US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - US Ambassadorto Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink has highlighted the two countries’ cooperation, asthe 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (July 12) is just aroundthe corner.
At a press meeting on July 2, he said thenormalisation of relations has benefited both sides, noting that his countryrespects Vietnam and recognises its growing contributions to ties.
During his term, he noted, President DonaldTrump has visited Vietnam twice, first on the occasion of the APEC Summit inNovember 2017 and second the US-DPRK Summit in February 2019.
He also mentioned official visits to Vietnam byPresidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, saying they were allmemorable.
Bilateral cooperation activities had beencarried out long before the two countries set up diplomatic ties, he went on,highlighting the search for remains of US soldiers listed as missing in actionduring the war since 1988, while cooperation in issues regarding theconsequences of war has also had a substantial role in relations.
The diplomat said he looks forward to strongerpeople-to-people exchanges between the two countries in the following decades,adding that there are about 30,000 Vietnamese students in the US at present,which also means there are 30,000 cultural ambassadors for the two countries.
He said the two countries’ cooperation in theCOVID-19 fight has been extraordinary, and Vietnam’s response to the pandemichas been “perhaps the best in the entire world”.
The US has been proud to be Vietnam’s partner inthe health sector for more than 20 years. It is pleased to see that cooperationhas extended to Vietnam’s extraordinary efforts to control the pandemic,including sharing technical advice and consultation between the US Centres forDisease Control and Vietnam’s Ministry of Health.
USAID has also been assisting Vietnam in copingwith COVID-19 and recovering its economy, he noted.
Appreciating the assistance Vietnam has providedto the US, he cited the saying that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”, andthat Vietnam is a good friend of his country.
When the US has faced difficulties amid thepandemic, the Vietnamese Government and thousands of Vietnamese friends havedonated millions of face masks and other types of protective medical equipmentfor use in the US, the diplomat said.
He added he is confident that the assistancefrom Vietnam has saved lives in the US, and his country is very grateful toVietnam for that./.
VNA
