President: Vietnam-US reconciliation is proof of tolerance

On the occasion of attending the 80th United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week and working in the US, on the afternoon of September 22 in New York (local time), President Luong Cuong had a meeting with Vietnamese-American veterans.

At the meeting, President Luong Cuong emphasized that today, everyone has the right to be proud of the important achievements in bilateral relations, and above all, of the right choices in the journey of cultivating Vietnam - US relations.

The war took too much from the two nations, leaving behind unfulfilled dreams and haunting memories. The President said the Vietnamese people, with compassion and tolerance, chose to put aside the painful past to look to the future, choosing to forgive but not forget.

President Luong Cuong meets with Vietnamese and American veterans. Photo: VNA

Welcome the US President's administration's support for projects to overcome the consequences of war

The President assessed that in the US, veterans emerging from the war chose conscience and joined hands with Vietnam to build the first bridges for the healing and reconciliation process.

Over the past half century, hundreds of searches and excavations have been conducted, helping to bring thousands of relics and remains of American soldiers back to their homeland. The goodwill and results of the 50-year cooperation between Vietnam and MIA have always been highly appreciated by the government, Congress , veteran organizations and relatives of American MIA, considering this a model in the relationship between the two countries in particular and international relations in general.

The two sides also strengthened cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war, such as cleaning up Agent Orange/dioxin at Da Nang airport and Bien Hoa airport; supporting people with disabilities affected by Agent Orange; clearing bombs and mines; searching for, collecting and identifying the remains of Vietnamese soldiers. With the cooperation of the US and international friends, many lands that were once "dead" because of bombs, mines and toxic chemicals have now revived.

President Luong Cuong and veterans and families of Vietnamese and American veterans review memorabilia and documents. Photo: VNA

On this occasion, the President welcomed and appreciated the recent administration of President Donald Trump for supporting and continuing to implement the project to overcome the consequences of war in Vietnam.

In a letter to President Truman in 1946, the great President Ho Chi Minh spoke of a relationship of “full cooperation” with the United States. President Luong Cuong said that 30 years ago, perhaps the most optimistic person could not have imagined how Vietnam and the United States could overcome the pain of war to build and develop a strong and positive relationship like today.

The President emphasized that the story of healing and reconciliation between Vietnam and the US is a living proof of how great the power of tolerance can be, and how it can break through limits. Vietnam and the US have also seen that no hatred is permanent and no wound cannot be healed, if we know how to open our hearts and look to the future...

President Luong Cuong witnessed veterans from both countries return memorabilia to the families of Vietnamese and American soldiers. Photo: VNA

At the meeting, Vietnamese and American veterans shared stories of the past from both sides, the journey to heal the wounds of war, and their wishes to put the past behind them, cherish the past, and move toward a better future.

Vietnam always appreciates the sentiments of the peace-loving American people.

Also on September 22, President Luong Cuong had a meeting with friends, long-time partners, and progressive people of the United States.

Longtime partners and progressive people of the United States spoke and shared touching stories in their support for Vietnam, contributing to healing the wounds of war and promoting relations between the two countries.

Among them are typical representatives such as: Ms. Ani Toncheva - a member of the Communist Party of the USA, who devoted herself to internationalism and anti-militarism as well as actively participated in the struggles for labor and housing rights in New York City; Mr. John McAuliff - Director of the Reconciliation and Development Foundation, a person who actively campaigned for support for Vietnam during the negotiation period of the 1973 Paris Agreement; Mr. Todd Magee - Executive Director of Operation Smile, an organization that has made many contributions to promoting the normalization of Vietnam - US relations...

President Luong Cuong with delegates. Photo: VNA

Speaking at the event, President Luong Cuong affirmed that Vietnam always remembers and appreciates the close affection, valuable help and support of American friends and peace-loving people. These include peace-loving American citizens such as Ms. Merle Ratner, Mr. Morrison and many American friends in the movement to support Vietnam's just struggle, promote the end of the war, restore peace in Vietnam; American veterans' organizations and many individuals who have overcome past complexes, returned to Vietnam to heal the wounds of war, join hands to search for missing soldiers, support victims of Agent Orange, clear bombs and mines...

With the spirit of “Putting aside the past, overcoming differences, looking towards the future” over the 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, according to the President, Vietnam-US relations have made remarkable progress. Vietnam has become an important trade partner of the US.

The upgrading of relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development in September 2023 is a milestone, making the Vietnam-US relationship a model of healing and reconciliation in international relations.

In the framework of the new relationship, people-to-people diplomacy is one of the important fields, playing the role of a solid social foundation. It is both a catalyst and a contributor to building and strengthening trust, a heart-to-heart bridge, connecting and promoting the relationship between the two countries.

The President suggested that organizations and individuals increase exchanges and contacts in flexible forms; provide information on the situation and activities of each side; promote people-to-people diplomacy and cultural exchanges, thereby enhancing understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

The President hopes that American friends and partners will continue to contribute to Vietnam's development and the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Photo: VNA

The President hopes that American friends and partners will promote their role as bridges, connecting businesses and localities of the two sides; promote cooperation in core areas and breakthroughs in economics, trade, investment, especially in science, technology and innovation.

The President also asked American friends and partners to continue supporting and contributing to the work of overcoming the consequences of war, such as handling areas contaminated with Agent Orange, unexploded ordnance and mines; supporting victims of toxic chemicals, dioxin and landmines; and assisting in collecting information to help speed up the process of searching for and collecting the remains of missing Vietnamese soldiers.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/chu-tich-nuoc-han-gan-hoa-giai-viet-my-la-bang-chung-cua-long-bao-dung-2445231.html