Developing Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership in a deep, sustainable and substantive manner

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and the high level Vietnamese delegation has recently concluded successfully their visit to the US from July 6 to 10, at the invitation of the US Administration. The event is of special significance and a historical milestone of the bilateral relations, as this is the first visit made by a Party General Secretary of Vietnam to the US, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1995 – 2015) and two years of their comprehensive partnership (2013).

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Barrack Obama

During the historical visit, the US President, leaders and congressmen met with the Party chief and Vietnamese delegation. On this occasion, the two countries also issued a United States – Vietnam Joint Vision Statement, affirming their efforts to deepen their bilateral compressive partnership, and enhance co-operation in regional and global issues.

During the visit, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with US President Obama, attended the reception by the US Administration, met with former US President Bill Clinton, Senator John McCain, and congressmen from both parties, met with the US Communist Party leadership, religious leaders, and other people from all walks of life. He also delivered a speech at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, met with major US corporations, and attended various other events. In New York, the general secretary visited the UN headquarters and met with the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-mun.

At all of these events, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed Vietnam’s external policy of peace, independence, self-reliance, friendship and co-operation, diversification and multilateralisation, and expressed Vietnam’s wish to be a friend and trusted partner, as well as a responsible member of the international community. Developing the relationship with the US is Vietnam’s consistent and long-term policy. President Obama and other US leaders and congressmen all affirmed that the US appreciate relations with Vietnam and the country’s role in the Asia – Pacific region, and hope to enhance bilateral relations for the benefits of the two countries’ peoples as well as the region in general.

The two sides both appreciated positive and prompt developments in the bilateral relations 20 years after the normalisation of relations, and expressed trust and positive in the prospects for further development. They also agreed on major orientations to deepen and enrich the comprehensive partnership, with focus on intensifying high level exchanges, expanding the consultative mechanism, promoting trade and investment as the foundation and momentum for bilateral ties; enhancing security and defence, education, health care and environmental cooperation, humanitarian co-operation to recover from the war. The two sides held frank discussions on issues of differences and agreed to continue their discussion on human rights and other areas to further understand each other and reduce differences.

The two countries also agreed for further and deeper co-operation at multilateral forums, to contribute to peace, security, stability and sustainable development in the world. The leaders affirmed that maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of movement for marine and air traffic in the East Sea is the responsibility of the region and the international community, and agreed on the principle of settling disputes through peaceful means and with respect to international laws.

The visit by the Party leader to the UN Headquarter and meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Mun is a milestone in the relationship between Vietnam and the UN, and affirms Vietnam’s role as a responsible partner of the international community. The UN highly appreciated the partnership with Vietnam, and the country’s contributions to the UN Millennium Development Goals, as well as its peace keeping efforts.

The official visit to the US by the Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has successfully concluded. The first visit by the Party leader to the US opened a new chapter in bilateral friendship and cooperation, thus developing the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US to a deepened, sustainable and substantial one, contributing to peace, stability, co-operation, development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the world.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)