Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State(DOS) for Southeast Asia Patrick Murphy along with officials of the DOS and theVietnamese embassy in the US also joined the trip.
During the trip, Vinh visited Norfolk naval base, the OldDominion University and several local socio-cultural establishments.
The ambassador also visited the USS George H.W.Bush aircraftcarrier (CVN-77), where he was welcomed by Under Secretary of the US NavyThomas Modly; Commander of the Naval Air Force Atlantic, Rear Admiral RearKelley; and Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier Colonel Chris Hill.
During talks at the ship, both sides pledged to continuepushing forward the three-year national defence cooperation programme, with afocus on post-war recovery, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance,disaster rescue and relief work, maritime security and safety, capacityimprovement, and the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
The host side affirmed that the US attaches importance toties with Vietnam, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and theregion, stressing their belief that the Vietnam – US strategic partnership,including national defence ties, will further thrive bilaterally andmultilaterally, for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity inAsia-Pacific.
Under Secretary of the US Navy Thomas Modly said theVietnamese Ambassador’s visit to the aircraft carrier demonstrated thedevelopment of bilateral ties, particularly in defence.
Ambassador Vinh said the bilateral defence ties, includingthe US aircraft carrier’s upcoming visit to Vietnam scheduled for March, notonly reflects the development of the bilateral comprehensive partnership butalso their joint efforts to maintain regional peace, development and respect forinternational law, as well as to engage in common humanitarian assistanceactivities.
In Norfolk, the ambassador also visited a fleet of naval helicoptersand a museum dedicated to General Douglas MacArthur.
At Old Dominion University (ODU), he had a meeting with Presidentof the ODU John Roderick and Provost Austin Agho, during which the two sides agreedto further strengthen bilateral education-training ties and people-to-peopleexchange.
Vinh spoke highly of the partnership between ODU and Vietnamesetraining institutions, including the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology,the Ton Duc Thang University and the Hanoi University of Mining and Geology,believing that such cooperation will make it easier for Vietnamese students toaccess the US’s advanced training programmes.
Roderick, for his part, said he appreciated collaborationwith Vietnam and the Vietnamese students’ contributions to ODU and ties betweenthe two nations.
Talking to ODU lecturers and students, the Vietnameseambassador and DOS Deputy Assistant Secretary Murphy shared their views on theVietnam-US ties.
Murphy described Vietnam as one of the most importantpartners of the US in Southeast Asia. He expressed his belief that thebilateral comprehensive partnership with further develop for the benefit of thetwo countries and the entire region.
Established in 1930, the research-focused ODU is the largestof its kind in Virginia. Its students include naval officers from forces stationedin Norfolk naval base – the world’s largest military port with 75 warships and134 jet fighters. -VNA