Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received outgoing US Ambassador Ted Osius in Hanoi on October 17, congratulating the diplomat on a successful term in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives outgoing US Ambassador Ted Osius on October 17

The PM noted the ambassador’s tenure witnessed more mutual 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 US President Barack Obama in July 2016, and a tour of the US by PM Phuc in May 2017.

Ties in economy, trade and investment remained key for relations, with trade growing from 36 billion USD in 2014, when Osius took office, to more than 50 billion USD at present. Total US investment in Vietnam has surpassed 10 billion USD.

He expressed his belief that with the sound development of Vietnam-US ties, these figures will keep rising.

Welcoming an upcoming visit to Vietnam by President Donald Trump, PM Phuc applauded Ambassador Osius’s contribution to the enhancement of bilateral relations.

Vietnam-US ties will continue to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in Asia-Pacific and the world, he added.

For his part, Osius said the PM’s visit to the US last May helped drive development in the countries’ ties. He voiced his hope that the upcoming visit to Vietnam by President Trump will bring bilateral relations to a new height.

He also praised Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities’ efforts in organising APEC meetings and preparing for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang city this November. He said this is an occasion for the country to show its dynamism to the world.

The diplomat also hoped to continue helping tighten the two countries’ relations, especially in education.

VNA