Remarks of Consul General Kenneth Fairfax at the Inauguration Ceremony of the U.S. – Vietnam Studies Corner

                    
Good Morning!

Mr. Tô Minh Giới Vice Chairman of Cần Thơ City People’s Committee
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Thuần, Chairperson of Vietnamese Library Association and the Representative of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Ms. Nguyễn Phi Nhạn, Director of Cần Thơ Public Library
Honored guests and friends,

I am delighted to be back in Cần Thơ, the city I think of as my “quê hương” here in Việt Nam, to dedicate the U.S.-Vietnam Studies Corner.  The purpose of this project is simple: to improve understanding.  By working together to create a place where students and others can learn more about the U.S. and the U.S.-Vietnam relationship, we hope to create a foundation for even stronger relations between our countries in the future.  It is great to have people from many different fields with us today to celebrate this important occasion. 

This U.S.-Vietnam Studies Corner is the result of good U.S.-Vietnamese cooperation.  The U.S. State Department donates books, DVD's, Internet computers and other materials while the city of Cần Thơ this beautiful space to house current and reliable information about the United States.  Thanks to this location in the Cần Thơ Public Library, the people of Cần Thơ will have easy access to book collections, DVDs, free Internet access, and events for the general public including readings, films, speaker programs, workshops, and exhibits.  It is our goal that this Corner will bring greater understanding of the history and culture of the United States; open a window to wonderful American movies, literature and poetry; and remind those who visit and use its materials of the rich diversity that is the strength of the United States.  We also hope that this center will attract American visitors as well and will provide them with a greater understanding of Vietnam, and Cần Thơ City in particular.

This library is the perfect location for our third U.S – Vietnam Studies Corner. We could not ask for a more dynamic and dedicated partner than the Cần Thơ Library -- a library that has receive the Class No. 2 National Labor Medal. The library team’s energy and creativity will ensure that this project will be a continued success.  Thank you for all of your hard work.

I would now like to invite Mr. Tô Minh Giới, to join me for the ribbon cutting ceremony as we open what I hope will be a long-term and fruitful connection between our two countries.