[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15602]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE SERVICE OF HIS EXCELLENCY NGUYEN QUOC CUONG, AMBASSADOR 
EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM 
                          TO THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 2014

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend, 
His Excellency Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Ambassador Extraordinary and 
Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the United 
States. Ambassador Cuong is more than a friend. He is my brother and, 
for historical purposes, I wish to pay tribute to him as he completes 
his term in the United States and returns to Vietnam.
  Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong was appointed by President Nguyen Minh 
Triet as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam to the United States of America in early 2011. He 
has been accredited to the title of Senior Ambassador--the highest rank 
for a Vietnamese career diplomat. He presented his Credentials to 
President Barack Obama in July 2011.
  From 2008 to 2011, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong was Deputy Foreign 
Minister in charge of relations of Vietnam with European countries. He 
was also the chief negotiator in charge of relations between Vietnam 
and the Vatican.
  From 2007 to 2008, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong was Director-General, 
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of 
Foreign Affairs, and was later appointed as the Assistant Minister of 
Foreign Affairs.
  From 2005 to 2007, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong served as Deputy 
Director-General, Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation, Head 
of Political and Security Section of the APEC Vietnam Secretariat when 
Vietnam was host of APEC in 2006.
  From 1981 to 2005, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong was an officer at the 
China Department and researcher at the Institute of International 
Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this time, he also 
served in the Vietnam People's Army from 1983 to 1985.
  During his 30 year career, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong was posted 
twice to Vietnam's missions abroad, as Minister Counselor, Deputy Chief 
of Mission at the Embassy of Vietnam in Ottawa, Canada from 2002 to 
2005 and as Second Secretary at the Embassy of Vietnam in Beijing, the 
People's Republic of China from 1990 to 1993.
  Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong graduated from the University of Foreign 
Affairs, Vietnam (1976-1981) and earned an MA in International 
Relations at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 
USA (1996-1997). Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong also conducted studies on 
public administration at the Maxwell School of Public Administration, 
Syracuse University in 1998. He also participated in the Vietnam 
Executive Leadership Program at the Kennedy School of Government, 
Harvard University in 2009.
  On November 7, 2014, the U.S. Department of State honored Ambassador 
Nguyen Quoc Cuong by hosting a farewell reception for him at Blair 
House, the President's Guest House which serves as a site for American 
diplomacy in action. Blair House is the official state guest house for 
the President of the United States and is maintained by the Department 
of State. An invitation to be hosted at Blair House is an honor of the 
highest significance. Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong is the first 
Ambassador from Vietnam to be honored with a farewell reception at the 
Blair House and this speaks to the significance of his work for and on 
behalf of strengthening U.S.-Vietnam relations.
  As Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia 
and the Pacific, it has been my distinct privilege to work side by side 
with Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong. Together, we created the first 
Friends of Vietnam Caucus in the U.S. Congress, and I have every hope 
that it will grow in importance. We have also worked to improve 
economic and trade relations and I am pleased that during Ambassador 
Nguyen Quoc Cuong's service in the United States, the U.S. and Vietnam 
celebrated 20 years of trade relations.
  I commend Vietnam's leadership on the matter of maritime territorial 
and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) disputes in the South and East China 
Seas. Vietnam has demonstrated restraint and strength in dealing with 
China by adopting a strategy that promotes peace and stability in the 
region and, going forward, I have every reason to believe that 
Vietnam's influence in the region will be pivotal in resolving further 
disputes.
  On a personal note, I want to publicly thank Ambassador Nguyen Quoc 
Cuong for all he did on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, of which I am a member. For as long as I live, I will never 
be able to thank Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong for giving his all to 
bring about recognition of the interim representative committee of The 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vietnam.
  For their love, support and prayers, I especially express my deepest 
gratitude to Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong and his very talented and 
beautiful wife, Madam Hoang Minh Ha. When I was ill, they prayed over 
me and when I returned to work they stood beside me. They are more than 
friends. They are family to me, and I hope I am family to them.
  We have walked together with faith in every footstep and it is only 
fitting that I conclude my service in Washington, D.C. at the same time 
Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong and Madam Ha conclude their service. I 
wish for the Ambassador and his wife life's sweetest blessings. I wish 
the same for the Ambassador's daughter and son--Nguyen Huong Chi and 
Nguyen Quoc Anh--and Madam Ha's niece Mai Hoang Anh. I pray God will be 
with them, until we meet again.

                          ____________________