Party Chief’s US visit: message of peace, solidarity and cooperation Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to the US from July 6-10 reaped fruitful results, helping promote bilateral relations and delivering a strong impression of the Vietnamese Party, State and people in the spirit of peace, solidarity and win-win cooperation for a better world. The visit took place on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the normalisation of relations between the two countries, offering a chance for both sides to review their ties over the last two decades. The US administration’s invitation and warm greeting for the Vietnamese leader represented the country’s respect for Vietnam’s political institution and the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam. For Vietnam, the visit aims to affirm the Party and State’s consistent foreign policy and the country’s friendly tradition and peaceful spirit. On the first day of his US official visit, General Secretary Trong visited the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C., honouring the third president of the US who was one of America’s Founding Fathers and the primary drafter of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. During his stay, the Vietnamese leader met with the Vietnamese community in the US, during which he stressed Vietnam’s great national unity policy and called for more solidarity and contributions from overseas Vietnamese to the homeland. Representatives of the community expressed their delight at the results of the visit while affirming their support to the homeland’s construction and development process. The Party leader also met and worked with US scholars, businesses representatives and religious dignitaries, among others. Vietnam-US relations have recorded positive results in recent years thanks to both sides’ joint efforts to enhance their ties, bringing mutual benefits to the two peoples, the region and the globe. The two countries’ leaders concurred that there is budding potential for them to strengthen all-around ties for each side’s development and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific and the world. With the signing of 14 cooperation agreements in various fields and the adoption of a Vietnam-US joint vision statement, the two sides set forth orientations for expanding bilateral ties and deepening their comprehensive partnership. Former US President Bill Clinton, who made every effort to promote the normalisation of Vietnam-US ties, expressed his belief in the promising future of the bilateral relations. The meeting between General Secretary Trong and the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was also a highlight of the Vietnamese leader’s visit to the US. During the meeting, the Party chief said Vietnam is a responsible member of the international community, continually joining efforts with the UN for a world of peace and sustainable development, adding that Vietnam appreciates the UN peace keeping mission and will continue engaging in the endeavour in the coming time. VNA