Continue to deepen and develop Vietnam-US relations in a stable and substantive manner.

On the occasion of attending the 79th United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week and working in New York, USA, on the morning of September 23 (local time), General Secretary andPresident To Lam visited and delivered a policy speech at Columbia University.

General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife with delegates attending the ceremony to celebrate the first anniversary of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary and President To Lam mentioned a number of issues on the path towards the era of national growth, the Vietnam-US relationship and the vision to build a bright future for all humanity in the face of great changes, both cyclical and structural, and with unprecedented breakthroughs under the impact of the scientific and technological revolution, especially artificial intelligence and digital technology.

The General Secretary and President said that after nearly 80 years of national founding and nearly 40 years of Doi Moi, under the comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party, Vietnam is standing at a new historical starting point, a new era - the era of the Vietnamese people's rise. The great and historically significant achievements of the Doi Moi process are the premise for the Vietnamese people to believe in the future ahead. The great achievements that Vietnam has achieved stem from the right path chosen under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, with the efforts and determination of the entire nation.

In the context of the rapidly changing world situation, the General Secretary and President affirmed that under the leadership of the Communist Party, Vietnam will continue to consistently implement its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, being a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community. Vietnam will persist in its "4 no's" defense policy, strongly support the settlement of disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of the United Nations Charter and international law, and oppose unilateral actions, power politics, and the use or threat of force in international relations. The General Secretary and President emphasized that with the country's new position and strength, Vietnam is determined to effectively implement new-era diplomacy, ready to make more proactive and responsible contributions to world politics, the global economy, and human civilization.

Referring to the Vietnam-US relationship, the General Secretary and President said that over the past 30 years, from former enemies, the two countries have become partners, Comprehensive Partners and now Comprehensive Strategic Partners. The General Secretary and President affirmed that for the relationship between the two countries to turn a new page and develop well as it has today, the most important factor is the tradition of humanity and altruism of the Vietnamese people, and the talented leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam with its intellectual vision, determination and courage to bring Vietnam into the international flow. Besides, we must mention many American friends and partners, especially the strong bipartisan support in the United States for the Vietnam-US relationship. This is one of the important foundations for bringing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries to an increasingly deeper, more stable, sustainable and substantive level in the coming time.

From the path forward of the Vietnamese people and the success story of the Vietnam-US relationship, the General Secretary and President assessed that in order to build a better common future for all humanity, it is necessary to affirm and promote the role of the spirit of healing, respect and mutual understanding, in which respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions is the most important.

With the humane, peaceful and tolerant traditions of the nation, Vietnam has been very proactive in healing the wounds of war. Cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war has become the foundation for the two sides to heal, move towards normalization, build trust and deepen relations. These will remain extremely important areas of cooperation between the two countries for many years to come, because the consequences of war are still very severe, especially for Vietnam.

From that lesson, the General Secretary and President said that for a relationship to develop, both sides need to promote research on each other's history, culture, people, political systems, and socio-economy. In a broader sense, if countries understand and respect each other's legitimate interests and work together to build trust, the world will be more peaceful and less conflicted. In the age of science and technology, we can take advantage of new methods such as digital platforms and tools to promote broader connectivity and deeper understanding among peoples.

The General Secretary and President emphasized the highest sense of responsibility towards the international community. Going beyond the bilateral framework, Vietnam-US cooperation has gradually reached regional and global levels, especially in responding to climate change, combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction... Referring to the issue of solidarity and looking to the future, the General Secretary and President affirmed that in the context of the world in a period of epochal change, humanity needs to have a long-term vision and solidarity more than ever. No single country, no matter how strong, can alone handle the common problems of the times, and that is the approach and orientation that the United Nations Future Summit has clearly stated.

The General Secretary and President hopes that friends, partners, and all sectors in the United States will continue to strongly support the promotion of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, continue the success story, inspire future generations, and that success will not only best serve the interests of the people of the two countries, but also contribute increasingly practically and effectively to peace, national independence, democracy, social progress, and prosperous development of peoples in the region and the world.

General Secretary and President To Lam talks with students of Columbia University. (Photo: VNA)

Earlier, on the afternoon of September 22, in New York, General Secretary and President To Lam attended an event to celebrate the first anniversary of upgrading relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development; towards the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations. The event was attended by former Secretary of State John Kerry, Senator Dan Sullivan, many high-ranking officials and former officials in the government, along with many American friends and the Vietnamese community in the United States.

Reviewing the history of Vietnam-US relations, General Secretary and President To Lam said that this is a rare process and a model in international relations in healing and building post-war relations. Although the two countries had their first exchanges more than two centuries ago, they had to go through many challenges and ups and downs, from former enemies in the war to friends and developing relations to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2013 and after 10 years of implementing the Comprehensive Partnership framework, with important steps achieved in strengthening trust and enhancing mutual understanding, it has created a solid foundation for the two countries to upgrade their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development in 2023, in accordance with President Ho Chi Minh's wishes. The General Secretary and President emphasized that this result is the crystallization of countless efforts to mend and build lasting trust over nearly 30 years by many generations of leaders, governments, National Assemblies and people of the two countries.

The General Secretary and President welcomed the encouraging results achieved by both sides after a year of upgrading relations, and said that with the comprehensive and specific content of the new relationship framework, the two sides still have much room to continue to deepen and develop bilateral relations in a stable and substantive manner, bringing more benefits to the people of the two countries as well as contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

Looking forward to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations in 2025, General Secretary and President To Lam suggested that the two sides continue to strengthen close coordination to effectively implement the Vietnam-US Joint Statement in 2023, especially increasing contacts and delegation exchanges at high levels; making high-tech science and technology cooperation (semiconductors, artificial intelligence - AI), and high-quality human resource training a strategic breakthrough in bilateral relations; continuing to prioritize cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war, contributing to building and consolidating trust between the two sides; enhancing dialogue in a spirit of frankness, constructiveness, sharing of interests and legitimate concerns of each other; and strengthening coordination, contributing more to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.

On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his gratitude to the US government and people for their timely support to the Vietnamese people during the recent storm No. 3 (Yagi).

Previously, General Secretary and President To Lam met with the leadership of the Asia Society Policy Research Institute and some American friends. The General Secretary and President thanked the Asia Society for its warm welcome to the Vietnamese delegation and for coordinating the organization of the above event. The General Secretary and President highly appreciated Dr. Kang Kyung Wha's personal interest and support for Vietnam in his previous position as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and his current position as President of the Asia Society and hoped that the Asia Society's leadership would continue to support the strengthening of cooperative relations with Vietnam and ASEAN.

On the afternoon of September 22, within the framework of his working trip to attend the Future Summit, the 79th United Nations General Assembly and work in the United States, General Secretary and President To Lam met and exchanged with leaders of the Communist Party, left-wing organizations and American friends in New York. A large number of delegates from different states, representing thousands of American friends who love Vietnam, including leaders of the Communist Party of the United States, left-wing organizations, peace activists, veterans, friends, representatives of charitable, humanitarian, religious, non-governmental organizations and businesses attended the meeting.

Co-Chairwoman of the Communist Party of the United States Rossana Cambron expressed her deep impression and inspiration of a modern, prosperous Vietnam with a socialist-oriented market economy, considering it a model for sustainable growth, improving people's lives and an example of putting the theory of socialist society into reality; affirming her desire to strengthen relations between the two Parties in the coming time.

General Secretary and President To Lam thanked comrades and friends for taking the time to attend the meeting; expressed his respect and emotion for the support and affection of communist comrades, friends and people of the United States for the Party, State and people of Vietnam through the ages. At the meeting, the General Secretary and President congratulated and respectfully awarded the Friendship Medal to individuals who have made many positive and important contributions to strengthening the relationship between the people of the two countries.

On the afternoon of September 22, General Secretary and President To Lam received Mr. Brendan Nelson - President of Boeing Global, the world's largest aviation corporation. Appreciating Boeing's business achievements as well as its cooperation and support for Vietnam in recent times, General Secretary and President To Lam acknowledged Boeing's commitments to supporting Vietnam in developing the aviation and aerospace industrial ecosystem in the coming time.

On the afternoon of September 22, in New York, General Secretary and President To Lam attended a seminar on Strengthening Vietnam-US cooperation in developing the semiconductor industry and artificial intelligence (AI). The seminar was attended by leaders and experts from leading technology corporations and organizations in the world in the field of semiconductors and AI in the United States such as AMD, Google, Marvell, the Semiconductor Industry Association of the United States (SIA), the Semiconductor Industry International (SEMI)...

Sharing with enthusiastic speeches, going straight to the topics of Vietnam-US cooperation opportunities in the field of semiconductor industry and AI, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his agreement with the opinions of the delegates. The General Secretary and President stated that Vietnam is determined to develop the country quickly and sustainably based on science-technology and innovation. The Party and State have identified three strategic breakthroughs for the country's socio-economic development by 2030: institutions, infrastructure and human resource development associated with economic restructuring and growth model innovation; promoting development based on science-technology, innovation and cultural values of Vietnamese people. Developing the semiconductor and AI industry is an objective requirement, a strategic choice, a priority in science-technology development; and will lead to the development of other supporting industries.

General Secretary and President To Lam pointed out that Vietnam is currently at an important juncture in the transition towards a digital economy, green economy, and circular economy and is prioritizing the strong development of science and technology, innovation to create breakthroughs in productivity, quality, and increase the competitiveness of the economy. In that context, Vietnam encourages and prioritizes selective investment attraction, targeting high-tech projects, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, research and development, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and synchronous infrastructure construction... These are also the areas where US investors have great potential and strengths.

General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that the potential for cooperation between Vietnamese and US partners in high-tech fields such as semiconductors and AI is huge and meaningful in the new era, especially after Vietnam and the US upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership with two breakthrough cooperation pillars: innovation and the semiconductor industry. The General Secretary and President expressed his belief that cooperation in the fields of semiconductors and artificial intelligence will open up many opportunities for businesses on both sides to promote and exploit each side's advantages...

Appreciating the efforts of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in actively and proactively coordinating with relevant agencies and FPT Corporation in promoting the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries, General Secretary and President To Lam believes that with the contribution of all, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will become increasingly substantive and effective, contributing to sustainable development.

On September 22, on the occasion of attending the Future Summit and the High-level General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze and Uzbekistani Foreign Minister Bakhtior Saidov, and the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar Julie Bishop.

At the meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sincerely thanked the Party, State and people of Cuba for sending their condolences and encouragement to the Vietnamese people to overcome difficulties and the consequences of storm No. 3, and for their gestures of condolences on the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to continue to foster and further develop the special Vietnam-Cuba relationship, in which the State visit to Cuba by General Secretary and President To Lam will continue to create new milestones for the relationship of comradeship, brotherhood, trust and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Receiving Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son thanked Latvia for supporting Vietnam to join the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, and asked Latvia to continue supporting Vietnam's candidacy for UN mechanisms in the coming time; hoped that Latvia would have a voice in urging the remaining 9 EU member states to soon ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and support the EC to soon remove the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnam's seafood exports.

At the meeting with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtior Saidov, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son thanked the President and people of Uzbekistan for sending their regards and encouragement to the Vietnamese people to overcome difficulties and the consequences of storm No. 3; expressed his wish to promote bilateral relations in depth and substance in all fields, especially in economics, trade, investment, energy, oil and gas, agriculture, and education.

Receiving Ms. Julie Bishop, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Myanmar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam is ready to cooperate and support the role and efforts of the Special Envoy in seeking sustainable peace solutions, for the benefit of the people of Myanmar, for peace and stability in the region.

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