On the afternoon of September 22, New York time (morning of September 23, Vietnam time) in the US, General Secretary and President To Lam attended an event to celebrate the 1st anniversary of upgrading relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; towards the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - US diplomatic relations. The event was attended by former Secretary of State John Kerry, Special Envoy of the US President on Climate Change; Senator Dan Sullivan along with many officials, former senior officials in the government, along with many American friends and the Vietnamese community in the US.

General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife, former Secretary of State John Kerry and President of Asia Society Kang Kyung Wha at the event. Photo: Lam Khanh - VNA

Reviewing the history of Vietnam-US relations, General Secretary and President To Lam said that this is a rare process and a model in international relations in healing and building relations after the war. Although the two countries had their first exchanges more than two centuries ago, they had to go through many challenges and ups and downs, from former enemies in the war to friends and developing relations to Comprehensive Partnership in 2013. "Thirty years ago, perhaps the most optimistic person could not have imagined how Vietnam and the US could overcome the pain of war to build and develop a strong and positive relationship like today", the General Secretary and President affirmed. After 10 years of implementing the Comprehensive Partnership framework, important steps have been made in strengthening trust and enhancing mutual understanding, creating a solid foundation for the two countries to upgrade their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development in 2023.

General Secretary and President: Vietnam and the US have become friends and comprehensive strategic partners, as President Ho Chi Minh wished. Photo: VNA

The General Secretary and President said that this result is the crystallization of countless efforts to mend and build lasting trust over three decades by many generations of leaders, governments, National Assemblies and people of the two countries. The General Secretary and President welcomed the encouraging results achieved by both sides after one year of upgrading the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides still have much room to continue to deepen and develop bilateral relations... General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that more importantly, it helps both sides build trust, an important foundation so that "we can together build a bright vision for bilateral relations in the future, so that our two peoples, our descendants will always be good friends and partners of each other" as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said during his historic visit to the US in 2015. Vietnam - US relations - A beautiful picture woven by many people Looking forward to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - US diplomatic relations in 2025, General Secretary and President To Lam suggested that the two sides need to continue to strengthen close coordination to effectively implement the Vietnam - US Joint Statement in 2023... General Secretary and President To Lam quoted the 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln: "The best way to predict the future is to create the future". Over the past 30 years, the two sides have joined hands to create a historical highlight of a model in international relations, like a beautiful picture woven by the contributions and efforts of many people, both typical leaders and those who have not been fully known by name or face. If we compare each action, no matter how small, to a thread that, when woven together and linked together, will weave a picture of the future, weave extraordinary things. Speaking at the event, former Secretary of State John Kerry shared his personal experiences when witnessing the difficulties in the process of normalizing and promoting relations between the two countries.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry speaks. Photo: VNA

Former Secretary of State John Kerry affirmed that thanks to the efforts of generations of leaders and people on both sides, today the two countries are not only happy to have found a formula to promote healing and end the war, but also have the opportunity to do what the second President of the United States John Adams once said: "Together, we give the younger generation opportunities that our generation could not imagine." As one of Vietnam's friends, Mr. John Kerry expressed his wish that next year the two sides will mark the anniversary by looking forward to the future together. Meanwhile, Senator Dan Sullivan expressed his appreciation for the contributions of generations of US congressmen, such as the late Senator John McCain and former Senator John Kerry, to the process of normalizing and promoting relations between the two countries. Senator Sullivan affirmed that the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership receives bipartisan support from the US, with great development potential. He also emphasized that the US Congress will continue to support a “strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous” Vietnam, a country with a leading role in the region. Previously, General Secretary and President To Lam met with the leadership of the Asia Society policy research institute and a number of American friends. The General Secretary and President highly appreciated Dr. Kang Kyung Wha’s personal interest and support for Vietnam in his previous position as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea and in his current position as President of the Asia Society. The Vietnamese leaders hope that the Asia Society’s leadership will continue to support the strengthening of cooperative relations with Vietnam and ASEAN.

General Secretary and President receives leaders of the Asia Society Policy Research Institute. Photo: VNA

General Secretary and President To Lam also expressed his gratitude to American friends such as former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russell, Assistant Secretary of State Dan Kritenbrink, Ambassador Marc Knapper, etc., who have made many important contributions to the relationship between the two countries. After nearly 80 years of national founding and nearly 40 years of renovation, Vietnam is ready to enter a new historical starting point, a new era - the era of the Vietnamese people's rise. Vietnam hopes to continue to receive strong support and companionship from the international community in general and the US in particular in this process. The Asia Society's leadership and American friends affirmed that they will continue to support the Vietnam - US relationship and are ready to accompany Vietnam in its process of rising up and developing strongly.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tong-bi-thu-chu-tich-nuoc-viet-my-tao-nen-mot-hinh-mau-trong-quan-he-quoc-te-2324986.html