Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh hosted on November 21 a talk on the Vietnam-US relations at the US National Academy of Public Administration, expressing belief on the two countries’ stronger comprehensive partnership under the new US administration.

He reviewed history of the two countries’ ties with many missed chances and the regretful war with painful consequences, and affirmed that the countries have exerted joint efforts to heal the pains of the war and develop their relations.

From former foes, the two sides became friends and comprehensive partners, and that featured the process of strong and rapid development that a few could imagine, said the diplomat.

Over the past two decades since the diplomatic ties were set up in 1995, the two countries have made strides in their relations, evidenced by the establishment of the comprehensive partnership in 2013 to strengthen their ties across the board.

The past two years saw the exchange of visits by both countries’ top leaders, including the US visit of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2015 and the Vietnam visit of President Barack Obama in May 2016, he noted.

Bilateral economic and trade have also grown with two-way trade increasing more than 100 times to hit 50 billion USD last year. The two sides have also strengthened their affiliation in security and defence with the signing of their Joint Vision 2015.

Vietnam is the ASEAN country with the highest number of students studying in the US, he said, adding that more than 500,000 US tourists visited Vietnam in 2015.

Vietnam and the US have also worked closely in regional and international forums as well as in responding to challenges such as climate change and ensuring peace, stability and maritime security in the East Sea.

Ambassador Vinh expressed his belief that the comprehensive partnership between the two countries under the new US administration will continue to thrive in a practical and sustainable way for the interest of peoples and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

He also informed participating experts and scholars of new progress in the renewal course and national construction and defence of Vietnam.

He said that Vietnam has a new generation of dynamic youths who desire to absorb knowledge and experience from developed countries in the world, including the US.

He pledged to connect the US National Academy of Public Administration with agencies and universities of Vietnam to forge stronger education and training cooperation to enhance the public administration quality in Vietnam.

Professors and experts of the US National Academy of Public Administration express their support to the strengthening of the Vietnam-US ties as well as affiliation between the academy and agencies and universities of Vietnam.

The US National Academy of Public Administration was set up in 1967. It is an independent research, education and training facility which aims to give advice to the Government in building effective and transparent agencies. Many graduates of the academy are holding high positions in the US Government and parliament.