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US President Barack Obama has arrived in Vietnam for a three-day official visit commencing on May 23 at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang. This is the first visit to Vietnam by President B. Obama, contributing to further consolidating and developing the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.
Located in the Western Hemisphere, at over 9.8 million square kilometres with over 320 million people, the United States is the world’s third largest country by total area (after Russia and Canada), and the third most populous (after China and India). The US is a federal republic composed of 50 states and the federal district of Washington D.C. It is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations.
As an industrialised country, the US economy is the largest in the world with a total gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015 reaching approximately US$17.9 trillion, accounting for about 24% of the gross world product; the GDP per capita was estimated at US$54,629, among the top five countries in the world. In the economic structure, services accounted for 80%; industry 19% and agriculture 1%. The US is one of the world’s largest exporters and importers, with exports accounting for over 30% of the GDP. The economic crisis during the 2007-2009 period pushed the US economy into the worst recession since the Great Depression between 1929 and 1933, causing a sharp fall in GDP growth and high unemployment rate. From the third quarter of 2009, the US economy got out of recession and began to restore growth.
In the context of the world situation with many new developments, the US continues to strengthen and promote it’s superpower status, implementing a rebalancing strategy towards the Asia-Pacific whilst enhancing its presence and broadening international co-operation. The US has continued to execute a soft foreign policy, strengthening co-operation with its alliances, forming a new partnership network as well as strengthening international economic co-operation.
Vietnam and the US established diplomatic relations on July 12, 1995; the past 20 years have seen innumerable achievements due to their sound co-operation. The two countries established a comprehensive partnership in 2013 on the occasion of the Vietnam Presidential visit to the US, bringing with it a new phase of co-operation. The historical visit to the US made by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July, 2015, in which the two countries signed the Vision for United States – Vietnam Relations, continued to promote the bilateral comprehensive partnership in a positive, deep and substantive manner.
Economically, co-operation has been extremely active. The US is Vietnam’s biggest importer, and two-way trade revenue has increased by 20% annually, reaching over US$45 billion in 2015. The US is Vietnam’s 7th biggest investor with over US$11 billion in funding in 748 projects. Together with participating countries, Vietnam and the US concluded negotiations and signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in February, 2016 as well as closely co-ordinated to ensure its effective and prompt adoption by the two parliaments. Bilateral co-operation in the field of security-defense is a priority and continues to be promoted. Other co-operative areas, such as education-training, science-technology, tourism, health, environment, humanitarian affairs, dealing with the aftermaths of war, people-to-people exchanges, and co-operation between localities of the two countries have seen positive progress.
The two countries have also co-operated at international and regional forums, such as the UN, APEC, ARF, ADMM+, EAS, and many more, co-operation has been seen especially in maritime security, ASEAN integration and consolidation, and the ASEAN – US relationship.
The past 20 years have seen impressive developments in Vietnam – US bilateral relations. With their future oriented mentality, both countries are looking beyond the past to shape a brighter future. The official visit to Vietnam made by US President B. Obama is a good opportunity for leaders of the two countries to continue promoting the deployment of signed high-level agreements; discuss orientations and measures to strengthen bilateral co-operation; and exchange opinions on issues of international and regional concern. This significant event also represents the Vietnamese Party and State’s external policy of peace, independence, self-reliance, friendship and co-operation, multilateralisation and diversification, developing international co-operation in a deep and substantive manner.
May the first visit to Vietnam by US President Barack Obama be crowned with success, contributing to developing the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership in an effective, sustainable and substantive manner, contributing to peace, stability, co-operation and development in Asia - Pacific and around the world.
(NHAN DAN ONLINE)
