Vietnam - US Partnership

Vietnam - US Partnership

Some colleagues asked me to write an article for VIB Forum on the occasion of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's visit to the United States. I consider it as a chance for me to make a modest contribution to the burgeoning partnership between our countries..

At the high time of the war in Vietnam and during a meeting of the Paris Conference on Vietnam, an American diplomat asked me,"Do you think that one day you will visit the United States?" I replied, "During the French war, we did not think that we could be in Paris as we are today". The answer seemed convincing and the American nodded in agreement.

After the war, in July 1975, I was again member of the delegation in New York seeking Vietnamese admission to the United Nations. Returning to Saigon in September, some people asked me why should I return while others were fleeing Vietnam. Today, even former Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky of Saigon regime keeps coming back to Vietnam, the answer could be found at last.

In fact, the relationship between Vietnam and the United States can be traced back to the visit of the young Nguyen Ai Quoc (President Ho Chi Minh) to New York in 1910s and later with Ho Chi Minh helping American officers in the Vietnamese jungle against the Japanese army in 1940s. Though American history knows no loss in war except in Vietnam, it was quick to have a former prisoner of war as the first American Ambassador (Pete Peterson) in Hanoi, a true healer of the wound of war.

Many things can be said about the relations between Vietnam and the United States. Many people, old and young, North and South, at home and abroad can glorify the partnership between the two countries. To be more realistic, I wish to share the view of Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, BTA negotiator, that two-thirds of American people are in favour of the Vietnam-USA partnership for the following reasons : (1) the relationship is emotional for millions of Americans and Vietnamese involved in the war who now want to make good the relations; (2) two countries are big markets and need each other for economic development; (3) the position of Vietnam in the region and world politics.

As overseas Vietnamese often say "After the rain, it shines". It is true to the relationship between Vietnam and the United States. Everyone believes that it will continue to flourish and the visit of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai this time will serve as another milestone in the partnership between the two countries.

• Pham Ngac, Former Ambassador