FORUM “VIETNAM - US RELATIONS: THE WAY AHEAD”

Vietnam-USA Society

PRESS RELEASE

On June 4th 2005, over 100 representatives of mass organizations, veteran’s organizations, religious organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), politicians, scholars, social activists, businessmen from Vietnam and the United States gathered at the Forum “Vietnam–US Relations: the Way Ahead” to review the developments over the past 10 years and to make recommendations for the future of Vietnam – US relations.

The Forum was co-organized in Hanoi by the Vietnam–USA Society and the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation in cooperation with American NGO community operational in Vietnam, with support of the Embassy of the United States of America and US enterprises in Vietnam as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It took place when the two countries were making preparations for an official visit to the United States of America by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

Participants in the Forum are unanimous in their assessment of the positive steps of development in Vietnam-US relations over the past 10 years. In the spirit of “setting aside the past and looking forward to the future”, cooperation between the two countries has been expanded in the fields of politics, economics, trade, tourism, culture, education, health, security, defense, addressing war consequences, people-to-people relations and humanitarian issues. The results of cooperation in the search for American MIAs, the rapid development in trade relations since the signing of the Bilateral Trade Agreement and people-to-people friendly exchange between the two countries are among the most remarkable highlights in bilateral relations over the past years. Many American entrepreneurs have profitably invested in Vietnam and are doing profitable business. People-to-people exchange activities have made active contributions to improving mutual understanding and friendship between people of the two countries. Over 250 American NGOs are working effectively in Vietnam and making positive contributions to socio-economic development in Vietnam and to the improvement of friendly relations between Vietnam and the US.

Accomplishments over the past years have demonstrated that the development of Vietnam–US relations serves the interests of the people of the two countries, peace, stability and development in the region; that all joint efforts, which are based on mutual agreement bring about benefits to all people; that differences can be effectively dealt with on the basis of constructive attitude and mutual respect; and that mutual understanding bears extremely important significance in the relations between the two countries.

Participants share the view that relations between Vietnam and the United States have great potential for further development, and that in the relations between the two countries, mutual interests are fundamental and more significant than remaining differences. It is necessary to expand and strengthen relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries in the spirit of “improving mutual understanding and respect; exploring, expanding and building on areas of common interests; and working together to deal with differences through constructive dialogue”.

Participants believe that it is necessary for the two countries to continue developing a stable, long-term and forward-looking framework of relationship and have proposed the following measures to strengthen Vietnam–US relations in the time to come:

  • To increase exchanges of high-level delegations and contact between officials, parliamentarians, politicians, social activists, business leaders, scholars of the two countries;
  • To boost economic cooperation and continue creating favorable conditions for trade and investment activities, push up cooperation in tourism;
  • To implement cooperative efforts in support of Vietnam’s membership in WTO;
  • To expand and facilitate people-to-people exchanges, especially between veterans, scholars, students, young generations, religious leaders, journalists, artists;
  • To enhance cooperation in health, education, culture, information, security and defense; appropriate use of natural resources, and protection of the environment;
  • To promote greater understanding through relevant studies of each other’s society, culture and political system both in the Unite States and in Vietnam;
  • To further cooperation in addressing war consequences, assisting victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin and other toxic chemicals, landmines/UXO; to expand NGOs aid and cooperation in humanitarian issues and development, official development assistance for Vietnam;
  • To promote direct relations between localities of the two countries;
  • To encourage more active participation of the Vietnamese American community, especially young Vietnamese Americans, in enhancing the relations between the two countries;
  • To establish appropriate channels for dialogues to deal with remaining differences.

The Forum took place in an atmosphere of open, candid and constructive exchange of views. Participants expressed hope and wishes for a successful official trip to the US by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and accompanying delegations, thus making important contributions to further consolidating and developing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the US in the future.

Hanoi, June 4th 2005