On the afternoon of September 11, at the Presidential Palace, President Vo Van Thuong hosted a solemn reception for US President Joe Biden, who is on a state visit to Vietnam, at the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.
Speaking at the reception, President Vo Van Thuong expressed his belief that, continuing the long history of Vietnam-US relations, with trust, understanding and mutual respect, and with the new momentum established by the two countries during the President's visit to Vietnam this time, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development between Vietnam and the United States will develop strongly and substantially, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries, actively contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and the world.
The President emphasized that five months after the country's independence (February 16, 1946), President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to President Truman expressing his desire to establish a "full cooperative" relationship with the United States.
However, due to historical conditions and circumstances, that desire had to go through many rapids and challenges.
“And we have overcome to happily affirm that never before has the relationship between Vietnam and the United States developed as well as it does today; from former enemies to comprehensive strategic partners.
This is truly a model in the history of international relations in terms of healing and building post-war relations. This result is due to the joint efforts of many generations of leaders and people of the two countries to overcome historical challenges and ups and downs,” the President said.
According to the President, over the past 50 years, the two sides have witnessed many important and meaningful events, unprecedented strong progress, with remarkable achievements in many areas of cooperation between Vietnam and the United States, from economics, trade, investment, education and training, to dialogue and coordination mechanisms on many issues and fields...
Among them, the two sides achieved outstanding results in cooperation to overcome the consequences of war such as the dioxin/Agent Orange detoxification project; forms of US support for people with disabilities, second and third generation Agent Orange victims; and clearance of bombs, mines and explosives left over from the war in Vietnam.
Most recently, Vietnam and the United States have cooperated to identify the remains of unidentified Vietnamese martyrs.
The President highly appreciated and thanked generations of the US government and people, especially President Joe Biden and his wife, for actively supporting Vietnam in this humanitarian field.
Referring to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's statement: "Putting aside the past, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking toward the future," the President said: "You have affirmed your support for a 'strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous' Vietnam."
On this occasion, the President respectfully thanked agencies, organizations and individuals of the two countries who, over many generations, have made continuous efforts to foster and develop the Vietnam-US relationship; including the late Senator John McCain, Special Envoy John Kerry, former Senator Patrick Leahy, long-time friends of Vietnam.
“We will continue these efforts together, preserve, strengthen and develop the Vietnam-US relationship to be better and better, going further,” said President Vo Van Thuong.
In his response to the reception, thanking President Vo Van Thuong for his warm welcome, US President Joe Biden mentioned two famous lines from the Tale of Kieu: “The glory and the joy of life make up for the hardships of life / The love of each day adds another spring day” and said: “This is the day we can feel the glory and warmth of the limitless opportunities opening up before us.”
Highlighting the two countries' efforts to “seize the potential of the future,” President Joe Biden stressed the great opportunities for prosperity for the people of both countries.
Referring to the common points and efforts of the people of the two countries, and the joint efforts to improve and promote the Vietnam-US cooperative relationship, President Joe Biden thanked the late Senator John McCain, the US President's Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry... and emphasized: This is a testament to the long way we have come, but more importantly, how far we will continue to go in the future. That is the reason why we established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development to move forward together, face challenges together, and embrace the future together.
President Vo Van Thuong speaks. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)
President Vo Van Thuong speaks. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)
US President Joe Biden speaks. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)
President Vo Van Thuong and US President Joe Biden raise their glasses to celebrate. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)
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