The visit took place on theoccasion of the 20th anniversary of the normalisation of relationsbetween the two countries, offering a chance for both sides to reviewtheir ties over the last two decades.
The US administration’sinvitation and warm greeting for the Vietnamese leader represented thecountry’s respect for Vietnam’s political institution and the leadershiprole of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
For Vietnam, the visitaims to affirm the Party and State’s consistent foreign policy and thecountry’s friendly tradition and peaceful spirit.
On the firstday of his US official visit, General Secretary Trong visited the ThomasJefferson Memorial in Washington D.C., honouring the third president ofthe US who was one of America’s Founding Fathers and the primarydrafter of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
During hisstay, the Vietnamese leader met with the Vietnamese community in theUS, during which he stressed Vietnam’s great national unity policy andcalled for more solidarity and contributions from overseas Vietnamese tothe homeland.
Representatives of the community expressed theirdelight at the results of the visit while affirming their support to thehomeland’s construction and development process.
The Party leader also met and worked with US scholars, businesses representatives and religious dignitaries, among others.
Vietnam-USrelations have recorded positive results in recent years thanks to bothsides’ joint efforts to enhance their ties, bringing mutual benefits tothe two peoples, the region and the globe. The two countries’ leadersconcurred that there is budding potential for them to strengthenall-around ties for each side’s development and for peace, stability,cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific and the world.
Withthe signing of 14 cooperation agreements in various fields and theadoption of a Vietnam-US joint vision statement, the two sides set forthorientations for expanding bilateral ties and deepening theircomprehensive partnership.
Former US President BillClinton, who made every effort to promote the normalisation ofVietnam-US ties, expressed his belief in the promising future of thebilateral relations.
The meeting between General Secretary Trongand the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was also ahighlight of the Vietnamese leader’s visit to the US.
During themeeting, the Party chief said Vietnam is a responsible member of theinternational community, continually joining efforts with the UN for aworld of peace and sustainable development, adding that Vietnamappreciates the UN peace keeping mission and will continue engaging inthe endeavour in the coming time.-VNA