New York(VNA) – The US’s The National Interest online magazine on May 28 published anarticle by former Ambassador and head of the Vietnamese Mission to the UN NguyenThanh Chau, which pointed out strategic motivations driving the relationshipbetween Vietnam and the US. 

In the article, which was published on theoccasion of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to the US, theformer Ambassador stressed that Phuc’s visit is the third important high-leveldelegation exchange between the two countries within three recent years.

In July 2015, PartyGeneral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had a historic visit to the US, which wasthen reciprocated with US President Barack Obama’s successful trip to Vietnamin May 2016.

The article notedthat since the normalization of ties more than two decades ago, Vietnam and theUS have created one of the most impressive successful stories in history, giventhe bitter war that deeply divided the two countries hitherto, and the currentfast and comprehensive growth in bilateral cooperation. 

Bilateral trade, for instance, has increased onehundredfold in that time span. Last year, the US export to Vietnam grew by 43percent. 

Defence and security ties are expanding intandem with the overall bilateral relations and the common denominators ofregional peace and stability. Cooperation also expands to other regional andglobal issues such as counter-terrorism, natural disasters, epidemics,cybersecurity and peacekeeping.

Both countries highly value the role of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the region and theassociation’s centrality in regional structures, including the East Asia Summit(EAS).

The former Ambassadorwent on to analyze the three major factors driving the Vietnam-US relations,with the first driver being the common understanding that a successfulpartnership can only be realised with a constructive, balanced, inclusive andopen approach.

“The joint statement issued during former USPresident Barack Obama’s visit to Vietnam in 2016 makes clear that theincreasingly enhanced US-Vietnam relations have positively contributed to thejoint efforts of the international community in maintaining peace, stability,cooperation, and respect for international law in the region, and building arules-based region,” he wrote. 

Second, in making sense of the geostrategy ofthe region, both countries have laid emphasis on a sustainable and long-termview of the partnership, according to Chau. 

He explained that strategically, Vietnam tendsto nurture long-lasting relations with countries and partners. 

Drawing on historical lessons—and perhaps forpractical reasons—the US is adopting a more nuanced perspective vis-à-vissmaller partners. The Donald Trump administration has now extended aninvitation to PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc to visit the US, and pledged that PresidentTrump will come to central Da Nang city to attend the Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation Leaders’ Week. 

These positive signs serve as a testament tocontinuity instead of disruption in their bilateral ties, Chau commented. 

The finalgeostrategic undertaking that drives Vietnam-US relations is interests thatcould be national, bilateral and/or regional, depending on areas of cooperationor diversion, according to the former ambassador. 

In 2015, Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong and President Obama issued a joint vision statement that says “Lookingtoward the future of bilateral relations and building on the ComprehensivePartnership.”

Both countries affirm their continued pursuit ofa deepened, sustained and substantive relationship on the basis of respect forthe UN Charter, international law, and each other’s political systems,independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

He underlined that ideologies remain important,but they are no longer a hurdle in Vietnam-US partnership, noting that thegeostrategic rule of the road now is to work together for the guarantee of theshared peace, security and prosperity.-VNA