Vietnam - US Friendship Exchange: Enhancing Understanding and Consolidating Trust Between the People of the Two Countries

On November 23 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, the US Mission in Vietnam and the Hanoi People's Committee jointly organized the Vietnam - US Friendship Exchange program. This activity is part of a series of events celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Attending the program were Mr. Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Mr. Marc E. Knapper, US Ambassador to Vietnam; representatives of the Hanoi People's Committee; leaders of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, departments and branches of the city; the Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - US Association in some localities; research institutes, universities, Vietnam - US enterprises; non-governmental organizations; some US individuals and families in Hanoi; scholars, intellectuals, individuals with relations with the US; students, local people, tourists ...

The Vietnam - US Friendship Exchange Program attracted a large number of delegates, international guests and residents of the capital. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In his opening speech, Mr. Dong Huy Cuong said that the Vietnam - US relationship is one of the special relations, with many fates, ups and downs, and difficulties, but has become a model of reconciliation between countries. With the announcement of the normalization and establishment of diplomatic relations by US President Bill Clinton and Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet on July 12, 1995, with the great and tireless efforts of the leaders and people of the two countries and the goodwill of "Putting aside the past, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking towards the future", the Vietnam - US relationship has made great strides in all areas, becoming a Comprehensive Partner in July 2013, and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace , Cooperation and Sustainable Development on September 10, 2023.

Mr. Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations , delivered the opening speech of the Vietnam - US Friendship Exchange program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

He affirmed that the Vietnamese people always appreciate and remember the valuable support of American friends, including veterans and their relatives, American charities, humanitarian organizations, and non-governmental organizations, who - with goodwill and trust - have sympathized, understood, dared to sacrifice, overcome themselves, put aside the past of hatred to look toward the future of friendship and cooperation and made important contributions to healing the wounds of war, to the cause of socio-economic development, integration and development of Vietnam.

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and its member organizations, including the Vietnam-US Association at the central and local levels, are proud to be an important part of the reconciliation process, overcoming the consequences of war and promoting the Vietnam-US relationship in general and the relationship between the two peoples in particular. The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-US Association have coordinated with US partners to organize many friendly exchange activities, contributing to building trust, narrowing differences, connecting people and making the friendship between the two peoples a sustainable foundation of the Vietnam-US relationship.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper speaks at the Vietnam - US Friendship Exchange program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the program, Ambassador Marc E. Knapper said that Vietnam will be a great success story in the next few decades.

Looking ahead to the next 30 years of cooperation, he emphasized that education, from English training to STEM fields, science, technology, engineering, mathematics... will be the key to future industries, areas in which Vietnam is well prepared to succeed. The Ambassador said that the United States is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in training and academic exchange, through programs such as 2+2, Fulbright scholarships and many other opportunities.

Mr. Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, said that in the coming time, the Union will continue to diversify its partnerships with US organizations, expand cooperation with universities, research institutes, states and businesses. The Union is also studying the organization of a Vietnam - US people's forum, widely connecting subjects and industries, which can be organized annually and rotated between the two countries with the goal of mobilizing the participation of more and more fields in the Vietnam - US people's relations.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper said the festival is a testament to the growth, dynamism, and partnership between our two countries. The event honors the courage of individuals from both countries who have overcome the aftermath of war, rebuilt trust and mutual understanding, and fostered progress in expanding bilateral relations to the heights they have today. The event also looks to the future, as both sides honor and inspire the young people who will continue to push this relationship forward over the next three decades.

The Ambassador stressed that US businesses have been playing an indispensable role in supporting these goals. The two sides are working together to promote education, health, economic prosperity, security and many other areas.

On this occasion, Ambassador Marc E. Knapper sent his condolences to the northern and central regions of Vietnam that were severely affected by recent storms and tropical depressions. He said the United States has donated 1 million USD to support disaster response efforts, bringing the total humanitarian assistance and disaster mitigation for Vietnam to more than 100 million USD. He affirmed that the spirit of mutual support in times of trouble is an important part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.

The program took place with many rich activities: cultural and sports exchanges, folk games of the two countries; visiting booths displaying Vietnamese - US culture and cuisine and achievements in foreign relations between the two countries; introducing Hanoi, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - US Association, the US Diplomatic Mission in Vietnam, activities of non-governmental organizations, Vietnamese - US businesses... The program aims to honor the diverse culture and friendship between the people of Vietnam - the US, educate the younger generation about the people-to-people friendship between Vietnam and the US, contributing to deepening mutual understanding and promoting people-to-people exchange activities between the two countries in the coming time.

A performance at the Vietnam - US Friendship Exchange program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Vietnam-US relations have made great strides since the normalization of diplomatic relations on July 12, 1995.

Economically, the United States is Vietnam's largest export market, with two-way trade turnover increasing more than 250 times compared to the normalization period, reaching more than 132 billion USD in 2024. US investment in Vietnam is also increasing rapidly, with large corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Intel, Meta, Nike, Visa, Coca Cola, Marriott... being major investors in Vietnam.

In the political and security fields, the two countries have strengthened cooperation through the exchange of delegations, especially high-level delegations, implementing dialogue mechanisms and coordinating the handling of regional and global issues, including responding to climate change and supporting initiatives within ASEAN and Mekong cooperation.

Regarding education and people-to-people exchange, Vietnam is currently the ASEAN country with the highest number of international students in the United States, with nearly 30,000 students. At the same time, many US universities have been implementing research and teaching programs on Vietnam, contributing to improving the understanding of the American people about Vietnamese history and culture.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/giao-luu-huu-nghi-viet-nam-hoa-ky-tang-cuong-hieu-biet-cung-co-long-tin-giau-nhan-dan-hai-nuoc-217871.html