but uses different names. Actually, the economic reforms in the two countries have a common purpose. These purposes are to find the correct road of socialist development, vigorously develop advanced productive forces, get rid of the socio-economic crisis, realize socialist modernization, improve people’s standard of living, and create wealth. With the innovation theory of the two communist parties, China and Vietnam have attached great importance to socialist theories. They practice exploration, verification, and innovation, with emphasis on keeping to the direction and principle of the socialist road. At the same time, they keep the practice of economic reform development pointing in the right direction by putting forth the correct policy. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth chapters elaborate on and compare the practice of economic reform between China and Vietnam. These chapters argue about the gradual economic reform of socialist market economy being conducted in China and Vietnam. A large amount of concrete data in this thesis contributes much to it’s analysis and comparison about the data of the major sectors of the economy, the rate of economic growth, the process of reform, the growth of foreign trade, the national economic management, and livelihood issues, with highlights from the economic reforms in the two countries which have gained great success. This article is trying to describe the great success of economic reform between China and Vietnam, while also pointing out the problems encountered on the path of reform and development in China and Vietnam. After decades of economic reform, the socialist market economies in the two countries have taken shape initially, but this frame is not well suited to the development of our modern time’s economy. Therefore. China and Vietnam need to continue to deepen the reform of the agricultural sector, state-owned enterprises, and other sectors of the economy.The conclusion summarizes the successful experience of economic reform in China and Vietnam, and the enlightenment gained from it. The conclusion reaffirms the importance of economic relations between China and Vietnam, and the important status and influence of Chinese economic policies. Enlightenment to the economic reform in China and Vietnam enables it to give better service to our socialist cause. This thesis also covers the outlook of the development of the China-Vietnam economic relations, and argues that bilateral economic policies support each other, and that learning from each other is the best way. In accordance with the interests of the two countries, analyzing the importance of relations with China in Vietnam’s foreign relations points out the important status and influence of China on Sino-Vietnamese relations. Affirming the friendship, cooperation, and development are still the dominant trend of the future development of relations between China and Vietnam. The two countries will take a traditional route through bilateral all-around friendship and cooperation to fly farther and reach higher goals.