New stature of the Vietnam-US relations
WVR - By elevating the Vietnam-US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, for the first time in its history, Vietnam has a strategic partnership with all leading important partners, including all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
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| New stature of the Vietnam-US relations: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and US President Joseph Biden at the press conference in Hanoi on September 10, 2023. (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong) |
US President Joe Biden's visit on September 10-11 marked the first time a US President paid a state visit at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Within the framework of the visit, this "first milestone” was historic when, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden adopted a Joint Statement on establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development, "for the benefit of the two peoples and the desire to strengthen cooperation for the purposes of peace, cooperation and sustainable development in the new context", as emphasized by the Party General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
The historic event in the relationship between the S-shaped country in Southeast Asia and the world's leading power was broadcast on the News program of Vietnam Television VTV at prime time 7 p.m on September 10 and featured on various media outlets, brought joy to many Vietnamese people, American and international friends.
The event is especially meaningful for generations who have gone through the liberation war and also for generations born and raised in sacred peace. Fruits do not ripen overnight. Vietnam-US relations have had to overcome many ups and downs. Both sides have worked hard every day to get "sweet fruit" today. Just like the specific motto for the Vietnam-US relationship development that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized in the talks is: "to put the past aside, overcome differences, promote similarities and head to the future".
Important connotations
Thus, the United States becomes Vietnam's fifth comprehensive strategic partner, along with Russia, China, India and Republic of Korea. In the talks and meetings between President Joe Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the leaders all emphasized upgrading Vietnam-US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership reflects the stature of the relationship, which is consistent with the interests of the two peoples and actively contributes to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
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| Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong holds talks with US President Joe Biden in Hanoi on September 10 (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong) |
The 5,000-word "Joint Leaders’ Statement on elevating Vietnam-US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership" exudes important connotations of the relationship at the highest level between the two countries. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stated clearly that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership shall continue to be built upon the basis of the full respect for the fundamental principles guiding the two countries' relations thus far. These include respect for the Charter of the United Nations, international law and each other's political system, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The two sides emphasized mutual understanding of each other’s relevant situation, respect for legitimate interests and non-interference in each other's internal affairs as basic principles that always have important significance for the two countries' relations and international relations.
The new content of the relationship inherits the existing content of cooperation between the two countries and brings it to new heights through promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation in the direction of innovation as the foundation, the focus and driving force of bilateral relations; strengthening scientific and technological cooperation is a new breakthrough.
Vietnam and the United States recognize that ensuring long-term prosperity can only be achieved when the people of both countries have many opportunities to learn new skills, exchange ideas, accumulate experience and obtain international understanding. Therefore, education and training cooperation is an important area of cooperation.
In that spirit, Vietnam and the United States encourage the opening of the two countries' universities and laboratories to share good experiences, scientific advances and learning opportunities, with a focus on supporting more Vietnamese students, teachers, scholars and research experts to participate in education and training programs in the United States. President Vo Van Thuong expressed his hope that Fulbright University will become a high-quality training center, serving the development not only of Vietnam but of the region.
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| New stature of the Vietnam-US relations: President Vo Van Thuong receives US President Joe Biden. (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong) |
Overcoming the consequences of war continues to be identified by both sides as a priority area of cooperation. The United States continues to cooperate with Vietnam in clearing explosives ordnance left over from the war, dioxin detoxification, expanding programs to help people with disabilities, and searching the remains of soldiers from both sides still missing during the war. As affirmed by Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war is an indispensable area for the process of healing, building and strengthening trust, understanding and mutual respect between two States and People of two countries.
Maintaining the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress
Speaking with President Joe Biden, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong quoted the great Irish poet William Yeats - "Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends” to express Vietnam's desire to build friendly relationships around the world, including the United States.
“Vietnam will continue to strengthen its ties with U.S. and others international partners in the spirit outlined by President Ho Chi Minh after Vietnam reclaimed its independence. That is, Vietnam wishes to be a friend with all countries. For the U.S., President Ho Chi Minh affirmed Vietnam’s full independence and affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to engage in full cooperation with the U.S. This independence and this cooperation will benefit the entire world”, the General Secretary told the press.
The 13th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam determined the policy of promoting and deepening bilateral cooperative relations within the framework of a consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversify and multilateralize external relations. Vietnam is a friend, a trusted partner and an active and responsible member of the international community.
This visit by President Joe Biden shows that the United States truly values Vietnam, as well as Vietnam's proactive, positive and responsible role at both the regional and world levels.
Throughout the high-level meetings, President Biden reaffirmed that the the United States greatly values ties with Vietnam, and supports a strong, independent, self-reliant, prosperous Vietnam with continuous reform and expanded international integration, performing an increasingly important role in ASEAN and the region.
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| On the morning of September 11 at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Joe Biden attended the Vietnam-US High-level Conference on Investment and Innovation. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh) |
Clearly, elevating the relationship to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the United States and continuing to deepen relations with other important partners to utilize all resources both internally and externally is a effective implementation of the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress; affirming the correctness of Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliant, diversification and multilateralization of external relations.
The beginning of a new chapter
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that the leaders of the two countries agreeing to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is very important, but is also just the beginning. More importantly, it is how the ministries and people of the two countries will implement and realize the agreements of leaders in the coming time.
Right in the exchange between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Vietnam-US High-level Conference on Investment and Innovation with the participation of a number of the two countries' leading businesses, it has clearly seen the spirit of "action" to strongly and effectively deploy the new framework of bilateral relations.
Specifically, regarding economic - trade - investment cooperation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that this should be considered the "eternal engine" of bilateral relations, suggesting that the US side soon recognize Vietnam's market economy, as well as upgrading the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, continue to encourage US high-tech enterprises to do business in Vietnam.
In addition, the Prime Minister proposed that the two sides create breakthroughs in science and technology cooperation, innovation, education and training; strongly promote cooperation in climate change response, green growth, and developing renewable energy.
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President Biden witness leaders of the Vietnamese and US veterans associations and defence ministries presenting war mementos to each other. (Photo: VNA) |
For his part, President Joe Biden proposed that the two sides strengthen cooperation in the semiconductor supply chain through human resource training programs for Vietnam, thereby gradually supporting Vietnam to participate more deeply and become a global market important part in supply chains in the region and around the world.
The guest from the of land of Stars and Stripes came to Vietnam on the autumn days of September, when Ba Dinh Square was bathed in the golden sunshine, and together with Vietnam write a new chapter in history, a new miracle in Vietnam-US relations that no one could imagine 50 years ago.
By raising the level of relations with the United States to a comprehensive strategic partnership, for the first time in its history, Vietnam has had a strategic partnership with all leading important partners, including five countries, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Surely, each of us shares the same feeling of pride as our country grows stronger, has a role, position and is respected by our partners, gradually "stand shoulder to shoulder with the powers of the five continents" as our wish. Great President Ho Chi Minh!
(Source: WVR)
