Nguyễn Tấn Dũng

"ASEAN has experienced four decades of building and growth, and has evolved into an important political and economic entity, a comprehensive regional cooperation organization and a common house of the Southeast Asian peoples."

"Environmental protection is both the objective and the basic content of sustainable development. Nowadays, climate change, environmental pollution, energy security, water security... have become global problems, but no one country can deal with them alone."

"Protecting the environment is a global problem, and it requires co-operation from every country, every organisation and every citizen."

"I always find it interesting to talk to students, no matter when and where. The young generation is the master of the future. Whether coming from the United States or any other country, you all represent the future of your country."

"Vietnam is a nation of 4000-year history. That nation was dominated by foreign forces for as long as most of the first millennium AD, yet lived on without having been assimilated. After regaining independence for the first time in 939, the nation had to fight 16 other wars of resistance against foreign invaders. In the 20th century, she was forced to take up arms to fight against foreign invasions for her independence, freedom, national unification, survival and development. We hope that those were the last wars in our history to safeguard our national independence, unity and territorial integrity."

"The history of national defense and building with untold sweat and bloods has forged a Vietnam's vitality, a distinct cultural identity, a resilient internal strength for development, and a capability to adapt herself to the times and harmoniously co-exist with other nations in the world."

"Our Vietnamese nation has many good and heroic traditions over thousands of years. And for the past 77 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, a revolutionary and scientific party founded and nurtured by President Hồ Chí Minh, our people have overcome a lot of difficulties, challenges and sacrifices to gain victories after victories, forming the present-day career."

"I spent 13 years in the southern Vietnam battlefields fighting against the American aggressors. We, fighters, and other citizens hated the US’s arrogant administration and its armies very much back then. I was injured four times and suffered more than 30 wounds over the course of my fighting career. My father and my two uncles died during the American War. But we, and all other Vietnamese, did not hate all American people or the US as a country. We thanked Americans who protested the war in Vietnam. We sympathized with American mothers who lost their sons and husbands. I am sure you still remember we were so moved when a young American lit himself on fire to oppose the war."

"As a state, a nation and a citizen, no one will forget our nation’s painful suffering."

"During my time in the Party, I always obeyed the instruction of the organization, even though the duties might be difficult or dangerous. We did not avoid tasks but tried to implement them effectively. Considering our work, we should give it our best try to benefit the country and nation. In life, we should be always honest and be considerate of all people."

"Peaceful use of nuclear power, non-proliferation and disarmament of nuclear weapons constitute a shared goal of mankind. Alongside encouraging states to adopt voluntary actions within their capacities, it is essential to put in place concrete and suitable programmes and solutions to assist developing countries in this regard."

"Competition and engagement are by themselves normal facts in the course of cooperation and development. Yet if such competition and engagement embrace calculations only in one’s own interest, without equality, respect of international law and transparency, then strategic trust could in no way be reinforced, and there could be a chance for the rise of division, suspicion and the risk of mutual containment, thus adversely affecting peace, cooperation and development."