“The United States will continue to work for a strong and prosperous Vietnam.”

US Secretary of State. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the meeting, the US Secretary of State said he was still a child when the Vietnam War broke out.

According to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, it was a difficult time in American history and Vietnamese history, but it was important that the two peoples put the past behind them and looked to the future.

“I know many families whose husbands and fathers never came home from the Vietnam War. It was a difficult time in American history and Vietnamese history. But look where we are today,” Mr. Mike Pompeo emphasized.

“Can anyone born in the 1960s or 1970s believe that a US Secretary of State would have a great discussion with Vietnamese leaders like I did this afternoon? Can anyone believe that a US Secretary of State would give a speech about how we can cooperate in economic development with Vietnam?”, Mr. Mike Pompeo said.

According to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, reality has proven that what Vietnam and the United States have done is a testament to the interests of the two countries, a testament to mutual respect, and a testament to the determination of the two countries towards the future.

The US Secretary of State said that the good Vietnam-US cooperative relationship today is an example that countries can put the past behind them and look together in the same direction.

According to Mr. Mike Pompeo, Vietnam can be a model that countries can learn from to move towards a brighter future. He also said that during his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he also mentioned the Vietnam-US relationship that resolved differences, from former enemies to friends.

A Free Indo-Pacific Based on Respect for Sovereignty

In his speech tonight, the US Secretary of State also emphasized the US desire to build “a free and open Indo-Pacific region as the national security and defense strategy that President Trump proposed at the APEC Asia-Pacific Cooperation Forum in November 2017”.

According to Mr. Mike Pompeo, the United States is committed to ensuring the Indo-Pacific region, on the basis of independent and powerful nations, respecting each other's sovereignty, respecting the ruling and promoting responsible trade.

“We hope these principles will help governments and businesses in the Indo-Pacific region as they choose partners,” said Mr. Mike Pompeo.

“We hope that the actions of the United States, in contrast to those of other countries in the region, are not based solely on economic interests. The United States seeks partnerships in the region that are built on the values ​​of respect, fairness, and the rule of law. A free and open Indo-Pacific is vital to the continued growth of commerce between our two countries,” Pompeo said.

The US Secretary of State reiterated: During the meeting between President Donald Trump and President Tran Dai Quang in Da Nang in November 2017, Vietnam and the United States committed to continue promoting free, fair, and reciprocal trade and investment in priority areas, including digital trade, intellectual property rights enforcement, automobiles, electronic payments, and agricultural goods.

On that basis, Vietnam and the United States will promote open, transparent, and competitive markets, as well as trade and investment opportunities for American companies.

Vietnam and the United States need to address issues that prevent American companies from accessing the Vietnamese market. “I look forward to hearing from you tonight, such as how we can remove barriers to American exports of goods and services, so that Vietnamese consumers can enjoy the highest quality American products.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized: The United States will continue to work for a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam, a country that engages in fair and reciprocal trade, contributes to international security, and respects human rights and the rule of law.

“As we focus on the future, we will address the conflicts of the past. This includes working together to fully account for all missing persons and to address the lasting impact of dioxin. I look forward to talking together about how we can all grow our prosperity together.”

The visit of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Vietnam, the only Southeast Asian country he visited during his Asia tour, shows that the administration of US President Donald Trump values ​​Vietnam's role in international and regional issues.

Vietnam's reception of the US Secretary of State aims to continue demonstrating its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations; to demonstrate its respect for the US as one of Vietnam's leading important partners; and to demonstrate Vietnam's desire to continue promoting the Comprehensive Partnership to develop substantially and effectively in bilateral and global fields./.