Some features of Vietnam - US relations

Since Vietnam and the United States normalized relations, the relationship between the two countries has developed positively in many areas.

At the invitation of President of the United States of America Barack Obama, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Truong Tan Sang and his wife will pay an official visit to the United States from July 24 to 26. This is the first official visit to the United States by President Truong Tan Sang, marking an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries; an opportunity for the leaders of the two countries to discuss major orientations to promote the development of bilateral relations, and regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The President's visit aims to continue implementing the foreign policy of the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress and enhance Vietnam's position in the region and in relations with major countries in the world, including the United States; promote Vietnam - US relations, especially in Vietnam's priority areas such as economy, trade, expanding export markets, attracting investment, science, technology, etc.; have frank and constructive exchanges, expressing Vietnam's attitude on issues in bilateral relations and regional and international issues of concern to both sides.

President Truong Tan Sang met with US President Barack Obama on the occasion of attending the Summit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) members in November 2011 (Photo: VOV)

Since the normalization of relations between Vietnam and the United States in the spirit of “putting the past behind and looking to the future”, the relationship between the two countries has developed positively in many areas. The two sides have agreed to build a partnership that is “positive, friendly, constructive, multi-faceted, mutually respectful and mutually beneficial”. The President’s visit takes place at a time when the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the United States continues to be promoted, especially in economics, trade, investment, science and technology and education.

In terms of politics and diplomacy, the two sides have conducted five high-level visits. On the US side, President Bill Clinton (2000) and President George Bush (2006) visited Vietnam. On the Vietnamese side, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (2005), President Nguyen Minh Triet (2007) and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (2008) visited the US. Since 2008, the two countries have established an annual political-security-defense dialogue mechanism. In addition, the two sides continue to maintain and promote the exchange of delegations at all levels of ministries, departments, and branches.

Economically, since 2005, the United States has become Vietnam's largest export market. Two-way trade turnover has continuously increased in recent years. As of May 2013, the total direct investment (FDI) capital of the United States in Vietnam reached 10.5 billion USD with 658 projects; two-way trade turnover reached more than 11 billion USD. Currently, there are many US companies doing business in Vietnam, including large companies with long-term and stable investments.

The security and defense relationship between Vietnam and the United States has also been gradually strengthened. Since 2010, the two sides have conducted defense policy dialogues at the deputy ministerial level. In 2011, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on promoting bilateral defense cooperation. Vietnam continues to participate in English language training programs, military medical cooperation, and continues to welcome US Navy ships to visit Vietnamese ports annually, allowing the Pacific Command to carry out a number of humanitarian assistance programs in localities. The two sides continue to cooperate in the fields of search and rescue.

In terms of science and technology, Vietnam and the United States have established a Joint Committee for Science and Technology Cooperation. The two sides have signed a cooperation agreement and many other agreements in a number of fields such as nuclear energy, climate change, oceanography, space technology, etc.

In educational cooperation, there are currently about 16,000 Vietnamese students and interns studying in the United States. The two countries' Ministries of Education and Training have signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing an Education Task Force to promote higher education cooperation between the two countries.

On the issue of democracy, human rights, and religious freedom: This is an issue where there are still many differences between the two countries. However, both sides advocate for dialogue to understand and narrow differences; the two sides continue to maintain annual dialogues on human rights.

President Truong Tan Sang's visit to the United States demonstrates the Party and State's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of relations, proactive and active international integration; demonstrates Vietnam's desire to develop relations with member countries of the United Nations Security Council and relations with countries and international organizations, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's position and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, serving the cause of national construction and protection./.

According to (vov.vn) - LT