Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(VOV) The fine relationship between the US and Vietnam plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the region, said US Republican senator, John McCain at a meeting with Vietnamese ambassador to the US, Le Cong Phung in Phoenix, Arizona.

Senator McCain said that the US-Vietnam relationship has made significant progress, especially in economics, defence and education in recent years. He said he is proud of being able to contribute to accelerating normalizing the relationship between the two countries and emphasized the need to develop the relationship into a strategic partnership.

Regarding the US Bill S.496 on amending some articles to prevent the importation of tra fish from Vietnam and other countries, Senator McCain said it should respect the right of Vietnamese to export tra fish to the US and the US consumer will benefit from buying the fish at a cheap price.

Ambassador Phung praised McCain’s contribution to strengthening the Vietnam-US relationship and reported the country’s achievements in recent years, especially in ensuring human rights and other development issues.

They also discussed other issues of mutual concern.

During his visit to Arizona, Mr Phung also met with the Mayor of Phoenix City, Phil Gordon, and members of the business community in Arizona.

The US is the Vietnam’s biggest export market with a two-way trade turnover of US$18 billion in 2010, a year-on-year increase of 19 percent. US President Barack Obama chose Vietnam as one of the five emerging markets that will double US exports in 2015.

The US is also one of the leading investors in Vietnam with a total FDI capital of US$15 billion in 2009.

Some Vietnamese businesses are also beginning to seek investment opportunities in the US.