State President Vo Van Thuong was speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in San Francisco on November 15 as part of his working trip to the United States to attend the APEC Leaders’ Week 2023.
Vietnam is ready to contribute to the common efforts of the international community in responding to climate change, protecting the environment, participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities and international humanitarian relief, he said.
According to the president, the country consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations. It aims to integrate into the world comprehensively and deeply, and to become a friend, a trusted partner and an active, responsible member of the international community.
In addition, he said Vietnam introduces the ‘four no’s’ defense policy that is not engaging in military alliances, not aligning with one country to fight another, not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use territory to fight other countries, and not using force or threatening to use force in international relations.
The President recalled President Ho Chi Minh’s desire to establish relations between Vietnam and the United States in his letter to President Truman on February 16, 1946, though that desire could not come true due to historical conditions until the early 1990s.
In his opinion, never has the relationship between Vietnam and the United States developed as well as it does today, from former foes to comprehensive strategic partners.
This is truly an exemplary role model in the history of international relations in terms of healing and developing post-war relations, said the president, attributing the result to the two countries’ joint efforts to overcome challenges and historical ups and downs.
He reiterated Vietnam’s motto in developing relations with the United States that is breaking with the past, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking towards the future.
He emphasized the importance of promoting mutual understanding, mutual trust, respect for each other’s legitimate interests and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. He welcomed the United States’ viewpoint of supporting a strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous Vietnam, and affirmed that the United States is a strategically important partner in Vietnam’s foreign policy.
President Thuong answered scholars’ questions regarding Vietnam – US cooperation in semiconductor chip manufacturing, the role of Americans of Vietnamese origin in promoting Vietnam – US relations, the development of leading Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast in the US market, as well as Vietnam’s efforts to respond to climate change, along with other issues.
 
Source: english.vov.vn/en/politics/diplomacy/vietnam-furthers-bilateral-multilateral-cooperation-mechanisms-to-achieve-goals-post1059464.vov