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VIETNAM PICKS NO SIDE our two countries,” he said. “There is much
potential to fulfill the aspirations and interests
of both peoples, for peace, stability, and
As part of his working visit to the US from May 11 to 17, Prime Minister Pham cooperation in the region and the world.”
Minh Chinh delivered an address at the Center for Strategic and International Speaking about international relations
Studies (CSIS) spotlighting Vietnam’s perspective for a better world. in a world full of turbulence, the Prime
Minister placed emphasis on sincerity,
trust, and a sense of responsibility, which
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are, he believes, key for all countries to
address their differences and disputes.
“Sincerity, trust, and a sense of respon-
sibility play an essential role in addressing
the issues facing the world today,” he told
the gathering. “A lack of sincerity, trust,
and responsibility create tensions and con-
flict and hinder general cooperation between
countries and in responding to regional
and global challenges.” He added that equal
and mutually-beneficial cooperation on
the basis of mutual respect is one of the
best ways to settle existing issues among
countries and build a better world.
The Prime Minister then clarified Vietnam’s
views on demonstrating sincerity, strength-
ening trust, and bolstering responsibility in
its cooperation with other countries, the
region, and the international community.
“Vietnam continues to persevere with
its foreign policy of independence, peace,
friendship, cooperation, and development,”
he said. “It seeks to diversify and multi-lat-
eralize relations. It is a responsible member
of the international community. Vietnam
has always been consistent and transparent
in making and conducting this policy line.”
He stressed that “in a world full of turbulence,
strategic competition and a great many
choices, Vietnam picks no side. Instead, it
uring his first visit to the US as mutual respect, pursuant to the interests chooses justice, fairness and goodness, based
Prime Minister, from May 11 to and desires of the two countries and peo- on the principles of international law and
D 17, Mr. Pham Minh Chinh ples. We have overcome our differences the UN Charter. It chooses equality, shared
attended the second Special ASEAN - US and reached common foundational prin- benefits for all, and win-win for all.”
Summit at the invitation of US President ciples for the relationship.” “Between independence and depend-
Joe Biden, while also meeting with leaders He expressed Vietnam’s desire to ence, our choice is always independence,
from the US Congress, Cabinet Secretaries strengthen its cooperation with the US on in the spirit of ‘Nothing is more precious
in the Biden Administration, scholars, and the basis of bolstering trust and responsi- than independence and freedom’, to quote
business leaders, among others. bility, in the interests of the two peoples President Ho Chi Minh,” he went on.
Notably, among ASEAN leaders at the and for peace, cooperation, and develop- “Between negotiation and confrontation,
Summit, Prime Minister Chinh was the ment in the region and the world. we choose negotiation; between dialogue
only one invited to address the CSIS. He “To fulfill its national development targets, and conflict, we choose dialogue; between
was the third Vietnamese leader since Vietnam cannot go alone,” he went on, peace and war, we choose peace. Between
2013 to do so, joining State President adding that “to go far, we need friends.” competition and cooperation, we choose
Truong Tan Sang, in 2013, and Party Gen- The Vietnamese leader touched on the cooperation. If there is competition, it
eral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, in 2015. positive achievements recorded by Vietnam must be healthy and equal, and conducted
His May 11 speech was broadcast live on and the US in their joint efforts to speed with respect given to each other’s lawful
tech platforms by the CSIS. up the partnership in the political, eco- and legitimate rights and interests.”
On the progressive development of the nomic, education and training, and defense Such views are appreciated, as they are
relationship between Vietnam and the US, and security fields since the normalization in line with the world’s common trend for
he emphasized: “We are all elated to witness of relations. peace, stability, dialogue, and cooperation
the extraordinary growth of the relationship “Given the groundwork put in over the for development.
between Vietnam and the US in the three past three decades, we need to build upon Prime Minister Chinh’s US trip was
decades since the normalization of relations sincerity, trust, respect, and responsibility, fruitful in many regards. It helped the US
in 1995. The relationship has flourished not only in our shared efforts to address and the rest of the world gain a better
and blossomed, thanks to both sides’ efforts, issues surrounding the legacy of war to heal understanding of Vietnam, thus opening
nurtured by sincerity, trust, and a sense of the wounds in both nations, but also to fur- up greater opportunities for bilateral and
responsibility, by sympathy, sharing and ther nurture the bond of cooperation between multilateral cooperation. %

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