General Cuong: Vietnam - US relationship contributes to promoting the trend of peace in the region

PV:According to many documents, the OwnerPresident Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation for the relationship between Vietnam and the United States. Can you clarify the historical details that are considered the first bricks for this bilateral relationship?

Major General Le Van Cuong:On his journey to find a way to save his country, Nguyen Tat Thanh went to America - a country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, during the period of 1911-1913. This was not a random plan. In the mind of the young man Nguyen Tat Thanh, going to America was to learn how a colony had just escaped the domination of British colonialism. Therefore, after learning about the situation in England and Europe, Nguyen Tat Thanh crossed the Atlantic to America.

However, when he came to America, Nguyen Tat Thanh did not go to Washington, but set foot in Boston. This is a matter that world scholars have discussed a lot. Why did he go to Boston and not Washington? Because Boston is the largest city in Massachusetts. This is the cradle of the American Revolution. Moreover, Boston is also the largest intellectual city in America, with the world-famous Harvard University.

In Boston, Nguyen Tat Thanh worked as a baker at the Omni Parker House Hotel's pastry shop. In an editorial published in the Boston Globe, an American writer wrote: "It should be noted that a talented revolutionary, the famous Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, once worked as a baker at the Omni Parker House pastry shop. This special chef has brought honor to this place." Until now, in the traditional room of the Omni Parker House Hotel, there are many pictures of President Ho Chi Minh when he was young working here.

The hotel bakery was also a regular meeting place for scientists, writers, poets, especially anti-racism and anti-slavery politicians. Coming to bake here was also a way for Nguyen Tat Thanh to learn more about the nature of the American Revolution, enriching his knowledge on the journey to find a path for the Vietnamese revolution.

Another notable event: On November 2, 1944, American Lieutenant William Shaw - pilot of the 51st Tactical Fighter Squadron, while on duty and having an accident, was forced to parachute into Ngan village, De Tham commune, Hoa An district, Cao Bang province. Pilot Shaw was rescued by Vietnamese guerrillas from the Japanese army's hunt, and was taken to Pac Bo to meet President Ho Chi Minh. At Pac Bo cave, Uncle Ho also gave this American pilot a copy of the "Viet Minh Program" which he personally translated into English. Later, Lieutenant Shaw became the "bridge" for leader Ho Chi Minh to meet General Claire Chennault - Commander of the 14th Air Group, nicknamed the "Flying Tigers" unit of the US, representing the Allied forces in the South China region (China). On this rare occasion, leader Ho Chi Minh asked General Chennault to recognize the Viet Minh front as the Allied force against fascism.

This event is considered the beginning of the Vietnam-US diplomatic relationship, when the Vietnamese revolution was still young and faced many difficulties. Thanks to that, we were able to gather and enlist the help of our anti-fascist Allies.

The greatness of leader Ho Chi Minh is also shown in the fact that: During the war against the US in the period of 1955-1975, Ho Chi Minh clearly recognized the evil nature of the US imperialists, and at the same time understood that the US was a superpower, with huge military and economic potential, and had a dominant role in the world in terms of politics and security. Therefore, he called for fighting the US, but never used the word "destroy". In his famous New Year's letter, he said: "Fight to make the US go away, fight to make the puppet regime fall". This thinking was a preparation for the process of normalizing Vietnam-US relations after the war. This was a strategic vision of a great man, and left the results that we enjoy today.

Thus, it can be said that it was President Ho Chi Minh who laid the foundation for the "blossoming" Vietnam-US relationship later on.

PV:Dear Major General, why, on July 25, 2013, did Vietnam and the US sign an agreement to establish a comprehensive partnership?

Major General Le Van Cuong:After the war, especially since the implementation of the renovation policy in 1986, the Party, State and people of Vietnam have always followed the ideology of "closing the past, looking towards the future". The establishment of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership stems from the deep foundation of the tolerant and generous ideology of the Vietnamese people.

Politically, in 2012-2013, the US had an urgent need to promote the expansion of relations with Vietnam. Why? Because since 2010, China has become the second largest economy in the world. Moreover, under President Xi Jinping, China has become a force challenging the US's role in the Asia-Pacific region in particular and in the world in general. In such a context, the US has an objective need to gather forces to deal with China. And in that process, the US considers Vietnam's role to be particularly important. Vietnam and ASEAN are the central link, the place of exchange of two grand strategies - China's "Belt and Road" and the US's Indo-Pacific. Vietnam has a special role in ASEAN. And in its relationship with China, Vietnam has a special relationship that the US can take advantage of and exploit.

From 2011 onwards, Vietnam has a great need to develop relations with the world, in which the US is the first target to consider. Vietnam wishes to cooperate in economics, science and technology, human resource training, politics, security and defense with the US.

Thus, due to the need and interests of ensuring security and development of both sides, Vietnam and the US have come together to establish a comprehensive partnership, through the visit to the US of former President Truong Tan Sang.

PV:Over the past 10 years, how has the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership developed, Major General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:Over the past 10 years, through the comprehensive partnership with the US, Vietnam has benefited greatly: bilateral trade has increased 7 times; many high-tech US corporations have come to invest in Vietnam; there are opportunities to expand economic relations with Europe and Japan; joining the World Trade Organization, receiving support from the World Bank...

Regarding human resource training, Vietnam has sent more than 30,000 international students to study in the US. This is a particularly important human resource in Vietnam's development process.

Politically and diplomatically, Vietnam continues to cooperate with the US in both bilateral and multilateral forums. Through cooperation, it has contributed to enhancing Vietnam's position and potential strength in the region and the world.

In general, in the past 10 years, the Vietnam-US relationship has developed quite comprehensively, contributing to promoting the trend of stability and peace in the region in particular and the world in general. However, there are still many disagreements that the two sides need to resolve.

PV:The world is witnessing a fierce conflict between Russia and Ukraine that shows no signs of stopping. How will this conflict affect the relationship between Vietnam and the US, Major General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:This conflict is the opening of a new era in the world, witnessing fierce confrontation between the post-Cold War powers, aiming to re-establish a new order in the future. Therefore, this conflict will certainly affect the Vietnam-US relationship.

But I think that influence is not strong enough. Certainly, the US closely monitors every step of Vietnam in its relationship with Russia. However, Vietnam's attitude is very clear: standing on the side of justice, on the side of international law.

PV:So how does the fierce confrontation between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific region affect Vietnam, Major General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:The bilateral relationship between the US and China is the most important relationship in the world, because every change affects security and development, including Vietnam.

Vietnam has a strategic partnership with China, and at the same time, a comprehensive relationship with the US. When the two “giants” confront each other, it will certainly affect Vietnam. However, it will be in two directions: positive and negative. The challenge is how Vietnam can maintain a stable relationship with China while expanding and promoting relations with the US. At the same time, when the US and China confront each other, Vietnam’s position is enhanced, as both powers need Vietnam to gather forces.

Most importantly, Vietnam needs to identify where the challenges lie to overcome them, and where the opportunities lie to take advantage of them.

Reporter: Public opinion is very interested in the possibility of elevating the Vietnam-US relationship to a “strategic partnership”. What is your opinion on this issue, Major General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:In terms of position and timing, this is a favorable time to elevate the comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership. But in terms of the political context, when the US and Russia are confronting each other in the conflict in Ukraine, if Vietnam elevates the relationship from "comprehensive" to "strategic", it seems that... it needs to be calculated.

I think we need to discuss with the US that the comprehensive partnership still has a lot of room and space for development. So both sides should make the most of this relationship!

PV: Thank you, Major General!