Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Le Cong Phung was quoted as saying that the world’s security, politics, economic strategies will focus on Asia including Asean bloc in coming years, and of course newly-elected President Barack Obama will weigh ties with Vietnam.
“Vietnam has significant and strategic geopolitical position and roles as well as its growth driver and Bush, McCain or Obama as the U.S. President will derive from the sakes of the U.S.,” Ambassador Phung said, highlighting that the Obama administration will prioritize ties with Vietnam.
“The U.S. is concerned over the growing influences of China in Asia-Pacific region, and I personally have had meetings with advisors of Barack Obama and I highly value and see that President-elect Obama has far-reaching view and leadership.
The Vietnamese diplomat also applauded Obama’s nominating Senator Hillary Clinton for State Secretary, and former President Bill Clinton is the person who lifted the U.S. embargo to normalize the diplomatic ties with Vietnam in 1995-1997, and at that time, Vietnam joined Asean bloc, which drew great interest from the White House.
Washington and Hanoi are in process of negotiations of the bilateral trade pact and will launch the first round of negotiations for the bilateral investment agreement by the end of the year, Phung said.
Vietnam also proposes negotiating free trade agreement with the U.S., Phung added.
The U.S. is among biggest importers of Vietnamese goods.
This year, the bilateral trade is expected to surpass US$15 billion this year. Now there are 1,000 U.S. firms doing business in Vietnam.
The U.S. also pledged to train PhD and masters for Vietnam and will double the number of candidates.
The two sides are in close cooperation to mitigate aftermaths of Vietnam War. (Labor)
Vietnamese
