Turning a new page

At the White House on 11 July, U.S. President Bill Clinton announced the normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam. This is an important decision, which responds to the aspirations of the American people and the general developing trend in the world. It will also contribute positively to the causes of peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

With the normalization of relations with the United States, Vietnam now has diplomatic relations with 155 countries. This is the first time since World War II, that our country has established full diplomatic relations with all of the superpowers. This is a logical process is in accordance with the contemporary trend of nations getting closer to each other for the sake of cooperation and development.

Together with other events, this event has affirmed, once again, that under the correct leadership of our party, the prolonged struggle with countless of difficulties, losses and the sacrifices of our people has brought independence and unification to the country. That extraordinary achievement is being maintained and consolidated in the current renovation, which has rendered important success for our national independence and prestige having been recognized and respected by more and more countries. Peoples and friends the world over have given ever increasing support to us.

We welcome the 11 July decision of President Bill Clinton to normalize relations with Vietnam. The decision reflects the desire of American leaders and people to close the past and look towards the future and towards normal relations with Vietnam. As Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet stressed in his announcement: "The Vietnamese Government is ready to work with the U.S. Government on a new framework for relations between the two countries on the basis of equality, respect to independence and sovereignty of each other, noninterference to each other's internal affairs, mutual benefit, and in accordance with popular principles of international laws."

Having experienced lengthy wars, the people of Vietnam have suffered and are still suffering the heavy results of war including the issue of missing people. Many Vietnamese families still do not know the fate and have not found the remains of their children, thus we understand the pain being suffered by many American families. Vietnamese people have done and are continuing to make every possible effort to solve this issue, because as we have always confirmed, we never considered this issue a political one but an issue inspired by our traditional moral value of the humanity of the Vietnamese people.

The decision of President Bill Clinton announcing the normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam has turned a new page in the history of Vietnam-U.S. relations, which is in accordance with historic logic and the reality of international relations.

Cooperative relations between countries can only develop on a foundation of respect for people's self-determination and people's choice of their development path. The people of Vietnam have fought tirelessly for their independence and freedom, and for equal and mutually respectful relations between peoples. The people of Vietnam will resolutely protect their sacred right and will not accept any imposition while cooperating with all nations and peoples to solve all issues of relations as well as issues of mankind as a whole.

On this occasion, we should express our sincere thanks to the individuals and organizations in the United States and in other countries for their goodwill and contributions in speeding up the process of normalization of Vietnam-U.S. relations.

Once again we reiterate Vietnam's consistent stance of working with other countries in the world, especially with our neighboring countries in the region, for the causes of peace, stability, cooperation, and development for Asia and the world.

-- Nhan Dan, Hanoi