Socialist Republic of Vietnam

During talks on future relations between Viet Nam and Asia with the US at the Center of National Interest in Washington on November 16, Ambassador Vinh highlighted great prospects for the two countries to promote cooperation and Viet Nam’s development priorities.

He also said that the new US administration should maintain its commitments to Asia – the world’s leading dynamic economic area, which plays an increasingly vital role in the region and the globe. Ambassador Vinh believed that Asia and the US relations plays a very important role to both sides.

Recalling important milestones in Viet Nam-US relations, the Ambassador said that the two countries have a solid foundation to step up ties. The two nations established diplomatic ties in 1995, and relations have flourished across various fields far beyond expectations. The bilateral relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive partnership in 2013. The Ambassador also mentioned Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to the US in 2015 and US President Barack Obama’s Viet Nam visit in last May, which created impetus to expand cooperation between the two sides in all fields. The two countries have coordinated at international and regional forums such as the UN, the World Trade Organisation, the Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and ASEAN. Ambassador Vinh said two-way trade has surged 100 times compared to that of 1995, hitting 50 billion USD per year. The figure is forecast to continue increasing.

During his speech, the Ambassador shared information related to Viet Nam’s renovation and integration policies, which focus on facilitating the operation of private and foreign investors, including these from the US in Viet Nam. He called on the US side to remove trade barriers and recognize Viet Nam’s economy as a market-based one to help Vietnamese goods enter the American market easily. He also stressed the need for the two countries to tap cooperation potential in education-training, tourism, and science-technology. More than 20,000 Viet Namese have studied in universities in the US. The US is working to open Fulbright University in Viet Nam, which is expected to further enhance bilateral education links. They can also coordinate with ASEAN nations and other regional countries in protecting the environment, adapting to climate change and ensuring maritime security, peace, and stability in the East Sea, Ambassador Vinh noted.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh said Viet Nam will continue to work with the new US administration, towards strengthening the comprehensive partnership in a practical, long-term and sustainable manner. While underlining the importance of the APEC Year in Viet Nam in 2017, he wishes to work with the US and other APEC member countries to successfully hold the event and hopes the new US President will attend the event and visit Viet Nam in the year.

During the talks, the Ambassador also replied to questions related to regional cooperation, navigation security and safety in the East Sea, cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong Sub-region, and other regional and global issues of concern./.