Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam April 7, 2009 It has been more than five years since I last visited Vietnam, and on this occasion I am reminded again of the extraordinary strides Vietnam has made in recent years. Poverty has fallen dramatically, trade is up, living standards have risen, and Vietnam has normalized relations not only with the United States, but with much of the world. Perhaps emblematic of this progress – and of Vietnam’s future potential on the world stage – is Vietnam’s current membership on the United Nations Security Council. .................................... And three years ago, the United States extended Permanent Normal Trading Relations status to Vietnam, paving the way for its entrance into the World Trade Organization. The same year, Vietnam hosted President Bush at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi .............................................................................. It has been a remarkable series of developments, and our two countries have come this very long way together. And yet we would not have come this far were it not for the support of Americans who once served in Vietnam in another time, and for the commitment of those Vietnamese officials who wished to build a better future for their people. America and Vietnam have moved on from the past. Each of us has found, in a new era, a place of friendship for a former adversary. Today, the hardest work of normalization is behind us. The time has come, I believe, for us to move from the normalization of our bilateral relations to a modernization of our ties commensurate with Vietnam’s rising status in the region and in the world. We should not simply rest on our laurels and allow the relationship to plateau. It is time to take the next step. The further strengthening of our relationship should occur not only because of the unprecedented economic transformation of Vietnam and the extraordinary progress of our relations in the last two decades, but also because of the historic shift of economic power from the western world to Asia. As the rise of China demonstrates so vividly, Asia is gaining in prosperity relative to the rest of the world with each passing year. In light of this phenomenon, some experts have decreed the American century a thing of the past and have declared this the “Asian century.” To call it such, however, embraces a kind of zero-sum thinking that is itself rooted in the past. U.S. and Asian ascendancy are not mutually exclusive, nor should we let them become so. If leaders on both continents grasp the opportunity inherent in this essential truth, we can usher in an unprecedented era: a 21st century that is both American and Asian. And in this new era, I believe, Vietnam will have a critical role to play...........Resisting the anti-globalization forces requires certain actions in Vietnam as well. By improving lawful governance and further opening this society, your already dynamic economy will thrive even more. By modernizing your infrastructure and embracing clean environmental principles, Vietnam can reap more of the benefits the global economic system offers. Such steps are, I believe, not simply desirable, but necessary...........This change - which includes expanding social freedoms, allowing greater freedom of expression, releasing all individuals imprisoned for peacefully expressing their views, improving human rights, and widening the scope for political activity – would be of historic magnitude. Tolerance of competing views is a sign of strength, not weakness, and if there is one trait that the people of Vietnam have exhibited over the decades, it is strength. The world has taken note of signs of political change in China, ranging from local elections to a more independent legislature to a more independent and robust judiciary. By taking steps toward greater political liberalization here, Vietnam has the chance not simply to match these accomplishments but to surpass them. You could become a model for others to emulate. And you would ensure that, over time, relations with the United States are anchored not in the shifting sands of mutual economic and security interests, but in the bedrock of shared values. Vietnam’s leaders are the custodians of extraordinary accomplishments that in a very short time have transformed an economy and a people. You are responsible for protecting and extending those accomplishments, just as America’s leaders are responsible for encouraging the progress of our society. The last century, even with its terrible wars and untold hardships, will surely be considered great among the epochs of history for the overall advance of freedom over its opposite, prosperity over poverty, the rights of all over the privileges of a few. This task is not yet complete, however, not in Washington and not in Hanoi. History has assigned humanity’s further progress to us; to the world’s leaders who have the responsibility to see us through our present difficulties without losing faith in the principles and practices that have advanced the fortunes of mankind beyond the most hopeful expectations of previous generations. That is our shared responsibility, and it is an honor I welcome, as I welcome the privilege today of addressing a new generation of leaders in this country, who with a new generation of leaders in mine, will write a new and better chapter in the history of relations between Vietnam and the United States Nguồn:Ðại sứ quán Hoa Kỳ tại Việt Nam    more »