US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink speaks to the press in Hanoi on October 12. (Photo: VNA)He said he hopes that Vietnam, as an important UNHRC member, will partner with the US to promote universal human rights and address relatedchallenges facing the world.
The official also highlighted the Vietnam-US relations, saying manymajor milestones have been achieved particularly after the two countriesestablished the Comprehensive Partnership in 2013. They will be celebrating the10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership next year.
The Vietnam-US relations are stronger than ever, he affirmed, adding Vietnam plays a central role in the US’s Indo-PacificStrategy and the US will work to strengthen capacity of like-minded allies,partners and friends like Vietnam.
Also present at the meeting, US Ambassador to Vietnam MarcE. Knapper said Vietnam has seen significant progress in improving people’sliving standards, especially in terms of health care, climate change responseand infrastructure over the last 15 years.
Health care has become a critical pillar of the bilateralcooperation, he said, noting that the US has so far provided Vietnam witharound 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and tonnes of medical supplies tofight the pandemic.
The official highly spoke of infrastructure development in Vietnam,saying the Southeast Asian country has focused on developing highways.Recalling his time in Vietnam 15 years ago when it took four hours to travelfrom Hanoi to the coastal resort city of Ha Long, he said now it takes only twohours thanks to a six-lane expressway.
Such investment opens the way to hard-to-reach areas in thenorth and Central Highlands, he stated, adding that this has a very good impacton people’s lives and livelihoods./.
VNA
