THE ROLE OF THE USSR AND OTHER COMECON COUNTRIES IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (1976-1980)

The article presents a comparative characteristic of the assistance of the USSR and other countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance in the development of the national economy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976-1980. The main directions of economic assistance to Vietnam from CMEA members are analyzed, the factors that influenced the dynamics and effectiveness of interaction between the parties are highlighted. As a result of the study of previously unpublished archival documents, as well as the works of domestic and foreign researchers, the author concludes about the decisive importance of the USSR in the structure of CMEA economic assistance to Vietnam. It is revealed that the USSR was the only member of CMEA, which on a permanent basis carried out significant cash injections into the economy of the SRV, despite the failure of the second five-year plan for the development of the national economy of Vietnam. It is noted that the USSR was involved in the construction of the largest, in comparison with other CMEA countries, the number of large objects of national economy in the territory of the SRV, which determined the dominant position of the Soviet side in the structure of providing the Vietnamese economy with necessary resources. It is established that unlike other CMEA countries, the Soviet Union helped the SRV in the construction of mining and energy industry enterprises, which were of strategic importance for the functioning of the national economy of the country. At the same time, the paper presents facts proving the important role of other CMEA countries in the development of the economy of the SRV. In particular, it is emphasized that the USSR's assistance in training Vietnamese workers was of equal importance compared to the total contribution to this process by the GDR, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria.