Theo nguồn tin trên trang mạng của Đại Sứ Quán Hoa Kỳ ở tại Hà Nội
(as prepared) April, 5, 2016 Good Morning, and thank you to CSSD for inviting me here today for this excellent opportunity for conversation. I am happy to see so many old and new friends today. I am particularly pleased to join Ambassador Nguyen Ngoc Truong and his colleagues from CSSD. I always enjoy Ambassador Truong’s insights, and the chance to speak with all of you. Today is a chance for a candid conversation among friends in order to explore the bilateral relationship, and perhaps develop some ideas for President Obama’s visit to Vietnam in May. I will keep my remarks short, because I want to hear your ideas and your recommendations for where we can take the bilateral relationship next. Let me make three general observations, and a pose a few questions to start this conversation. First the bilateral relationship has progressed dramatically since 2013 when we launched the Comprehensive Partnership. Under that partnership we have made progress on every front from trade and investment, climate change, and global health, to security cooperation and even challenging areas like human rights, where the quality and candor of our discussions shows the level of mutual respect. Within that context, we saw two historic events last year—both of which were a direct result of the Comprehensive Partnership. First, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to the White House showed that countries with different political systems can respect each other and work together on strategic issues. The second event was the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement. This pact demonstrated the commitment of both governments to expand trade and investment opportunities, recognizing that our growing economic relationship has already brought great benefits to both Vietnamese and Americans. The second issue I’d like to discuss is, of course, the President’s upcoming visit. When President Obama comes to Vietnam, he will bring with him a message of partnership and respect. And, like any American President, he will seek to put concrete actions behind these words, and we are working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others to determine what we can do. Some countries call these “deliverables” but we call them “joint endeavors” because every day, the United States and Vietnam work together in true partnership to build closer ties. I believe it is important that our joint endeavors demonstrate the Comprehensive Partnership’s success—and that means showing progress on health, education, economic trade, human rights, law enforcement and the military relationship. The third issue that I’d like to touch on is the true potential of the bilateral relationship. When our two sides work closely together on issues like global health, nonproliferation or peacekeeping, we are not just benefiting our two populations. We are demonstrating that we share a common strategic vision for the international community, and a commitment to work together to promote peace, stability and international law. I admit that this is an ambitious goal—but my answer is “why not?” Why shouldn’t our two militaries cooperate together on UN peacekeeping? Why shouldn’t our militaries and our governments work together to ensure peace, stability and international law are defended in the South China Sea? Why shouldn’t our two governments work together to protect the rights of all citizens? – just as we did last year at the Human Rights Council to protect LGBT individuals from discrimination and violence. And why shouldn’t our public health leaders work together to protect our people from emerging pandemic diseases and threats. And why shouldn’t our scientists work together to address the challenges of climate change? In all these ways, our relationship has shown we can be true partners. I’d like to see what we can do next. When our relationship promotes peace, stability and international law, that is when our bilateral relationship will reach its full potential. I’d like to stop here and hear from you. Let me thank Ambassador Nguyen Ngoc Truong again for the chance to join you today and share some of my initial thoughts. I look forward to a candid and enlightening conversation. Xin cảm ơn!
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