US diplomat desires stronger US-Vietnam comprehensive partnership

Outgoing US Ambassador Ted Osius has told Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh that he expects President Trump's upcoming visit to Vietnam will help further deepen the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on October 31 received in Hanoi outgoing US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius, who came to bid farewell before ending his term of office.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh glowingly spoke of the positive contributions by Ambassador Ted Osius during his tenure to promoting bilateral relations in multiple fields, including building trust and deepening the comprehensive partnership on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, political institutions of each other and for mutual benefit.

He praised Ted Osius for his efforts to step up bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, and investment, deal with the consequences of war, and strengthen people-to-people exchange.

During his term, there were more exchange visits by Vietnamese and US leaders than any other ambassadors, including a historic visit to the US by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2015, a visit to Vietnam by former US President Barack Obama in July 2016, and a tour of the US by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in May 2017.

The US ambassador praised the development of bilateral relations over recent years on bilateral, regional and international aspects, including cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations.

He appreciated Vietnam's role in multilateral forums and expressed his admiration for the preparation and organization of APEC 2017 in Vietnam, stressing that the APEC events held in different localities demonstrated Vietnam's dynamism and proactive role.

Ambassador Ted Osius said he hopes the US Embassy in Hanoi will continue to work closely with the Vietnamese side to organize a successful visit by President Trump.

He said he will continue to make contribution to strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations no matter his future position./.

VNF/VOV