Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership hailed as invaluable asset

The event drew high-ranking US government and congressional officials, including Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre, Assistant US Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Sarah Ellerman, Senator Steve Daines, Representatives Seth Moulton and Abraham Hamadeh, and Maryland Secretary of State for Intergovernmental Affairs Susan Lee. They were joined by members of the diplomatic corps, scholars, business leaders, war veterans, international friends, and the Vietnamese community in the US.

Delivering the opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung highlighted the historical significance of the National Day and the country's 81-year journey in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, and national development.

Rising from the severe aftermath of war and poverty, Vietnam has grown into the world's 32nd-largest economy with a GDP exceeding US$500 billion, confidently stepping into a new era of modernization with the goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed, high-income nation by 2045.

The Ambassador affirmed that Vietnam continues to uphold its role as an active member of ASEAN and a responsible partner within the international community, contributing to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development. He also noted Vietnam's anticipation of welcoming leaders from APEC member economies to Phu Quoc for APEC Year 2027.

Regarding bilateral ties, Ambassador Dung emphasized that the 31-year journey of normalization demonstrates how two former adversaries have overcome differences, healed past wounds, built trust, and advanced a partnership based on mutual interests. The Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to achieve substantive progress across all ten pillars, spanning economic cooperation, trade, investment, war legacy remediation, education, culture, people-to-people exchanges, and advanced technology. He emphasized that this partnership is an invaluable asset cultivated by generations of leaders and peoplefrom both nations, which must be preserved and nurtured with a long-term vision to serve mutual interests and contribute to regional peace, stability, and development.

Speaking at the ceremony, US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker praised Vietnam as a vital US partner in Southeast Asia, describing the bilateral relationship as a testament to reconciliation, closing the chapter on the past, and working toward a peaceful, secure, and prosperous future for both peoples.

Under Secretary Hooker said that the US and Vietnam continue to coordinate closely across key sectors, including war legacy remediation, unexploded ordnance clearance, security cooperation, economic development, education, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties. She also acknowledged growing cooperation in technology, investment, and aerospace, while commending Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung for his contributions to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly during the elevation of the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Senator Steve Daines lauded the strong development of bilateral relations over the past three decades. Sharing impressions from his visit to Vietnam in 2025, he underscored the enormous potential for bilateral cooperation, especially in trade, investment, technology, and artificial intelligence, while expressing confidence in Vietnam's prosperous future and affirming his commitment to fostering friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

Representative Seth Moulton expressed deep affection for Vietnam and its people after multiple visits. As a US military veteran, he praised the resilience, spirit of reconciliation, and magnanimity of the Vietnamese people in overcoming the legacy of war to build friendship with the US. He acknowledged the contributions of veterans and US congressional leaders, including Senators John McCain and John Kerry, to the reconciliation process and development of bilateral relations.

Representative Moulton affirmed that Vietnam and the US now stand as friends and partners working together to build a more secure and prosperous future through trade, educational exchange, cultural ties, and the maintenance of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Representative Abraham Hamadeh congratulated Vietnam on its 81st National Day and hailed the rapid momentum of bilateral relations, particularly in economics, trade, diplomacy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. He was appreciative of cooperative ties between Arizona and Vietnam, including partnerships between Arizona State University and VinUni, and expressed a desire to further promote collaboration between local authorities, educational institutions, and citizens of both countries.

On this occasion, Representative Hamadeh presented Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung with a document included in the US Congressional Record honoring Vietnam's 81st National Day and marking the conclusion of the Ambassador's tenure in the US.

The document recognizes Ambassador Dung's contributions to boosting bilateral ties, expanding connections across government, congressional, academic, and business sectors, and advancing war legacy remediation cooperation to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung expressed thanks to US government and congressional agencies, the diplomatic corps, international friends, particularly ASEAN ambassadors and friends, the Vietnamese community in the US, and the embassy staff and his family for their steadfast support, which has helped reinforce friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the US.

An artistic program featuring performances by artists highlighted Vietnam's cultural heritage and cuisine, adding a warm and joyful atmosphere to the celebration.

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