Full text of President Vo Van Thuong's speech at the US Council on Foreign Relations

Ladies and Gentlemen

I thank the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) for giving me the honor to be here to discuss the world situation, the situation in Vietnam, Vietnam's foreign policy, and the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.

This exchange is very meaningful when the world is undergoing many changes, right before the APEC Summit Week 2023 and just two months after Vietnam and the US upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Today's exchange has additional meaning as it takes place in San Francisco, where the nations signed the Charter establishing the United Nations on the ashes of World War II, a historic event that represents the legitimate aspirations of peoples for peace and development.

I highly appreciate the prestige and contributions of CFR in informing, analyzing in-depth international issues and advising on foreign policies. The cooperative activities over the years between CFR and Vietnam have contributed positively to enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples and developing relations between the two countries.

Ladies and gentlemen!

The world seems to be under the powerful influence of three major dynamics.

Firstly, instability and uncertainty are increasing, opportunities are intertwined with challenges, requiring countries to increase their adaptability and promote international cooperation.

Second, the world is transitioning to a multipolar, multi-centered situation and is influenced and impacted by the strong development of science and technology.

Third, the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean are the most dynamically developing regions, leading in innovation, creativity, economic integration and witnessing the rise of new powers, but are also regions of strategic competition, sovereignty and territorial disputes, with the potential to lead to tension and confrontation if not well controlled.

The major trend of the world is still peace, cooperation, and development, but obstacles and difficulties are more numerous, developments are more rapid, more complex, and more unpredictable; competition between major countries is increasingly fierce; conflicts and wars are breaking out in regions; the arms race is increasing, especially the risk of a nuclear arms race and nuclear war.

Besides, the world economy still has great potential risks, and the resolution of cultural and social issues and response to non-traditional security challenges have not been as effective as the international community would like.

Where do these problems come from? Is it because of non-compliance with international law, especially the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and non-use or threat of use of force?

Is it because the root cause of the demand for national self-determination and the legitimate rights of nations is not addressed?

Is it possible that we have not given due importance to inclusive development within each country and promoted cooperation between countries on inclusive development? These reasons need to be thoroughly explained so that appropriate solutions can be found.

Ladies and Gentlemen

After nearly 40 years of Renovation, for the goal of “rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization”, Vietnam has achieved many great achievements of historical significance. The economy has developed rapidly; it is currently the 11th largest economy in Asia, one of the 40 largest economies in the world, in the group of 30 countries and territories with the largest international trade, in the group of 3 countries attracting the largest foreign investment in ASEAN in the past 10 years, and is a member of 16 free trade agreements.

Vietnam has become part of the global supply and production chain. The poverty rate according to the United Nations standard has decreased from over 50% (in 1986) to 4.3% (in 2022). Political stability, national defense and security have been consolidated and enhanced. Institutional reform, infrastructure development and human resource development have been promoted. Judicial reform, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement, and anti-corruption have achieved many important results.

In the process of innovation, people are always placed at the center, as the source of strength, both the subject and the target of development.

To realize the aspiration of Vietnam becoming a developed, high-income country by the middle of this century, we focus on rapid and sustainable development, on the basis of applying science - technology and innovation, along with cultural and social development, environmental protection; building and perfecting a rule-of-law state of the people, by the people, for the people, strong, streamlined, effective and efficient; actively integrating comprehensively and extensively into the international community.

In this process, people with all human rights and civil rights are at the center of policies and future planning. We are also deeply aware that there are still many difficulties and limitations that need to be overcome and more efforts are needed.

On this occasion, I hope to continue receiving valuable support and assistance from American partners for Vietnam's development and international integration process.

President Vo Van Thuong discusses policies at the US Council on Foreign Relations. Photo: VNA

Ladies and Gentlemen

Building and developing the country while protecting the country is a universal task for all nations. For thousands of years, the history of Vietnam has been a history of building and defending the country. My country has gone through long years of war to protect the Fatherland. Every time the country was invaded by foreign forces, the entire nation of millions of people united, fought steadfastly, swept the enemy out of the country, preserved the integrity of the country, won the right to live, the right to freedom and the right to pursue happiness for the nation. The strength for our nation to overcome all difficulties is the spirit of great justice and humanity of a nation that always loves peace, harmony, friendship and respect for other nations.

President Ho Chi Minh - Founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, first President of Vietnam, World Cultural Celebrity affirmed: Vietnam is a part of the world, everything in the world is related to Vietnam.

From the tradition and philosophy of its people, selectively absorbing the quintessence of the world, Vietnam has determined and consistently implemented the foreign policy of: Independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations; proactively and actively integrating comprehensively and deeply into the international community; being a friend, a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community.

Along with that, we implement the "four no's" defense policy: Do not join military alliances; do not ally with one country to fight another; do not allow foreign countries to set up military bases or use our territory to fight against other countries; do not use force or threaten to use force in international relations.

We recognize that foreign affairs play an extremely important and pioneering role in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilizing external resources to develop the country, and enhancing the country's position and prestige. At the same time, we identify three important foreign affairs subjects: party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people's diplomacy; comprehensive in terms of partners, both bilateral and multilateral, the state, political organizations, social organizations, economies, and people; comprehensive in all fields from politics to economics, culture, society, national defense, security, etc.

In Vietnam's foreign policy, relations with neighboring countries are a top priority, relations with major countries are of strategic significance, relations with strategic partners, comprehensive partners, and a number of other partners are of very important significance, and relations with traditional partners are valued.

Vietnam currently has diplomatic relations with 193 countries, including strategic or comprehensive partnerships with 30 countries, including strategic or comprehensive strategic partnerships with all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council; and is a member of 70 regional and global organizations.

In the context of the current international situation, Vietnam shares the common view that countries should implement a policy of peace, friendship and cooperation, respect each other's equality and legitimate interests, and respect international law.

Vietnam supports the consolidation and enhancement of the effectiveness of bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms and the enhancement of international coordination to reduce tensions, prevent and end conflicts; to resolve issues related to economic, cultural, social, scientific and technological development and to respond to non-traditional security challenges.

Vietnam is ready to contribute to the international community's joint efforts in responding to climate change, protecting the environment, participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities and international humanitarian relief...

Ladies and Gentlemen

Regarding Vietnam-US relations. As you know, just 5 months after Vietnam’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 US. However, due to historical conditions and circumstances, that desire had to go through many rapids and challenges.

The good news is that since the two countries normalized relations in 1995, especially after establishing a Comprehensive Partnership in 2013, the bilateral relationship has developed strongly, deeply, substantially, effectively and beyond the imagination of many people.

Many humanitarian and cultural cooperation activities have been carried out, such as US support in dioxin detoxification, clearing bombs and mines, and helping people with disabilities and victims of Agent Orange.

Since 1973, Vietnam has unilaterally launched activities to search for the remains of American soldiers missing in action during the war and since 1988 has actively cooperated with the US on this issue.

It can be affirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and the US has never been as good as it is today; from former enemies to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This is truly a model in the history of international relations in 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.

On this occasion, I would like to sincerely thank the agencies, organizations and individuals of the two countries who, over many generations, have made continuous efforts to foster and develop the Vietnam - US relationship.

Ladies and Gentlemen

On September 10, 2023, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden issued a Joint Statement on the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. The upgrading of relations between the two countries is aimed at meeting the growing needs and interests of the two countries, contributing more effectively to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Vietnam's motto in US relations is "putting the past behind, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking toward the future".

We emphasize that mutual understanding, mutual trust, respect for each other's legitimate interests and non-interference in each other's internal affairs are always of great significance.

US leaders have affirmed their support for a "strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous" Vietnam. We consider the US a partner of strategic importance in our foreign policy.

The Vietnam-US Joint Statement affirms the fundamental principles guiding bilateral relations, including respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and each other's political regime; and outlines major directions for cooperation between the two countries.

Firstly, the two countries will continue to deepen political and diplomatic relations through delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms and establish new mechanisms if necessary, and promote relations between political parties and legislative bodies of the two countries.

Second, strongly promoting economic-trade-investment cooperation and inclusive economic growth towards innovation as the core foundation and driving force for the relationship, moving towards recognizing Vietnam's market economy status; supporting Vietnam in developing sustainable production capacity, especially in areas such as semiconductors, supporting industries, participating in global production and supply chains, and investing in high-tech projects.

Third, create a breakthrough in cooperation in science and technology; the US supports Vietnam in improving the quality of education and human resource training, research capacity, development and application of high science and technology, including contents such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, health care, environmental protection, disaster prevention and control, and climate change response.

Fourth, strengthen defense and security cooperation in line with the interests of the two countries, for peace and cooperation in the region and the world, such as improving Vietnam's capacity to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations, relief and rescue, law enforcement at sea, and combating transnational crimes.

The two countries also agreed on the importance of maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea, respecting international law, peacefully resolving disputes, not threatening or using force; freedom of navigation, aviation, sovereignty and jurisdiction of coastal states; fully and effectively implementing the DOC, and soon reaching an agreement on a substantive and effective COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Vietnamese community in the US has about 2.4 million people, along with over 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in the US. They are part of the relationship and also an important bridge between the two countries. The Vietnamese government considers overseas Vietnamese an inseparable part of the nation and always attaches importance to national unity and harmony. Vietnam hopes that the US government will continue to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese people living, studying and working in the US.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Vietnam always wishes for peace, cooperation and development in a world where countries build visions together, cooperate together, and share responsibilities, for the benefit of the people and the international community.

We also believe in the bright prospects of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, because it is in line with the interests of the people of the two countries, contributing better to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

We look forward to the community of American researchers and scholars, including CFR, participating in and supporting this process.

I will stop speaking here and listen to the opinions of Ladies and Gentlemen, and am ready to answer your concerns!

Thanks.

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