Conference seeks ways to enhance Vietnam-US relations

A bilateral conference themed ‘Vietnam-US Relationship: For 20 More Successful Years’ was organised in Hanoi on January 26 to review bilateral relations since normalisation in 1995 and discuss opportunities and challenges in order to bring the relations forwards.

The gathering saw the participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc; US ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius; former US ambassadors to Vietnam Pete Peterson and David Shear; former Vietnamese ambassadors to the US Le Van Bang, Le Cong Phung and Nguyen Quoc Cuong; as well as many diplomats, experts and scholars who have made contributions to enhancing bilateral ties.

Addressing the opening session, Deputy Minister Ngoc stressed the two-decade process of trust building, which should be sustained in co-operation through the nine pillars defined in the framework of the comprehensive partnership, particularly in economic and trade co-operation.

Closer economic links can serve as very strong bonds connecting the two nations and should be considered both the goal and the dynamic of the bilateral relations, Ngoc said.

Ngoc affirmed that Vietnam is expected to play a more proactive role on the global stage in the next 20 years, thus hoping to share greater responsibility with the regional and global community in preserving peace, stability and prosperity, respecting international law and regional agreements, resolving disputes through peaceful means and refraining from the use of force.

Vietnam welcomes the US’ greater role in the region — deeper US engagement in the Asia Pacific is beneficial to all. Both countries need to support the centrality of ASEAN and work with other regional partners to consolidate and promote regional mechanism that incorporate both countries such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation, Ngoc added.

Ambassador Osius spoke highly of positive changes brought to the country by the integration and open-door policy, saying that the conference’s values will help open up a new phase in the development of bilateral ties.

He affirmed that the US wants to help Vietnam become a strong nation through realising the comprehensive partnership’s commitments.

Osius expressed his belief that the past two decades are merely the opening of a more diverse development era.

According to Dang Dinh Quy, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Vietnam-US bilateral relations have seen sound developments and both sides are trying to enhance mutual understanding and boost bilateral ties.

During the one-day conference, delegates discussed lessons learned from the past 20 years of bilateral relations; reviewed economic, political, security and people-to-people relations; and shared ideas about opportunities and challenges for the relations in the next 20 years and beyond.
Hang Tran.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)