Vietnam stands ready to work with the new US administration
18/1/17
Pursuing a consistent policy of attaching much importance to the
relations with the US, Vietnam stands ready to work with the Trump
administration.
|
Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang received the US President Obama in 2016 |
Vietnam maintains consistent policy of attaching much importance to
the relations with the US, while standing ready to work with the new
administration to promote achievements in bilateral ties and make it
further thrive, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc was quoted by the
Vietnam News Agency as saying on January 13.
From former enemies, Vietnam and the US has formed cooperation
relationship since 1995 and became comprehensive partnership since 2013
in the spirit of putting aside the past, overcoming differences,
promoting similarities and heading to the future, he told reporters.
On the basis of external policies of independence, self-reliance,
multilateralisation and diversification, Vietnam wishes to further
promote achievements obtained in bilateral ties with the US over the
past eight years, while standing ready to cooperate with the new
administration to promote the relationship based on the foundation of
respecting each other’s political institution, growth path,
independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and not interfering
into each other’s internal affairs.
The spirit was also shown in the congratulatory message of Vietnamese
leaders to President-elect Donald Trump and the telephone talks between
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Mr. Trump in December last year.
The diplomat also stressed the need for Vietnam to become more active
in expanding partnership in nine major pillars, including
politics-diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, science-technology,
education-training, defence-security, war aftermath overcoming, and
culture, tourism.
He said that over the past years, the two sides have built a firm
foundation of win-win cooperation with specific collaboration mechanisms
in bilateral, regional and international aspects.
He expressed his belief that the ties will continue to thrive to
match the two countries’ potential thanks to political determination of
both sides.
Vietnam will continue implementing existing cooperation mechanisms,
delegation exchanges, while considering economic, trade and investment
cooperation as a focus and motivation for the bilateral partnership,
stated Ngoc.
He added that Vietnam should work harder to improve investment
environment to attract more investors from the US, and increase two-way
trade.
The Vietnamese and US economies are supplementary with high growth
potential, he said, adding that cooperation in dealing with war
aftermath should be one of priorities in bilateral cooperation.
In the regional and international aspects, he said Vietnam and the US
should maintain partnership in anti-terrorism, and fighting the
popularisation of mass destruction weapon, as well as climate change,
energy, food, water security, thus contributing to peace, stability,
cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Vietnam and partners, including the US, share a common desire of
maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the
Asia-Pacific region in line with international law, as well as the
maintenance of multipolar trend and democracy in the region and the
central role of ASEAN in regional institutions, and keeping a strong and
united ASEAN with balance relations with world powers and external
partners, the Deputy Foreign Minister affirmed.
All comments [ 10 ]
Vietnam’s ratification would depend on developments in other countries, including the outcome of the American election.
From Hanoi’s perspective, vocally advocating for a trade pact, which excluded China and was perceived as an attempt by the outgoing Obama administration to contain Beijing’s rising influence in the region, while knowing that America’s incoming administration would dump the deal, is strategically unwise.
Under the Obama presidency, Hanoi’s ties with Washington have greatly advanced.
Vietnam will stick by its longstanding independent foreign policy.
Vietnam’s “independent foreign policy” is completely different from the Duterte government’s “independent foreign policy,” both in rhetoric and content.
Instead of worsening or cutting ties with the US, United Nations and the European Union, or proposing to form a triumvirate alliance with China and Russia in “against the world,” Vietnam has sought – and continues to seek – to diversify and multilateralize ties, “considering all countries as friends.”
Under the Trump presidency, it is likely harder for Vietnamese businesses and Vietnam-based companies to export their products to the US.
it is vital for Hanoi to seek to establish and maintain good relations with America’s new government.
Faced with the Trump administration’s isolationist and protectionist posture, besides carrying necessary forms to improve its economic growth and competitiveness, it is now even more essential for Hanoi to boost its ties with key partners.
A leadership change in a country can result in major changes in policies in that country. A proactive and autonomous policy will be always a better way for dealing with such changes.
Your comments