Tuesday, June 06, 2023, 15:02 GMT+7 tuoitre

Vietnam always attaches significance to developing its comprehensive cooperation with the U.S., one of its most important partners in the world, State President Vo Van Thuong told Ambassador Marc Knapper.  

President Thuong was speaking at his meeting with the ambassador at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Monday, during which he also brought forward some suggestions for further promoting the Vietnam – U.S. comprehensive partnership that was set up in 2013, the Vietnam News Agency reported. 

The Vietnamese state leader highly appreciated Knapper’s recent contacts with Vietnamese authorities, including his visits to various localities to further promote relations between the two nations.

Ambassador Knapper expressed his pleasure at the fruitful achievements the two countries have gained after 28 years of the normalization of their bilateral relations and 10 years their comprehensive partnership. 

The diplomat attributed the outcomes to the great and continuous efforts of both nations.

As the world is facing many challenges, the strengthening of bilateral cooperation is very significance for peace and prosperity in the region and in the world, the ambassador emphasized. 

He affirmed that the U.S. will continue to work closely with Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of the war, including resolving the Agent Orange aftermath, clearing landmines, and searching for soldiers missing in action.

U.S. President Joe Biden was pleased at the results of the recent high-level phone talks between him and Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in March, Knapper said.

President Thuong stated that the phone conversation included many important messages and orientations for the development of Vietnam – U.S. ties in the long run, and that the two leaders have assigned relevant agencies of the two countries to proceed with such orientations.

The president agreed with the ambassador’s comment that the two countries’ relations are at a very good stage of development thanks to mutual efforts.

He emphasized that Vietnam highly values its cooperation relationship with the U.S., always considering the U.S. as one of its key partners in the world. 

In order to further deepen the Vietnam – U.S. relations, President Thuong suggested the two sides further strengthen the exchange of delegations and contacts at all levels.

At the same time, the two nations should launch more bilateral cooperation programs and projects in all fields, bringing mutual benefits and making positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and in the world.

Vietnam always creates favorable conditions for American enterprises to explore investment and business opportunities in the Southeast Asian country, Thuong told Knapper.

The two sides should better exploit chances for cooperation in the field of education and training, especially the U.S. educational programs that are being implemented successfully in Vietnam such as Fulbright University Vietnam.

The president also suggested that the two sides further expand defense and security cooperation, including joining in overcoming the war consequences, addressing the Agent Orange/dioxin issue in Vietnam, and other humanitarian programs.

Such cooperation will significantly contribute to the process of healing and building trust between the two nations while opening up new collaborative opportunities in other important fields.

Marc Knapper is the eighth U.S. ambassador to Vietnam since the two countries normalized relations in 1995.

He was sworn into office in early January 2022 and presented his credentials to State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on February 11, 2022.

Following their fruit cooperative results after the normalization, Hanoi and Washington established a comprehensive partnership in July 2013 on a visit to the U.S. by then-Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang.

During his hearing before the U.S. Senate in July 2021, Knapper pledged to make more efforts to bring the Vietnam-U.S. relationship to a new height.

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Vinh Tho – Duy Linh / Tuoi Tre News