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| Consul General of Vietnam in San Francisco, Ambassador Hoang Anh Tuan met with veteran members of the San Francisco- Ho Chi Minh City Sisterhood Committee. (Photo: TLSQ) |
The meeting took place on the occasion of Vietnam celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations with the US and the 31st anniversary of the two cities officially becoming sister cities.
Pioneering and courageous journey
In 1994, when Vietnam and the US had not yet officially normalized relations, San Francisco took the initiative to sign a sister city relationship with Ho Chi Minh City - becoming the first city in the US to do so. That bold decision came from the vision of the city's leaders at that time, especially Mayor Willie Brown and his dedicated colleagues such as Mr. Mark Chandler - Director of the International Chamber of Commerce and Mr. George Saxton - Executive Director of the San Francisco-Ho Chi Minh City Sister City Committee.
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| Consul General of Vietnam in San Francisco, Ambassador Hoang Anh Tuan at the meeting. (Photo: TLSQ) |
In the emotional atmosphere of the meeting, Mr. Mark Chandler shared: “San Francisco is famous for its bridges. But the bridge with the deepest meaning is the bridge connecting two nations – between the past and the future, between differences and understanding."
Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his gratitude to those who laid the foundation for this relationship: “30 years ago, when many people were skeptical, you believed in peace and friendship. Today, our generation not only benefits but also inherits and continues that proud legacy."
The relationship between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City is not only symbolic, but also creates practical momentum for people-to-people exchanges, education, trade and innovation between the two cities, while contributing to promoting Vietnam-US bilateral relations in important stages.
30 years of building trust: From confrontation to partnership
The Vietnam-US relationship over the past three decades has been one of the most spectacular and typical transformations of modern diplomacy. From two countries that once stood on opposite sides of the battle line, Vietnam and the US have now become Comprehensive Strategic Partners, sharing interests, responsibilities and regional visions.
“Just half a century ago, we were still divided by war. But today, the two countries stand side by side – not only as friends but also as trusted partners in building peace and development,” Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized in his speech.
Since 1995, the two countries have continuously expanded cooperation in the fields of politics-diplomacy, defense-security, economy-trade, education-training and culture. High-level visits, strategic dialogue frameworks and close coordination at regional and global forums are clear evidence of the continuous development of bilateral relations.
In terms of trade, 2024 marks an important milestone when two-way trade exceeds the threshold of 150 billion USD. Vietnam becomes the 8th largest trading partner of the US. Cooperation in education and science and technology is also developing strongly, with thousands of cooperation programs and tens of thousands of Vietnamese students studying at universities in the US.
A notable milestone in bilateral relations was President Joe Biden's official visit to Vietnam in September 2023, during which the two sides officially upgraded their relationship to the level of "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" - the highest framework for cooperation.
The relationship is based on 10 pillars of comprehensive cooperation, from innovation, energy, education to regional security and climate change.
“Today’s Vietnam-US relationship is not only a connection between two governments, but also a deep connection between two peoples and two societies. This is the result of a long journey of building trust, mutual respect and looking towards the future,” the Consul General emphasized.
Vietnam's Economy 2025: Overcoming the Waves with Internal Strength
In his sharing about Vietnam's economic situation, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan provided many updated information, showing the resilience and strong adaptability of the Vietnamese economy in the first half of 2025 - a challenging period for the global economy.
Vietnam’s GDP in the first half of the year increased by more than 7.52%, thanks to the strong recovery of the manufacturing, service and domestic consumption sectors. Foreign direct investment disbursement reached 11.7 billion USD – the highest level in the past 5 years. More than 1,900 new FDI projects were licensed, reflecting the growing confidence of international investors in the business environment in Vietnam.
Inflation was controlled at 3.27%, helping the government maintain flexible monetary policy and macroeconomic stability. Retail and services grew by more than 7%, reflecting the recovery of domestic demand. In particular, public investment increased sharply thanks to the priority given to infrastructure, digital transformation and energy transformation.
“More important than growth rate is the direction of development. We are shifting from breadth to depth – focusing on productivity, innovation and sustainable development,” the Consul General said.
According to him, Vietnam's new growth model revolves around five strategic pillars: transparent and stable institutions; sustainable and green development model; strong domestic demand; deep integration with the global economy; and the rise of the private sector - a key driving force in the digital economy.
Despite facing pressure from export markets, Vietnam is proactively adapting, expanding value chains and promoting multilateral trade – in which the US remains the top priority market and partner. Regarding trade issues, the Consul General emphasized that both sides need to promote dialogue, enhance understanding and work towards balanced, sustainable and mutually beneficial solutions.
From “bridge city” to innovation hub
In the final part of his speech, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized the role of local cooperation, especially the relationship between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City, in shaping Vietnam-US relations in the new period.
San Francisco is not only a literal “city of bridges,” but also the birthplace of symbolic bridges – connecting two cultures, two political systems, and two visions of the future.
Since the first sister bridge with Ho Chi Minh City in 1994, San Francisco has continued to expand its influence, becoming a link between America's technology, financial and educational centers and Vietnam.
The Consul General affirmed: “We need to fully exploit San Francisco's strengths in green technology, startups and education to build trans-Pacific innovation alliances with Ho Chi Minh City. This will be a new driving force for growth and sustainable development of both sides."
Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan said that the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco is always ready to play a connecting role – from businesses to universities, from social organizations to individuals – in promoting multi-dimensional, practical and long-term cooperation between the two countries.
“We always listen, accompany and act with our partners in the US to realize our common vision – a Vietnam-US relationship for peace, development and prosperity. The best days are right ahead of us,” he emphasized.
The meeting ended in a warm, friendly and hopeful atmosphere. The San Francisco-Ho Chi Minh City Sisterhood Committee has become a lasting symbol of friendship between the two cities and two countries.
This is not only a bold and symbolic initiative, but also a practical foundation for major steps forward in Vietnam-US relations. San Francisco, with its pioneering role, has been and will continue to be a solid foundation for deepening local cooperation between Vietnam and the US.
And as Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed: “If the previous generation courageously laid the first brick for this friendship bridge, then today's generation has the responsibility to expand and lengthen it - to connect not only the two cities, but also the common dreams of a green, peaceful and humane future between the two peoples."
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/san-francisco-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-cay-cau-huu-nghi-dau-tien-giua-hai-bo-thai-binh-duong-323019.html
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