A Hanoi-based company specializes in assembling electrical wiring systems for automobiles to be exported to the US. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - An international seminar was held in Hanoion July 1 to look back on relations between Vietnamand the USduring the last 25 years.
President of the Vietnam Academy of Social SciencesBui Nhat Quang highlighted the great strides made in the bilateral relationshipacross a range of spheres, from diplomacy to economy and national defence to culture.
The two countries are pursuing a comprehensivepartnership, with various high-level visits made in recent years, he said.
Two-way trade grew 15 percent annually over the last decadeto stand at 75.6 billion USD in 2019, compared to 450 million USD when the twocountries began to normalise diplomatic ties.
The UShas worked hard to help Vietnamdeal with the consequences of war and improve the capacity of its Coast Guard, whileassisting the country’s international peace-keeping force, Quang said.
Vietnam, the US, and other countries have joined handsin maintaining freedom of navigation and implementing the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS) in the East Sea, he went on.
He also emphasised the US’ssupport to Vietnamin response to climate change and rising sea levels, along with many medicalprogrammes.
Major challenges are being faced by both Vietnam and the US, he continued, includingtraditional and non-traditional security issues, climate change, and naturaldisasters.
The two countries and others have had to make huge effortsto maintain peace and development, including in the Asia-Pacific, he said.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink acknowledgedthe presentation of masks by Vietnam to the US to fight COVID-19, the country’sparticipation in global medical activities, and its outstanding performance incontaining the pandemic.
He also lauded Vietnam’s coordination in searching forUS servicemen who died during the war, with 727 sets of remains found so far.
Achievements in the comprehensive partnership over thelast 25 years have been extraordinary, he said, stressing that the US respectsVietnam’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and backs itsdevelopment and prosperity.
The US will continue to help Vietnam clean up unexplodedordnance from wartime and assist Vietnamese affected by Agent Orange/dioxin,he promised.
The US also wishes to complete an agreement on defencepartnership and step up defence ties with Vietnam, helping the country receiveT6 aircraft and Hamilton 2 cutters at the end of this year.
The ambassador said the US will also help Vietnam withsocio-economic development and activities regarding regional peace andstability, while cooperating with other countries in the region to ensureenergy security.
The US looks towards trade links that benefit bothsides, he said, adding that the country will further promote bilateral tradeties instead of multilateral relations, he said.
Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh said comprehensiveand strategic relations between Vietnam and the US should be advanced in thetime ahead.
He suggested the countries review the bilateral tradeagreement signed two decades ago, to make it suitable for advances in the relationship./.
VNA
