US Secretary of State (Source: thenation.com)Visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry has highlighted remarkable achievements of the Vietnam-US cooperation since the normalisation of relations in 1995, especially in education and trade, during a conference on 20 years of bilateral ties in Hanoi on August 7.
Two-way trade has hit about 36 billion USD at present from only over 450 million USD 20 years ago, Kerry said, adding that the number of Vietnamese students studying in the US has risen to 17,000 from about 8,000 in the past.
The two countries have successfully overcome differences and replace mistrust by trust and respect, stated Kerry.
At the conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said over the past two decades, the Vietnam-US ties have seen significant progress from former enemy to comprehensive partnership for the growth of both nations and for peace, stability and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
He also expressed belief on a bright prospect of the ties.
During the event, participants reviewed achievements in bilateral ties, focusing on areas of State governance, trade, health care and support for the disabled through efforts of both State and private sectors.
The same day, the US Secretary of State joined an online exchange with Vietnamese youth and students who engaged in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative launched by US President Barack Obama.
Kerry said he believes that the Trans-Pacific Partnership will be reached at the end of this year, holding that the deal will raise the common business standard for common wealth, creating a circle of development that benefit all parties.
He affirmed his support to the Fulbright University project, which is expected to boost the growth of Vietnamese education sector.
During the exchange, the US Secretary of State also answered Vietnamese youth’s questions on TPP, among others.
Meanwhile, a representative of Fulbright University, Dam Bich Thuy, also responded to queries on operation of the facility in the future./.
