Efforts to bridge Vietnam and the US

QTO - The establishment of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association in Quang Tri is expected to greatly strengthen the relationship between the two countries, which is greatly contributed by many individuals and organizations who have been making silent dedications to the relations over the past time.

Vietnam and US individuals advocate efforts to overcome the war legacy in Quang Binh. Photo: T.L

Melissa Bishop, Deputy Chief of the US Mission to Vietnam, is one of those who has dedicated to tightening the relationship with Vietnam with special attention to projects supporting Quang Tri. In her visit to Quang Tri Province in late May, she attended the Vietnam-US Friendship Association in Quang Tri’s first congress for the 2023-2028 term.

She said the establishment of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association in Quang Tri holds significant meaning, largely contributing to reinforcing the diplomatic relations between the two nations. She hopes to return to Quang Tri for further activities of the association.

At the congress, she handed over certificates of merits to former Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chinh and former Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Duc Quang for their contributions to the friendship. The pair are those who understood and recognized the dedication made by individuals and organizations in overcoming war legacies in Vietnam and Quang Tri in particular.

It can be said that individuals and organizations have built a bridge to connect the two countries and develop the relationship to such a high level at present. Comprehensive relations are reflected in many fields regardless of trade, investment, education, health, climate response, and people-to-people ties.

So far, retired Nguyen Duc Chinh and Nguyen Duc Quang are making efforts to promote the relationship and friendship between Vietnam and the US. Notably, Quang is one of the persons who advocate the establishment of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association in Quang Tri.

He is working as a member of the association’s executive committee. “I want the relationship between the US and Vietnam to grow in a sustainable way, as do many other people. I will therefore make every effort possible,” Quang said.

From 1996 to the present, Quang Tri has benefited greatly from assistance from the US government and those working in the field of recovering from the effects of war. Statistics show that nearly 52.9% (more than US$91 million) of Quang Tri"s total foreign non-refundable aid budget was provided by US organizations and projects.

Along with helping Quang Tri recover from the effects of war, the US government has given them the tools they need to build schools, hospitals, and emergency response centers, support people with disabilities, and prevent and mitigate natural disasters.

The US was one of the nations that greatly supported Vietnam during the Covid-19 outbreak, providing 46 million doses of vaccines, medical supplies, and financial resources. The recipients of this assistance are numerous people in Quang Tri.

Nguyen Duc Chinh, Nguyen Duc Quang, and a number of other organizations and people in Quang Tri have discreetly built a bridge between the friendship, which is mostly heart to heart, through the years in order for the Vietnam-US friendship relationship to be sustainable and effective.

Additionally, the association’s establishment satisfies their need for a social grouping of Vietnamese organizations and citizens who are eager to engage in people-to-people diplomacy, fostering friendship and collaboration between the Vietnamese and Americans.

Thai Huu Lieu, the chairman of the Vietnam-America Friendship Association in Quang Tri, claims that the association was borne out of practical needs. The association is governed by a charter that was authorized by the Provincial People’s Committee Chairman and operates under the direction of the Department of Foreign Affairs while adhering to legal requirements.

In order to advance Vietnam’s people-to-people diplomacy, the Association is tasked with advising the Union of Friendship Organizations of the province and provincial agencies on how to strengthen ties between the populace and garner American cooperation.

“In the period of 2023–2028, we will entice members and residents of the province to actively engage in activities for friendship and cooperation with the American People amid the cause of socioeconomic development,” Thai Huu Lieu emphasized.

The Vietnam-US Friendship Association in Quang Tri is thought to play a significant role in strengthening ties between the two nations, advancing international cooperation, and bringing together people who value peace.

Tay Long – Linh Pham