Vietnam Honors US-VN Trade Council President

Vietnam has awarded the Friendship Medal to the founding President of the US-Vietnam Trade Council the Friendship Medal for her integral role in promoting and normalizing bilateral trade ties.

 

Pham Gia Khiem Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister presented the Medal to Virginia Foote at a ceremony held in Hanoi July 26 that was attended by representatives from the Presidential Office, the Government Office, related ministries and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

 

US Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Marine and representatives of the US embassy, the US Chamber of Commerce, the US Agency for International Development, and the Support for Trade Acceleration project (STAR Vietnam) also attended the ceremony.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy PM praised Foote's great contributions in boosting Vietnam-US relations, especially in economy, trade and investment.

 

The Vietnam-US relationship has grown closer in recent years. The two countries already signed a bilateral trade agreement, a scientific and technological cooperative agreement, an aviation pact, and a garment deal.

 

The bilateral trade is expected to rise to US$15 billion in 2010 from around US$9.7 billion in 2006.

 

The US approved the permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Vietnam and took Vietnam off the list of countries of particular concern over religious freedom at the end of last year. (VNA, Vietnam Panorama)