VietNamNet Bridge - It is a famous US politician, whose life and political career has closely tied with Vietnam - Senator John McCain.

Related news

Vietnam - US: Twenty years after the historical turning point Vietnam-US: The little known “fate” and the irony of history Vietnam - US: The future is bright 'Extraordinary' gift of Vietnam – US ties I was really stunned by the “American-style draft” ‘The US wants strategic partnership with Vietnam'

The Vietnam - United States relations are approaching a milestone: 20 years of normalized relations (12/7/ 1995-12/7/2015). This event is more meaningful due to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to the US (6-10/7/2015) at the invitation of President Barack Obama.

Twenty years in the long history of the two nations are just like a blink, but in that "blink", the two countries have made very important steps.

Indeed, even with abundant imagination, 20 years ago it was hard to imagine that the relations between the two former enemies in an extremely brutal war can develop powerfully, with great promising prospects like they are today. Despite many existing problems, the US-Vietnam relationship exists today thanks to the joint efforts of the leaders and people of both countries.

Among American politicians who have the most positive contribution to the process of normalization and development of the Vietnam - US ties is Senator John McCain. He is a famous politician whose life and political career is closely tied with Vietnam.

I wrote these lines because within one year, I was lucky to attend two meetings of Mr. Pham Quang Nghi, Politburo member, Party Secretary of Hanoi with Senator John McCain in Vietnam and the US.

Washington, summer 2014

The meeting between Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi and Senator John McCain in the senator's office on July 23, 2014. Photo VOV.

The first meeting took place on the afternoon of July 23, 2014 at the Capitol Hill, in the office of Senator John McCain. This meeting was part of the visit of the delegation of Politburo members to the US at the invitation of the US State Department.

The office of one of the most famous senators was not too commodious as I had imagined. The first thing hit my eyes was the photograph featuring an American pilot who were being surrounded by Hanoi militias on Truc Bach Lake.

The pilot was Major John McCain. Looking closely at the photo, it was clear that the militia was trying to rescue him. One militia man was trying to put on his neck a lifebuoy. Being taken as a prisoner, but for Senator John McCain, it was a very special day in his life that he has always felt proud of.

I also felt this when I was lucky to be present the meeting of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, also at the US Congress headquarters 10 years ago, with some famous American politicians who are veterans of the Vietnam War, including Senator John Kerry and Senator John McCain.

That day, after meeting with Senate leaders, the House leaders, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai attended the meeting welcomed by Senator John McCain and Senator John Kerry. These two prestigious senators have an important role in the US Congress.

John McCain has returned to Vietnam many times as a Senator, and he is one of the most active supporters of normalizing and developing relations with Vietnam. He also played an important role in rejecting the Act of Human Rights in discussions in the Senate in 2001 and 2004. In 1997, he was voted by The Times as one of 25 most influential people in America.

With the platinum-colored hair, John McCain looked youthful and exuberant when seeing Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

Ignoring common courtesy, John McCain “arranged” his seat besides John Kerry and diplomat Armitage then joked: "I’m sure that it is more comfortable for us to sit here rather than people down there." Armitage added: "All three of us are former marines. Today no one can separate us. We all fought in Vietnam ....". Then John McCain followed: "But we were defeated." All laughed.

Now, at the age of 80, Senator John McCain still looked flexible and agile. He had just returned from the Parliament meeting room to his office to welcome Mr. Pham Quang Nghi. Friendly and enthusiastically, he shook hands with each visitor from the country that he did not hesitate to admit that he had conducted more than 20 bombing flights in North Vietnam.

The meeting was very exciting from the beginning, when Mr. Pham Quang Nghi said he was a native from the central province of Thanh Hoa and Senator John McCain immediately added: “Oh, it has the Ham Rong Bridge crossing the Ma River, with a terrible air defense network; and the entire North Vietnam at that time was a terrible air battle.”

In one sentence the former pilot used the word "terrible" twice. It seems that that's the way he wanted to explain why his modern jet was shot down in Hanoi.

The meeting that day was longer than scheduled. It was a straight and open dialogue about the regional situation, in the context of China deploying its oil rig deep in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam.

Before ending the meeting, in an atmosphere of fun, Mr. Nghi said: "I would like to give you some photographs. Honestly, I do not know whether you want it or not? If you do not like it, you should keep it for yourself."

Senator McCain enthusiastically received two photographs and saw one by one. He raised them up for everyone to see. Then he pointed to the corner of the picture: "Thank you very much for the photos! But I was a naval major, not an air force major. I was in the air force of the Navy. The information on this stele is incorrect".

Mr. Nghi explained immediately: "For Vietnamese people, anyone who is pilot is considered to be a staff of the air force. As you know, in Vietnam at the time, we did not have aircraft carriers and the air forces of the navy".

Senator McCain then talked about the stele during meetings with many Vietnamese delegations. Almost every time he visited Hanoi, he took photos with this stele.

After the meeting, he led Vietnamese guests to visit the Congressional building - one of the two most important towers of power of the US. Holding Nghi’s hand, he said: "Today, I will be your instructor to visit the building. Please follow me Mr. Party Secretary and Vietnamese friends."

We sat on the tramcar running on the building campus. I was in the same cabin with the Senator and Mr. Nghi. They had a very cordial conversation.

The senator led us to every place, every room in the building. At a room called the lobby room, he explained about the term "lobby". The lobby is where senators both have a break and meet with voters and guests to dialogue and persuade them to support their policies and recommendations.

There are the portraits of senators who are famous for "lobbying" in that room. Mr. Nghi asked: "I saw the portraits of your predecessor hung at beautiful locations in this room. Where will your portrait hang?”

Senator McCain smiled and pointed to the ceiling: "Perhaps my picture will be hung on the ceiling." All laughed at his witty answer.

Then he took us to the large balcony of the US Congress building. Pointing to the vast front square, he said: "Here in the 1960s, 1970s the massive demonstrations with tens of thousands of Americans took place, asking the administration to stop the war in Vietnam".

Not long after the US visit of Mr. Nghi, Senator McCain went to Vietnam.

In a press conference in Hanoi, when a reporter asked: "Would you give your opinion on the two pictures that Mr. Pham Quang Nghi gave you in his recent visit to America?", without hesitating, Senator McCain said: "I highly appreciate Mr. Pham Quang Nghi’s US visit. I am very pleased and respect the gifts".

Meeting the US Senator again, in Hanoi

Senator John McCain met with Hanoi Party Chief Pham Quang Nghi in Hanoi in May 2015.

After the US visit of Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi on July 2014, Senator John McCain on May 26, 2015 returned to Vietnam as a guest of the National Assembly.

His trip was made at the time China urgently conducted reclamation activities on many reefs in Vietnam’s Truong Sa Archipelago (Spratly Islands) that they are illegally occupying, and before the opening of the Shangri La Security Forum in Singapore.

It was a very hot day in Hanoi, with the temperature up to 40 degrees Celsius, but Senator  McCain and members of the US delegation still wore suits to visit Mr. Nghi.

After a cordial handshake, they talked to each other like old friends.

"Welcome to Hanoi! Your trip to Vietnam is before the historic visit to the US by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong so it is a very important meaning. In addition to the joint efforts from both sides, you have made personal efforts to promote bilateral relations and the US visit by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong," Nghi said.

Senator John McCain listened intently and I could see his eyes expressing pleasure toward Mr. Nghi. He introduced other senators in his group, saying that all of them were very interested in regional security issues.

All senators said they were very glad to join the delegation of Senator John McCain, who is appreciated by the American public for important contributions to promoting relations between Vietnam and the US.

They also expressed excitement for the "spectacular progress" in relations between the two countries. They appreciated the role and position of Vietnam in the region and expressed optimism about the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by the end of this year, after the US Congress gave President Barack Obama the right to negotiate it quickly.

Answering the question of American guests on TPP negotiations and human rights issues, Mr. Nghi said:

"The Party and State of Vietnam highly appreciated the relations of comprehensive cooperation with the US. During my visit to the US last year, I emphasized that without the people's support, it will be very difficult to implement policy. The progress in the last 20 years is very long and it is the result of the efforts of leaders of both countries in accordance with the wishes of the two peoples.

We especially appreciate the pioneers, including Senator John McCain. The Party, State and people of Vietnam advocate to close the past, open the future. I think that we have overcome the hardest things. We have firm ground to optimistically look to the future of bilateral relations.

We have to negotiate to complete the TPP, but I think it's small compared with the big ones that we have solved. The Vietnam National Assembly was meeting, stressing very much the rights of workers. We have no reason to not care about the workers. It is similar for the issues of human rights. We always strive to bring prosperity and happiness to the people. It is the largest human rights.

Strengthening relations with the US, joining the TPP are also to expand employment, increase income of workers, there is also human rights. Vietnam practices human rights with the per capita income of less than $3,000. If our per capita income is $40,000 - $50.0000 as yours, the progress of human rights in Vietnam will be different. Therefore, we hope that you have the appropriate approaches to this issue in consistent with the level of economic development of Vietnam. Hopefully, the both sides will speed up negotiation to solve these problems.

Vietnam's National Assembly is discussing the retirement rights of workers. With the requirement of reconciling short-term and long-term goals, opinions are abundant. Ambassador Ted Osius daily watched live TV and he can see it very well. Vietnam’s admission to the TPP is very significant. I believe that with the far-seeing vision of our leaders, we will overcome.

Regarding security in the East Sea, we appreciate the concern of the American Administration, Congress, senators and especially Senator John McCain. This is not a challenge of anyone alone. The East Sea issues are related to the interests of the whole world. You are justifiably concerned about the safety of freedom of navigation and aviation.

I think there is even a bigger problem; it is the adherence to the principles of international law. Vietnam is one of the countries with direct interests in the East Sea. We have no desire than to solve disputes by peaceful means, by international law. If someone does not voluntarily comply, the international community must take measures to ask that the country obey international law.

On the issue of catfish, we are glad that your decision was made before your visit to Vietnam. Breaking down barriers to pangasius both helps Vietnamese farmers and protects the legitimate interests of American consumers. This can be seen as a good example of balance of international trade. Vietnam will try its best to implement that principle. Actually, the two sides are working to implement the Vietnam - America high-level statement."

Before the end of the meeting, Mr. Nghi told Senator McCain that the contents of the stele at the Truc Bach Lake had been corrected. Senator McCain said cheerfully: "I've noticed that change. Thank you!"

That day, after the meeting with the Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Senator  McCain and US Ambassador Ted Osius visited the stele and took a souvenir photo there.

In both meetings in Washington and Hanoi, I saw that the talks between them about the photographs of the stele at the Lake of Truc Bach took place in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. During the years of war, not long after Major John McCain conducted airstrikes in the sky of north Vietnam, Pham Quang Nghi did his duty in the southeastern battlefield.

They, like many others, who used to be at the two sides of the front line of one of the most intense wars in the 20th century, are now looking towards the future together, contributing efforts to build the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

Those who have survived from the blood and fire of war understand the precious value of peace. Therefore, it is understandable they cherish and share with each other wartime memorabilia.

On the steps of the stateroom of the Hanoi Party Committee, before saying goodbye to Mr. Nghi, Senator McCain said: "This morning I visited Hoa Lo Prison. For a while I tried to remember the name of the Hanoi chairman at that time. Is that Mr. Tran Duy Hung? Hoa Lo has had many changes, but I can say the French built a very good prison."

It was still very hot in Hanoi but on the faces of the host and the guests were big smiles, like the approval for what the two governments and two peoples have done, with determination to "close the past, open the future".

Ho Quang Loi