Turning a new page
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