On the morning of September 23 local time (evening of September 23 Vietnam time), General Secretary and President To Lam visited and delivered a policy speech at Columbia University. Columbia University, founded in 1754 as King's College, is the oldest higher education institution in New York State and the fifth oldest in the United States, and is one of the most important research centers in the world. With a 270-year history, Columbia University has trained people who have contributed to changing the future, including 4 US Presidents, 2 United Nations Secretary Generals, 103 Nobel Prize winners and many outstanding scientists. Many former students of Columbia University are currently holding senior leadership and management positions in Vietnam...

General Secretary and President To Lam: Vietnam will continue to promote the process of Innovation, openness, and comprehensive and extensive international integration. Photo: VNA

Speaking here, General Secretary and President To Lam said that after nearly 80 years of independence and nearly 40 years of Doi Moi, Vietnam is standing at a new historical starting point, a new era - the era of the Vietnamese people's rise. The great and historically significant achievements of the Doi Moi process are the premise for the Vietnamese people to believe in the future ahead. The great achievements that Vietnam has achieved originate from the right path that Vietnam has chosen under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, with the efforts and determination of the entire nation. The head of the Party and State pointed out that Vietnam's development path cannot be separated from the general trend of the world and human civilization, the tradition of the Vietnamese people is "rich because of friends". Vietnam cannot achieve its goals without the pure international solidarity, valuable support and effective cooperation of the international community, "our success is your success"... "The way for Vietnam to overcome the middle-income trap is to innovate, mobilize the strength of great national solidarity, and combine national strength with the strength of the times", the General Secretary stated. Vietnam persistently and consistently implements the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, being a friend, a reliable partner, an active and responsible member of the international community, "there can be no development without peace". Vietnam persistently follows the "4 no's" defense policy, strongly supports the settlement of disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of the United Nations Charter and international law, and opposes unilateral actions, power politics, the use or threat of force in international relations. The General Secretary and President said that with the country's new position and strength, Vietnam is determined to effectively implement new-era diplomacy, ready to make more proactive and positive contributions to world politics, the global economy and human civilization... Regarding the Vietnam-US relationship, the General Secretary and President said that "few people can imagine the miraculous progress in the relationship between the two countries over the past 30 years", from former enemies to partners, then Comprehensive Partners and now Comprehensive Strategic Partners. Cooperation in all areas from politics - diplomacy to economics - trade, defense - security, overcoming the consequences of war, education and training, people-to-people exchange, in dealing with regional and global issues such as climate change, counter-terrorism, participating in the United Nations peacekeeping force... have all achieved important and substantive progress. In particular, people-to-people exchange and cooperation in education and training are increasingly vibrant. Currently, there are about 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in the US, including students at Columbia University.

General Secretary and President: If countries in conflict and dispute promote finding peaceful solutions through dialogue on the basis of international law, any problem, no matter how complicated, will have a solution. Dialogue needs to become a common practice, a useful and most important tool... Photo: VNA

The General Secretary and President affirmed that for the relationship between the two countries to turn a new page and develop well as it is today, the most important factor is the tradition of humanity and altruism of the Vietnamese people, the talented leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam with its intellectual vision, determination and courage to bring Vietnam into the international flow. Besides, we must mention many American friends and partners such as President Bill Clinton and his successors, Senators John McCain, John Kerry, Patrick Leahy... and many others, especially the strong bipartisan support in the US for the Vietnam - US relationship. This is one of the important foundations to bring the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a deeper, more stable, sustainable and substantial level. Choosing dialogue instead of confrontation To build a better common future for all humanity, the General Secretary and President said that it is necessary to affirm and promote the role of the spirit of healing, respect and mutual understanding, in which respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions of each other is the most important. With the tradition of humanity, peace and tolerance of the nation, Vietnam is very proactive in steps to heal the wounds of war. From that lesson, the General Secretary and President said that in order for the relationship to develop, the parties need to promote research on each other's history, culture, people, political systems, and socio-economy. "In a broader sense, if countries understand and respect each other's legitimate interests and work together to build trust, the world will be peaceful and have less conflict. In the age of science and technology, we can take advantage of new methods such as digital platforms and tools to promote widespread connectivity and deeper understanding among peoples around the world," the General Secretary and President said. According to the General Secretary and President, it is necessary to attach importance to and promote a culture of dialogue, with evidence from the Vietnam-US relationship itself. Although the two sides have made great strides in their relationship, there are still certain differences in views on human rights in the economic, political, social, and religious fields. However, the important thing is that the two sides have chosen dialogue instead of confrontation in an open, frank, and constructive spirit. Going beyond the bilateral framework, Vietnam - US cooperation has gradually reached regional and global levels... Referring to the issue of solidarity and looking towards the future, the General Secretary and President affirmed that in the context of the world in a period of epochal change, humanity needs to have a long-term vision and solidarity more than ever. No single country, no matter how strong, can handle the common problems of the times alone, and that is the approach and orientation that the United Nations Future Summit has clearly stated.

Talking to professors, lecturers and students of the school, General Secretary and President To Lam frankly answered many questions about national security and defense, socio-economics and Vietnam's relations with other countries and global issues. Photo: VNA

Emphasizing Vietnam's motto of leaving the past behind and looking toward the future, the General Secretary and President believes that with an approach that promotes international solidarity and looks toward the future, as well as the success story of the Vietnam-US relationship, the world will turn the impossible into possible, continuing to build a sustainable and progressive civilization for all of humanity. The General Secretary and President affirmed that in the new era, the era of the Vietnamese people's rise under the leadership of the Communist Party, Vietnam will do its utmost to realize that aspiration of the nation. On the journey toward the future, Vietnam will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with international friends and partners, sharing the same vision and coordinating actions, for the best goals for all of humanity.

Vietnam.net

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/it-ai-co-the-hinh-dung-duoc-nhung-buoc-tien-ky-dieu-trong-quan-he-viet-my-2325231.html