Vietnam and US set role model in international relations, says Party leader

Addressing a ceremony in New York on September 22 evening (local time) marking one year of the Vietnam – US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, To Lam highlighted major milestones in bilateral relations, saying the two countries have gone through many ups and downs, transitioning from former foes to friends, and then comprehensive partners in 2013. Ten years later, significant progress in building trust and enhancing mutual understanding laid a solid foundation for upgrading their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.  

He attributed the outcome to countless efforts to heal and build enduring trust over three decades by many generations of leaders, governments, parliaments, and people of both countries.

He then welcomed the encouraging results recorded by both sides after one year of upgrading the relationship to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and noted that there is still much room for both sides to further develop the bilateral relationship in a stable and substantive manner.

“More importantly, this helps build trust between the two sides, establishing a crucial foundation for us to build a bright vision for the future relationship…,” said the Party leader, citing the statement of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during his historic visit to the United States in 2015.

As the two countries are working towards the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025, To Lam suggested that both sides should continue to enhance close coordination to effectively implement the 2023 Vietnam-US Joint Leaders’ Statement, including increasing high-level, making cooperation in high-tech fields such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence and training high-quality human resources.

The leader also emphasized the need to prioritize cooperation in addressing the consequences of war, enhance dialogue in a straightforward and constructive manner, share mutual interests and legitimate concerns, and coordinate more closely to contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the rest of the world.

On this occasion, To Lam thanked the US government and people for their timely support to the Vietnamese people to overcome the aftermath of the recent super typhoon Yagi.

Taking the floor, former US Secretary of State John Kerry shared his personal experiences witnessing the challenges in the process of normalizing and promoting relations between the two countries. According to the diplomat, the two countries have made great efforts in healing war wounds and working together to build a better future for their people.

Meanwhile, Senator Dan Sullivan extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the super typhoon Yagi and acknowledged the contributions of generations of US lawmakers, such as late Senator John McCain and former Senator John Kerry, to the process of normalizing and promoting relations between the two countries.

He affirmed that the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership enjoys bipartisan support in the US, with immense potential for growth and a positive contribution to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the wider world. He also emphasized that the US Congress will continue to support a “strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous” Vietnam, a nation with a significant role in the region.

General Secretary and President To Lam of Vietnam is in New York for the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.