PHÁT BIỂU CỦA TỔNG THỐNG HOA KỲ OBAMA
Ở HÀ NỘI
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 24, 2016
Remarks by President Obama in Address to the People of Vietnam
12:11 P.M. ICT
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Xin chào! (Applause.) Xin
chào Vietnam !
(Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much. To the government
and the people of Vietnam ,
thank you for this very warm welcome and the hospitality that you have shown to
me on this visit. And thank all of you for being here today.
(Applause.) We have Vietnamese from across this great country,
including so many young people who represent the dynamism, and the talent and
the hope of Vietnam .
On this visit, my heart has been touched by the kindness for
which the Vietnamese people are known. In the many people who have been
lining the streets, smiling and waving, I feel the friendship between our
peoples. Last night, I visited the Old Quarter here in Hanoi and enjoyed some outstanding Vietnamese
food. I tried some Bún Chả. (Applause.) Drank some bia Ha
Noi. But I have to say, the busy streets of this city, I’ve never seen so
many motorbikes in my life. (Laughter.) So I haven’t had to try to
cross the street so far, but maybe when I come back and visit you can tell me
how.
I am not the first American President to come to Vietnam in
recent times. But I am the first, like so many of you, who came of age
after the war between our countries. When the last U.S. forces left Vietnam , I was just 13 years
old. So my first exposure to Vietnam
and the Vietnamese people came when I was growing up in Hawaii , with its proud Vietnamese American
community there.
At the same time, many people in this country are much
younger than me. Like my two daughters, many of you have lived your whole
lives knowing only one thing -- and that is peace and normalized relations
between Vietnam and the United States. So I come here mindful of the
past, mindful of our difficult history, but focused on the future -- the
prosperity, security and human dignity that we can advance together.
I also come here with a deep respect for Vietnam ’s
ancient heritage. For millennia, farmers have tended these lands -- a
history revealed in the Dong Son drums. At this bend in the river, Hanoi has endured for
more than a thousand years. The world came to treasure Vietnamese silks
and paintings, and a great Temple
of Literature
Today, we also remember the longer history between
Vietnamese and Americans that is too often overlooked. More than 200
years ago, when our Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson, sought rice for his
farm, he looked to the rice of Vietnam ,
which he said had “the reputation of being whitest to the eye, best flavored to
the taste, and most productive.” Soon after, American trade ships arrived
in your ports seeking commerce.
During the Second World War, Americans came here to support
your struggle against occupation. When American pilots were shot down,
the Vietnamese people helped rescue them. And on the day that Vietnam
declared its independence, crowds took to the streets of this city, and Ho Chi
Minh evoked the American Declaration of Independence. He said, “All
people are created equal. The Creator has endowed them with inviolable
rights. Among these rights are the right to life, the right to liberty,
and the right to the pursuit of happiness.”
In another time, the profession of these shared ideals and
our common story of throwing off colonialism might have brought us closer
together sooner. But instead, Cold War rivalries and fears of communism
pulled us into conflict. Like other conflicts throughout human history,
we learned once more a bitter truth -- that war, no matter what our intentions
may be, brings suffering and tragedy.
At your war memorial not far from here, and with family
altars across this country, you remember some 3 million Vietnamese, soldiers
and civilians, on both sides, who lost their lives. At our memorial wall
in Washington ,
we can touch the names of 58,315 Americans who gave their lives in the
conflict. In both our countries, our veterans and families of the fallen
still ache for the friends and loved ones that they lost. Just as we
learned in America that, even if we disagree about a war, we must always honor
those who serve and welcome them home with the respect they deserve, we can
join together today, Vietnamese and Americans, and acknowledge the pain and the
sacrifices on both sides.
More recently, over the past two decades, Vietnam has
achieved enormous progress, and today the world can see the strides that you
have made. With economic reforms and trade agreements, including with the
United States ,
you have entered the global economy, selling your goods around the world.
More foreign investment is coming in. And with one of the fastest-growing
economies in Asia, Vietnam
has moved up to become a middle-income nation.
We see Vietnam ’s
progress in the skyscrapers and high-rises of Hanoi
and Ho Chi Minh City ,
and new shopping malls and urban centers. We see it in the satellites Vietnam puts
into space and a new generation that is online, launching startups and running
new ventures. We see it in the tens of millions of Vietnamese connected
on Facebook and Instagram. And you’re not just posting selfies --
although I hear you do that a lot -- (laughter) -- and so far, there have been
a number of people who have already asked me for selfies. You’re also
raising your voices for causes that you care about, like saving the old trees
of Hanoi .
So all this dynamism has delivered real progress in people’s
lives. Here in Vietnam ,
you’ve dramatically reduced extreme poverty, you've boosted family incomes and
lifted millions into a fast-growing middle class. Hunger, disease, child
and maternal mortality are all down. The number of people with clean
drinking water and electricity, the number of boys and girls in school, and
your literacy rate -- these are all up. This is extraordinary
progress. This is what you have been able to achieve in a very short
time.
And as Vietnam
has transformed, so has the relationship between our two nations. We
learned a lesson taught by the venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, who said, “In true
dialogue, both sides are willing to change.” In this way, the very war
that had divided us became a source for healing. It allowed us to account
for the missing and finally bring them home. It allowed us to help remove
landmines and unexploded bombs, because no child should ever lose a leg just
playing outside. Even as we continue to assist Vietnamese with
disabilities, including children, we are also continuing to help remove Agent
Orange -- dioxin -- so that Vietnam
can reclaim more of your land. We're proud of our work together in
Danang, and we look forward to supporting your efforts in Bien
Hoa.
Let’s also not forget that the reconciliation between our
countries was led by our veterans who once faced each other in battle.
Think of Senator John McCain, who was held for years here as a prisoner of war,
meeting General Giap, who said our countries should not be enemies but
friends. Think of all the veterans, Vietnamese and American, who have
helped us heal and build new ties. Few have done more in this regard over
the years than former Navy lieutenant, and now Secretary of State of the United States ,
John Kerry, who is here today. And on behalf of all of us, John, we thank
you for your extraordinary effort.
(Applause.)
Because our veterans showed us the way, because warriors had
the courage to pursue peace, our peoples are now closer than ever before.
Our trade has surged. Our students and scholars learn together. We
welcome more Vietnamese students to America
than from any other country in Southeast Asia .
And every year, you welcome more and more American tourists, including young
Americans with their backpacks, to Hanoi ’s 36
Streets and the shops of Hoi An, and the imperial city of Hue . As Vietnamese and Americans, we
can all relate to those words written by Van Cao -- “From now, we know each
other’s homeland; from now, we learn to feel for each other.”
As President, I’ve built on this progress. With our
new Comprehensive Partnership, our governments are working more closely
together than ever before. And with this visit, we’ve put our
relationship on a firmer footing for decades to come. In a sense, the
long story between our two nations that began with Thomas Jefferson more than
two centuries ago has now come full circle. It has taken many years and
required great effort. But now we can say something that was once
unimaginable: Today, Vietnam
and the United States
are partners.
And I believe our experience holds lessons for the
world. At a time when many conflicts seem intractable, seem as if they
will never end, we have shown that hearts can change and that a different
future is possible when we refuse to be prisoners of the past. We've
shown how peace can be better than war. We've shown that progress and
human dignity is best advanced by cooperation and not conflict. That’s what
Vietnam and America can
show the world.
Now, America ’s
new partnership with Vietnam
is rooted in some basic truths. Vietnam is an independent,
sovereign nation, and no other nation can impose its will on you or decide your
destiny. (Applause.) Now, the United States has an interest
here. We have an interest in Vietnam ’s success. But our
Comprehensive Partnership is still in its early stages. And with the time
I have left, I want to share with you the vision that I believe can guide us in
the decades ahead.
First, let’s work together to create real opportunity and
prosperity for all of our people. We know the ingredients for economic
success in the 21st century. In our global economy, investment and trade
flows to wherever there is rule of law, because no one wants to pay a bribe to
start a business. Nobody wants to sell their goods or go to school if
they don’t know how they're going to be treated. In knowledge-based
economies, jobs go to where people have the freedom to think for themselves and
exchange ideas and to innovate. And real economic partnerships are not
just about one country extracting resources from another. They’re about
investing in our greatest resource, which is our people and their skills and
their talents, whether you live in a big city or a rural village. And
that’s the kind of partnership that America offers.
As I announced yesterday, the Peace Corps will come to Vietnam for the
first time, with a focus on teaching English. A generation after young
Americans came here to fight, a new generation of Americans are going to come
here to teach and build and deepen the friendship between us.
(Applause.) Some of America ’s
leading technology companies and academic institutions are joining Vietnamese
universities to strengthen training in science, technology, engineering,
mathematics, and medicine. Because even as we keep welcoming more
Vietnamese students to America ,
we also believe that young people deserve a world-class education right here in
Vietnam .
It's one of the reasons why we're very excited that this
fall, the new Fulbright University Vietnam will open in Ho Chi Minh City --
this nation’s first independent, non-profit university -- where there will be
full academic freedom and scholarships for those in need. (Applause.)
Students, scholars, researchers will focus on public policy and management and
business; on engineering and computer science; and liberal arts -- everything
from the poetry of Nguyen Du, to the philosophy of Phan Chu Trinh, to the
mathematics of Ngo Bao Chau.
And we're going to keep partnering with young people and
entrepreneurs, because we believe that if you can just access the skills and
technology and capital you need, then nothing can stand in your way -- and that
includes, by the way, the talented women of Vietnam . (Applause.) We
think gender equality is an important principle. From the Trung Sisters
to today, strong, confident women have always helped move Vietnam
forward. The evidence is clear -- I say this wherever I go around the
world -- families, communities and countries are more prosperous when girls and
women have an equal opportunity to succeed in school and at work and in
government. That's true everywhere, and it's true here in Vietnam .
(Applause.)
We’ll keep working to unleash the full potential of your
economy with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Here in Vietnam , TPP
will let you sell more of your products to the world and it will attract new
investment. TPP will require reforms to protect workers and rule of law
and intellectual property. And the United
States is ready to assist Vietnam as it works to fully
implement its commitments. I want you to know that, as President of the United States , I strongly support TPP because
you'll also be able to buy more of our goods, “Made in America .”
Moreover, I support TPP because of its important strategic
benefits. Vietnam will
be less dependent on any one trading partner and enjoy broader ties with more
partners, including the United
States . (Applause.) And TPP will
reinforce regional cooperation. It will help address economic inequality
and will advance human rights, with higher wages and safer working
conditions. For the first time here in Vietnam , the right to form
independent labor unions and prohibitions against forced labor and child
labor. And it has the strongest environmental protections and the
strongest anti-corruption standards of any trade agreement in history.
That’s the future TPP offers for all of us, because all of us -- the United States , Vietnam , and the other signatories
-- will have to abide by these rules that we have shaped together. That's
the future that is available to all of us. So we now have to get it done
-- for the sake of our economic prosperity and our national
security.
This brings me to the second area where we can work
together, and that is ensuring our mutual security. With this visit, we
have agreed to elevate our security cooperation and build more trust between
our men and women in uniform. We’ll continue to offer training and equipment
to your Coast Guard to enhance Vietnam ’s
maritime capabilities. We will partner to deliver humanitarian aid in
times of disaster. With the announcement I made yesterday to fully lift
the ban on defense sales, Vietnam
will have greater access to the military equipment you need to ensure your
security. And the United States
is demonstrating our commitment to fully normalize our relationship with Vietnam .
(Applause.)
More broadly, the 20th century has taught all of us --
including the United States
and Vietnam
-- that the international order upon which our mutual security depends is
rooted in certain rules and norms. Nations are sovereign, and no matter
how large or small a nation may be, its sovereignty should be respected, and it
territory should not be violated. Big nations should not bully smaller
ones. Disputes should be resolved peacefully. (Applause.) And
regional institutions, like ASEAN and the East Asia Summit, should continue to
be strengthened. That’s what I believe. That's what the United States
believes. That’s the kind of partnership America offers this region. I
look forward to advancing this spirit of respect and reconciliation later this
year when I become the first U.S. President to visit Laos .
In the South China Sea, the United States is not a claimant in
current disputes. But we will stand with partners in upholding core
principles, like freedom of navigation and overflight, and lawful commerce that
is not impeded, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, through legal means,
in accordance with international law. As we go forward, the United States
will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and
we will support the right of all countries to do the same. (Applause.)
Even as we cooperate more closely in the areas I’ve
described, our partnership includes a third element -- addressing areas where
our governments disagree, including on human rights. I say this not to
single out Vietnam .
No nation is perfect. Two centuries on, the United States is still striving to
live up to our founding ideals. We still deal with our shortcomings --
too much money in our politics, and rising economic inequality, racial bias in
our criminal justice system, women still not being paid as much as men doing
the same job. We still have problems. And we're not immune from
criticism, I promise you. I hear it every day. But that scrutiny,
that open debate, confronting our imperfections, and allowing everybody to have
their say has helped us grow stronger and more prosperous and more just.
I’ve said this before -- the United
States does not seek to impose our form of government on Vietnam .
The rights I speak of I believe are not American values; I think they're
universal values written into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
They're written into the Vietnamese constitution, which states that “citizens
have the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and have the
right of access to information, the right to assembly, the right to
association, and the right to demonstrate.” That’s in the Vietnamese
constitution. (Applause.) So really, this is an issue about all of
us, each country, trying to consistently apply these principles, making sure
that we -- those of us in government -- are being true to these ideals.
In recent years, Vietnam has made some
progress. Vietnam
has committed to bringing its laws in line with its new constitution and with
international norms. Under recently passed laws, the government will
disclose more of its budget and the public will have the right to access more
information. And, as I said, Vietnam has committed to economic
and labor reforms under the TPP. So these are all positive
steps. And ultimately, the future of Vietnam
will be decided by the people of Vietnam . Every country will
chart its own path, and our two nations have different traditions and different
political systems and different cultures. But as a friend of Vietnam , allow
me to share my view -- why I believe nations are more successful when universal
rights are upheld.
When there is freedom of expression and freedom of speech,
and when people can share ideas and access the Internet and social media
without restriction, that fuels the innovation economies need to thrive.
That's where new ideas happen. That's how a Facebook starts. That's
how some of our greatest companies began -- because somebody had a new
idea. It was different. And they were able to share it. When
there’s freedom of the press -- when journalists and bloggers are able to shine
a light on injustice or abuse -- that holds officials accountable and builds
public confidence that the system works. When candidates can run for
office and campaign freely, and voters can choose their own leaders in free and
fair elections, it makes the countries more stable, because citizens know that
their voices count and that peaceful change is possible. And it brings
new people into the system.
When there is freedom of religion, it not only allows people
to fully express the love and compassion that are at the heart of all great
religions, but it allows faith groups to serve their communities through
schools and hospitals, and care for the poor and the vulnerable. And when
there is freedom of assembly -- when citizens are free to organize in civil
society -- then countries can better address challenges that government
sometimes cannot solve by itself. So it is my view that upholding these
rights is not a threat to stability, but actually reinforces stability and is
the foundation of progress.
After all, it was a yearning for these rights that inspired
people around the world, including Vietnam , to throw off
colonialism. And I believe that upholding these rights is the fullest
expression of the independence that so many cherish, including here, in a
nation that proclaims itself to be “of the People, by the People and for the
People.”
Finally, our partnership I think can meet global challenges
that no nation can solve by itself. If we’re going to ensure the health
of our people and the beauty of our planet, then development has to be sustainable.
Natural wonders like Ha Long Bay and Son
Doong Cave
And we can save lives beyond our borders. By helping
other countries strengthen, for example, their health systems, we can prevent
outbreaks of disease from becoming epidemics that threaten all of us. And
as Vietnam deepens its
commitment to U.N. peacekeeping, the United States is proud to help
train your peacekeepers. And what a truly remarkable thing that is -- our
two nations that once fought each other now standing together and helping
others achieve peace, as well. So in addition to our bilateral
relationship, our partnership also allows us to help shape the international
environment in ways that are positive.
Now, fully realizing the vision that I’ve described today is
not going to happen overnight, and it is not inevitable. There may be
stumbles and setbacks along the way. There are going to be times where
there are misunderstandings. It will take sustained effort and true
dialogue where both sides continue to change. But considering all the
history and hurdles that we've already overcome, I stand before you today very
optimistic about our future together. (Applause.) And my confidence
is rooted, as always, in the friendship and shared aspirations of our peoples.
I think of all the Americans and Vietnamese who have crossed
a wide ocean -- some reuniting with families for the first time in decades --
and who, like Trinh Cong Son said in his song, have joined hands, and opening
their hearts and seeing our common humanity in each other.
(Applause.)
I think of all the Vietnamese Americans who have succeeded
in every walk of life -- doctors, journalists, judges, public servants.
One of them, who was born here, wrote me a letter and said, by “God’s grace, I
have been able to live the American Dream…I'm very proud to be an American but
also very proud to be Vietnamese.” (Applause.) And today he’s here,
back in the country of his birth, because, he said, his “personal passion” is
“improving the life of every Vietnamese person.”
I think of a new generation of Vietnamese -- so many of you,
so many of the young people who are here -- who are ready to make your mark on
the world. And I want to say to all the young people listening:
Your talent, your drive, your dreams -- in those things, Vietnam has
everything it needs to thrive. Your destiny is in your hands. This
is your moment. And as you pursue the future that you want, I want you to
know that the United States
of America will be right there with you as
your partner and as your friend. (Applause.)
And many years from now, when even more Vietnamese and
Americans are studying with each other; innovating and doing business with each
other; standing up for our security, and promoting human rights and protecting
our planet with each other -- I hope you think back to this moment and draw
hope from the vision that I’ve offered today. Or, if I can say it another
way -- in words that you know well from the Tale of Kieu -- “Please take from
me this token of trust, so we can embark upon our 100-year journey
together.” (Applause.)
END
12:43 P.M. ICT
12:43 P.M. ICT
