Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (third left) and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken (fourth left) on April 15 break ground on the construction of the new US Embassy. (Photo: VNA)The new embassy represents "another significant step towards strengtheningthe vital partnership between our nations and peoples," US State SecretaryBlinken said in his address.
The US Embassy campus has a total investment of 1.2 billion USD, built on39,000sq.m, on a land area of 3.2 hectares, featuring plenty of greenery.
Thedesign of the US Embassy complex will combine the modern urban landscape withthe natural beauty of Hanoi as well as inspiration from the UNESCO World Heritage of Ha Long Bay.
Mostof the construction will be done with recycled materials and the embassy'sdesign will be energy-efficient and flood-resistant. The foundationof the building will be built with basalt stone, available both in Vietnam andthe US,
Thearchitecture of the campus will stand for the shared commitments of the twocountries in sustainability and climate change resilience.
Blinkensaid this is the day he has been waiting for a long time, adding he first heardabout this project when he was still Deputy Secretary of State.
He expressedhis gratitude to the Vietnamese Government and the US Embassy’s staff for theirefforts to make this historic day into reality.
Overthe past 27 years, since the normalisation of ties in 1995, the relationshipbetween Vietnam and the US has been continually strengthened. This year marksthe 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership between the twocountries. The two countries have cooperated in all aspects, from improvingpublic health to expanding all-encompassing economic opportunities toaccelerating the transition to clean energy, Blinken noted.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)The embassy will also be able to increase the number of consular servicewindows by four times the current capacity, allowing for more efficient andfaster processing of visas and passports for a larger number of people, henoted.
It is estimated that over the course of six years of construction, the projectwill provide employment for approximately 1,800 local workers and contribute anadditional 350 million USD to the Vietnamese economy.
At the event, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan saidthat the project is the result of many years of efforts by both countries withthe active participation of many agencies.
Just before the US Secretary of State's visit, Hanoi authorities approved thedetailed planning for the remaining part of the new Cau Giay urban area at aratio of 1/500 in the planning area with the code D30, which is an importantcondition for carrying out procedures related to the construction of theembassy.
The Hanoi People's Committee will continue to closely coordinate with centralagencies and the US Embassy in the construction process, supporting the projectto achieve its goals and timeline./.
VNA
