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| On the sidelines of APEC 2023, President Vo Van Thuong spoke at the US Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). |
Speaking at the US Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), President Vo Van Thuong shared about the world situation, the situation in Vietnam, Vietnam's foreign policy and the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development.
The President highly appreciated the prestige and contributions of CFR in informing, analyzing in-depth international issues and providing foreign policy consultation.
At the same time, he said that the cooperative activities over the years between CFR and Vietnam have actively contributed to enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples and developing relations between the two countries.
The world is unpredictable
Sharing about the current world situation, the President said that the world seems to be strongly affected by three major impulses.
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-center 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 President also emphasized that the world's major trend is still peace, cooperation, and development, but obstacles and difficulties are more numerous, developments are more rapid, more complex, and more difficult to predict.
The President asked: Where do the above problems come from? Is it due to non-compliance with international law, especially the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, peaceful settlement of international disputes, non-use and non-threat of force? Is it not addressing the root cause of the demand for national self-determination and the legitimate rights of nations? Is it not due attention paid to inclusive development in each nation and promoting cooperation between nations on inclusive development?
These causes need to be thoroughly explained in order to have satisfactory solutions.
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| Delegates attending the meeting. |
Vietnam shares common views on peace, friendship and cooperation
Regarding the situation in Vietnam, the President said that after nearly 40 years of Renovation, for the goal of "rich people, strong country, democracy, equality, and civilization", Vietnam has achieved many great and historic achievements.
Rapidly growing economy; currently the 11th largest economy in Asia, one of the 40 largest economies in the world, among the 30 countries and territories with the largest international trade, among the 3 countries attracting the largest foreign investment in ASEAN in the past 10 years, and 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 are consolidated and enhanced. Institutional reform, infrastructure development and human resource development are 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 placed at the center, as the source of strength, both the subject and the target of development.
To realize Vietnam's aspiration of becoming a developed, high-income country by the middle of this century, Vietnam focuses on rapid and sustainable development, based on the application of science and technology and innovation, while simultaneously developing culture, society, and protecting the environment.
Vietnam focuses on building and perfecting a rule-of-law state of the people, by the people, for the people, strong, streamlined, and operating effectively; actively integrating comprehensively and deeply 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.
On this occasion, the President hopes to continue receiving valuable support and assistance from US partners for Vietnam's development and international integration process.
Sharing about Vietnam's foreign policy, the President emphasized that 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, Vietnam implements the "four no's" defense policy: Not participating in military alliances; not aligning with one country to fight another; not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use its territory to fight against other countries; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations.
“We recognize that foreign affairs play a very 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,” said the President.
At the same time, Vietnam has identified 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 and economic organizations, and people; comprehensive in all fields from politics to economics, culture, society, national defense, security, etc.
In the context of the current international situation, the President affirmed that 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 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...
Never before has the relationship between Vietnam and the United States developed as well as it does today.
Regarding Vietnam-US relations, the President affirmed that never before has the relationship between Vietnam and the US 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.
On this occasion, the President respectfully thanked agencies, organizations and individuals of the two countries, over many generations, for their continuous efforts to foster and develop the Vietnam-US relationship.
The President also said that 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.
Upgrading relations between the two countries is to meet the growing needs and interests of the two countries, contributing more effectively to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
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 systems; and outlines major directions for cooperation between the two countries.
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.
Regarding the Vietnamese community in the United States, the President said there are about 2.4 million people, along with over 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in the United States.
“They are part of the relationship and also an important bridge between the two countries. The Vietnamese government considers overseas Vietnamese to be 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 United States.
Finally, the President emphasized that Vietnam always desires 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.
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