“As we look toward the 20th anniversary of normalized relations, we have a unique opportunity to deepen our comprehensive partnership in ways that will make it last,” said new US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius at a swearing-in ceremony in Washington DC on the early morning of December 11(Hanoi time).

Those in attendance included Secretary of State John Kerry, US Ambassador to Vietnam, Pham Quang Vinh and many other senior US government and congress officials.

In his address, Ambassador Ted Osius said: "Today marks a dream come true for my family and me. We are deeply grateful for all the support we have received, especially from those of you who are here today….A strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam that respects the rule of law and human rights will be a critical partner for the United States on many regional and global challenges that we face together. That will be my leitmotif as well.”

He also stressed that a successful Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement would create jobs and growth in both countries and both nations should continue strengthening education, science and health care cooperation as well as security ties, with a special emphasis on the maritime realm.

“The Vietnamese people are the children of two winged creatures: the dragon from the sea and the fairy from the mountains. Through our partnership, we are ready to support the people of Vietnam as they soar higher and farther.”, the US diplomat added.

For his part, Secretary of State John Kerry expressed confidence that the new Ambassador would help deal with a partnership trade agreement and both sides are engaged in resolving and working together to resolve the tensions of the East Sea.

“We’re deepening our people-to-people relationship by sending literally tens of thousands of our students to study in each other’s countries. And we are collaborating on climate change, renewable energy.”he said.

“Ted is leaving for a Vietnam that is so extraordinarily different from the one that a lot of us got to know when we were younger, and it’s one of Asia’s great economic success stories and a transformation that is quite remarkable and still underway. Ted Osius was one of the brave Americans who observed this transformation firsthand and helped to make it happen. That’s why you couldn’t have a better ambassador.” John Kerry shared.

Ted Osius (full name Theodore G. Osius III) is a citizen of Maryland State. He has worked as a US diplomat in Indonesia, India, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

In 1996, he was one of the first American diplomats working in Vietnam after 1975.

Before being nominated by President Obama as US ambassador to Vietnam, Professor Osius was a lecturer at the National War College and a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – one of the world’s leading research organizations specializing in diplomacy policy.

VOV/VNN