At a reception for US Secretary of State John Kerry in Hanoi on January 13, the Vietnamese government leader said he believes that based on the existing platform, the two countries will continue to step up long-term, substantive and effective relationship on the basis of respect for each other's institutions and national development roadmap.Bilateral ties have grown steadily as evidenced by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s US visit in 2015, and President Obama’s trip to Vietnam in 2016. The cabinet leader also underlined the need to devise plans to continue to maintain momentum of relations, including maintaining meetings and exchange visits at all levels, and promoting cooperation in dealing with the consequences of war and other fields.
The Vietnamese government leaders also praised the US’ positive contributions to promoting peace, stability, cooperation and development of the Asia - Pacific region and the world. PM Phuc thanked the US Secretary of State for his personal efforts to advance the normalization of Vietnam-US relations over the past decades.
The PM expressed his belief that the two nations will further enhance the stable, long-term, practical and effective ties based on respect to their institutions and national development roadmap. The two sides need to devise a plan to continue maintaining cooperation, including facilitating exchanges and joint work in post-war recovery and expanding other cooperative areas, he said.
The host reiterated the invitation to US President-elect Donald Trump to visit and attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2017 in Vietnam, and spoke highly of Kerry’s contributions to normalising and promoting bilateral ties over the past decades.
He informed his guest that he held phone talks with US President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate on him on his election victory and discuss ways to boost ties. Vietnam will continue partnering with the new US administration to push forward the stable, long-standing, practical and effective bilateral ties, he pledged.
Kerry, for his part, believed that the new administration will continue the policy of strengthening ties with the region, including Vietnam, and vowed to be a friend of Vietnamese country and people. Sharing view that the Fulbright University Vietnam is one of outstanding examples of Vietnam-US ties, host and guest committed to speeding up the project.
