Senator McCain highlights remarkable advancement in US-Vietnam ties
US Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has released a statement welcoming the official visit to the United States by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and highlighting a remarkable advancement in the relationship between the two countries.
“I warmly welcome Vietnam’s General Secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, on his historic trip to the United States—the first ever by a Vietnamese General Secretary. This visit demonstrates the growing strength of the US-Vietnam partnership as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the normalization of relations between our countries,” he wrote in the statement released on July 7 (Washington time).
“Even for those of us who worked to normalize our relationship twenty years ago, the progress that our nations have made together has been astounding,” he said.
Since 1995, annual US-Vietnam trade has increased from less than US$500 million to US$36 billion last year.
“The United States and Vietnam are better positioned than ever to build on this progress,” he affirmed.
He said “Vietnam is an important emerging partner with which the United States shares strategic and economic interests, including strengthening an open regional trading order, maintaining a favorable balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region, and upholding long-standing principles of world order, such as freedom of the seas and peaceful resolution of international disputes.”
“The United States and Vietnam also share a deep commitment to the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region. This is especially critical as China continues the reclamation and militarization of land features in the East Sea and again deploys the Haiyang Shiyou 981 (HD-981) oil rig in waters near Vietnam.”
In conclusion he wrote “The past twenty years have witnessed a remarkable advancement in our relationship greater than anyone could have hoped for. I look forward to meeting General Secretary Trong this week as our two countries seek to continue to build a relationship built on a shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific region.
“Even for those of us who worked to normalize our relationship twenty years ago, the progress that our nations have made together has been astounding,” he said.
Since 1995, annual US-Vietnam trade has increased from less than US$500 million to US$36 billion last year.
“The United States and Vietnam are better positioned than ever to build on this progress,” he affirmed.
He said “Vietnam is an important emerging partner with which the United States shares strategic and economic interests, including strengthening an open regional trading order, maintaining a favorable balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region, and upholding long-standing principles of world order, such as freedom of the seas and peaceful resolution of international disputes.”
“The United States and Vietnam also share a deep commitment to the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region. This is especially critical as China continues the reclamation and militarization of land features in the East Sea and again deploys the Haiyang Shiyou 981 (HD-981) oil rig in waters near Vietnam.”
In conclusion he wrote “The past twenty years have witnessed a remarkable advancement in our relationship greater than anyone could have hoped for. I look forward to meeting General Secretary Trong this week as our two countries seek to continue to build a relationship built on a shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific region.