Former Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh said that Vietnam and the US have reached the maturity level to further deepen their cooperative relationship, serving the interests of the two countries.
"The past 10 years have been the period of the strongest and most substantial development in all areas of the relationship between Vietnam and the US," Pham Quang Vinh, who took office as Vietnamese Ambassador to Washington in November 2014, more than a year after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership, told VnExpress .
He explained that Vietnam-US relations were normalized in 1995, but before upgrading to Comprehensive Partnership in 2013, the two countries did not have a suitable framework to agree on areas of cooperation.
"With the upgrading of relations, for the first time Vietnam and the US have a stable, long-term and comprehensive partnership framework in all fields," said Mr. Vinh.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Party Central Committee Headquarters on April 15. Photo: Hoang Phong
One of the most noticeable things is that since Vietnam and the US upgraded their relations, the two countries have increasingly promoted cooperation in the political field. The two sides have continuously had high-level visits in the past 10 years, typically the visits of President Barack Obama and Donald Trump to Vietnam and the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the US in 2015.
Former Ambassador Vinh assessed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to the US in July 2015 was the most symbolic activity in respecting the political institutions of both sides, because it was the first time a General Secretary of Vietnam visited the US.
He said that at that time, both Hanoi and Washington were eager for the visit to take place, but the US side also had some hesitations regarding protocol due to differences in political institutions, because the General Secretary is the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam, but not the head of state.
"But when they were able to connect, the two countries agreed that the heads of political institutions were equivalent and could meet each other," said Mr. Vinh, who was Vietnam's ambassador to the US at the time of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit.
During the visit, both sides affirmed the spirit of putting the past behind them, looking towards the future and promoting stronger relations, while emphasizing the guiding principles of the relationship, including respect for each other's political institutions.
"General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Obama at that time also issued a vision statement on the relationship between the two countries to guide development on the basis of a comprehensive and further partnership," said former ambassador Pham Quang Vinh.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met with US President Barack Obama at the White House on July 7, 2015. Photo: VNA
Besides politics, Vietnam-US economic relations have also developed strongly after upgrading relations. About 10 years ago, the trade turnover between the two countries was about 23 billion USD, but now this figure is 123 billion USD, an increase of about 3.5 times.
During the term of President Donald Trump , who pursued an "America First" policy, Vietnam also re-established dialogue mechanisms to resolve economic and trade issues between the two countries, ensuring that they are consistent with the priorities and interests of both Vietnam and the US, typically the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).
"Accordingly, Vietnam agrees to buy more liquefied gas, aircraft and have large projects with the US to show that we also increase US consumption within our capacity and financial resources," said Mr. Vinh.
Over the past 10 years, all other areas of bilateral relations have seen strong developments.
Defense and security cooperation has seen increased port visits by US warships, war legacy remediation such as dioxin cleanup at Da Nang and Bien Hoa airports, and the search for missing Americans. The US has also assisted Vietnam in identifying soldiers killed in the war.
The former ambassador assessed that international and regional cooperation between the two countries is also increasing, especially in Asia-Pacific and ASEAN . The two sides have similarities such as valuing peace, stability and order based on international law, including the East Sea issue.
Vietnam and the US also share a desire to promote regional cooperation in responding to non-traditional security challenges. "Climate change, disease, water security and rising sea levels are priority issues for both the US and Vietnam in the region," said Mr. Vinh.
10 years of Vietnam - US Comprehensive Partnership. Click on image to see details
During a phone call between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joe Biden on March 29, the two leaders assessed that the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership has developed positively in recent times, in line with the interests and aspirations of the two countries.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that the positive results in the bilateral relationship in recent times are the basis for continuing to elevate the bilateral relationship to new heights, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
"It can be seen that the two sides have matured the foundation for development in the relationship and also wish to upgrade it to a new level in the coming time, especially on the occasion of this 10th anniversary," said former Ambassador Vinh.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Vietnam on September 10-11 at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. This will be President Biden's first visit to Vietnam since taking office in early 2021.
Mr. Vinh said that the US President's visit will deepen and orient the development of the relationship between the two countries, both consolidating existing areas and promoting cooperation in new areas, especially in economics, trade and investment. "The visit will also help enhance understanding and political trust between the two sides, creating a foundation to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation," he emphasized.
Vnexpress.net
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