Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(VNA) Vietnam supports the US to successfully organise the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2011, said a Vietnamese diplomat.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong affirmed the country’s support during his recent working visit to Hawaii State where the summit will take place in mid-November this year.

Leaders from 21 APEC member economies are expected to take part in the summit, which will be chaired by US President Barack Obama.

During his visit, Ambassador Cuong met with Hawaiian Governor Neil Abercrombie and Chief Operating Officer of the APEC, Randall Tanaka.

Talking with the Hawaii-based East-West Center ’s scholars and local businessmen, the Vietnamese ambassador spoke highly of fine developments in the Vietnam-US relationship, especially since the two countries normalised their ties 16 years ago.

The two countries now have a common perception of the need to raise the bilateral relation to a new level of development, looking towards a strategic partnership, he said, adding that two sides are working hard on details of this relationship.

The diplomat also answered many questions relating to Vietnam ’s development policies and its concerns towards climate change as well as border and territorial issues.

He asserted the Vietnamese government’s policy of welcoming US universities to open training facilities in Vietnam .

At present, about 13,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the US as a demonstration of the two countries’ commitment to education cooperation./.