Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ambassador Le Cong Phung met with the several dozens of the World Affairs Council members in the capital area. During the two-hour exchange, the Ambassador briefed his guests on socio-economic performance and achievements in Vietnam as well as the state of Vietnam - US relations over the past decade. Ambassador Phung said the relationship between Vietnam and the US has been growing and expanding to all fields since the two countries normalised their ties in 1995. He highlighted the fact that the US is currently Vietnam’s largest export market with two-way trade reaching 12 billion USD in 2007. In the first five months of this year, US companies pledged to invest more than 4 billion USD in Vietnam, making the US the fifth largest investor in the Southeast Asian country. The two countries have maintained frequent exchange of high-level talks, including four meetings between the Vietnamese President and Prime Minister and US President G. Bush in the past four years. Vietnam and the US have also agreed to ratchet up cooperation in such areas as culture, education, the environment and humanitarian issues, including MIA.

Ambassador Phung spent much time answering questions raised by WACDC members concerning economic development in Vietnam and the bilateral ties.

He said he hoped WACDC members will help promote better understanding of Vietnam, its people, and its peace and reconciliation policies among the US public, thus contributing to bringing the two countries’ ties to a new height.

VNA