New German Ambassador Jutta Frasch told Tuoi Tre News that relations between Vietnam and Germany hold ample potential and that one of the best investments in the future is in young people.

1) Congratulations to you on becoming the new German ambassador to Vietnam. This seems to be your first experience in Asia. How are your preparations in receiving the ambassadorial role in Vietnam?

Thank you. By pure chance in February this year I already visited Vietnam as a tourist – and liked travelling here a lot. I therefore already had an impression of Vietnam before I was given the honour to serve as ambassador.

2) Germany was Vietnam’s biggest trade partner in EU, according to figures in September 2011. What are the figures of August 2012? In the role of ambassador, how would you assess the trade relation potential between Vietnam and Germany in the next five years? In which sectors in Vietnam are German investors interested in?

I have not seen the latest figures on trade between Vietnam and Germany yet, but I believe that trade in the first half of 2012 almost attained 2 billion USD – and this in an economically difficult climate. This shows that there is a lot of potential for further increases in bilateral trade.

In the past few years, Vietnam has seen fast economic growth and a diversification of its economy. I do not doubt that if this positive trend continues, we will see more German investment in many sectors.3) What does the German community in Vietnam expect of you? In which areas of Vietnam’s investment do German enterprises complain the most?

I am in close contact with the German business communities in Hanoi, but also Ho-Chi-Minh-City. I try to meet with their representatives as often as possible and listen to their concerns, but also many stories of success. Our Minister of Economics, Mr. Philipp Roesler, was accompanied by 50 businessmen and women when he visited Vietnam in September. This shows the big interest that especially German Mittelstand has in Vietnam. They need trust, a reliable legal framework for their investments and transparent decisions by the Vietnamese authorities.

4) What do you say on the integration of the Vietnamese community in Germany? Before accepting your job in Vietnam, you probably must have met with the Vietnamese community in Germany, what proposals and opinions did you receive at that meeting? According to you, in order to turn the Vietnamese community in Germany into an efficient bridge connecting Vietnam and Germany, which factors should be added?

I believe that the Vietnamese community in Germany is well integrated. One way to measure this is the academic success that children of Vietnamese descent have in Germany – and here the Vietnamese community is an excellent example for a successful integration.

The more than 100,000 Vietnamese who have close ties to Germany through their personal histories are a unique foundation on which our bilateral relations are built.

 Jutta Frasch presents credentials to Vietnam president Truong Tan Sang (Courtesy of German Embassy)

5) Education is a sector that the German government focuses on in supporting Vietnam. Why is that? The German government has supported in opening the International German School (IGS) and the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong Province. How do you assess their enrolment activities considering the two have been in operation just recently, much later than many international schools from other countries?

The demand for German curricula in Vietnam has been on the rise in the past few years. Both the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) as well as the International German School (IGS) in HCMC are a response to this. Both institutions also symbolize the friendship between our countries in bringing together young German and international children and students with young Vietnamese.

But apart from strengthening our relations, both institutions serve the purpose of preparing young people for a demanding future working environment. Our world and economies change very quickly. The only way to keep up with this change is to give students the tools to adapt to these changes. I firmly believe that both the IGS and VGU provide these tools, benefiting from German experience and knowledge in the field of education.

I would be most happy if the pupils of the German School would attend the VGU and later come to Germany to complete their studies.

6) What do you think of the studying ability of Vietnamese pupils? Vietnamese are known as hard workers and for the importance they accord education. It is impressive to see the long hours that Vietnamese students study each day and the effort and resources dedicated to education.

7) Cultural cooperation and exchange is one aspect you care about, especially in bridging with the Vietnamese community in Germany as you say on the website of the German embassy. During you tenure, how do you intend to develop this aspect?

I believe that one of the best investments into the future of the relations between our two countries is that in young people. The already mentioned Vietnamese-German University and International German School are only two examples of the cooperation between our two countries which bring young Vietnamese and Germans closer together. I am pleased that German companies in Vietnam want to engage more in vocational training, i.e. to give Vietnamese students the opportunity to lean practical skills.

We observe a growing interest for Germany here in Vietnam. In the past few years, the number of Vietnamese learning German has increased. We now have almost 3000 students learning German as a foreign language in schools; many of these students will study in Germany in the future. To me, this is a very encouraging trend which we will continue to support.

8) A personal question. As a woman taking the role of ambassador, what advantages and disadvantages do you have? Do your two children follow a diplomatic career? What is the most important lesson you teach your children in life? Can you share it with our Vietnamese readers?

I am very grateful for the very friendly and warm welcome I received during my first months in Vietnam. I think this is not due to the fact that I am a woman, but because the German-Vietnamese relations are generally very good. For me it is a great honour to be the German ambassador to Vietnam and help to further strengthen the friendship and the understanding between Germany and Vietnam.

My two daughters did not join the diplomatic service: One of them is an engineer for an international company, the other is an artist and highly involved in modern art as well as in history of arts. It is very important that girls and young women get the best education possible and that they can build their own careers and earn their own living.

Thank you very much