US Ambassador Jennifer Wicks has pledged close coordination with both countries’ agencies to prepare for upcoming high-level visits and advance Vietnam-US relations.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks, during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, pledged to work closely with agencies from both countries to ensure thorough preparations for upcoming high-level visits.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra praised Ambassador Wicks for her proactive and energetic approach to her work shortly after taking up her post.
In particular, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed her appreciation for the ambassador’s attendance at the “Guiding Star” event marking the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day, as well as her visit to the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, a special national historical site.
Vietnam has always regarded the US as a partner of foremost strategic importance and hopes to see bilateral relations continue to grow in an increasingly effective and substantive manner.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra receives US Ambassador Jennifer Wicks. Photo: VGP
To sustain this momentum, the Deputy Prime Minister called on Ambassador Wicks to serve as a trusted bridge between the two countries and actively promote diplomatic activities and delegation exchanges, particularly high-level visits, in the period ahead.
The Deputy Prime Minister also urged the ambassador to encourage relevant US agencies to swiftly conclude negotiations and sign the Reciprocal Trade Agreement on a fair and balanced basis, creating a stable, long-term framework for economic cooperation between the two countries.
On cooperation to address the legacies of war, the Deputy Prime Minister described this as one of the most important pillars in building and strengthening mutual trust between Vietnam and the US. She highly valued the cooperation of the US government and people in areas including dioxin remediation, unexploded ordnance clearance, assistance for people with disabilities, and the “500 Days and Nights Campaign.”
Vietnam still has around 175,000 cases in which the remains of fallen soldiers have yet to be found, while nearly 300,000 sets of remains have yet to be identified. Against this backdrop, the “500 Days and Nights Campaign to Accelerate the Search, Collection and Identification of Fallen Soldiers’ Remains” is being vigorously implemented across the country’s political system.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra praised US cooperation through the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative (VWAI), the Sam Johnson Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University, and cooperation between the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) to strengthen Vietnam’s capacity to identify the remains of fallen soldiers.
She asked Ambassador Wicks to continue working with the US administration and Congress to expand support in providing archival information, personal effects and new technologies, helping Vietnam accelerate the “500 Days and Nights Campaign” effectively and swiftly.
US ambassador moved by visit to Quang Tri Ancient Citadel
US Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks visits the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel. Photo: US Embassy
For her part, Ambassador Wicks said she was honored to have been entrusted by President Donald Trump with the responsibility of serving in Vietnam at a time when bilateral relations are at their strongest point in history.
Wicks pledged to devote her full efforts to serving as a bridge between the two countries and to work closely with agencies on both sides to ensure thorough preparations for upcoming high-level visits.
The ambassador underscored the importance of swiftly concluding negotiations on the Reciprocal Trade Agreement. She also said she would actively engage with relevant agencies in Washington, D.C., to resolve outstanding issues and facilitate smoother trade flows and high-tech investment.
Reflecting on her attendance at the War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day commemoration and her recent visit to the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, Wicks said both had left a profound impression on her. She reaffirmed the US government’s strong and long-term commitment to working alongside Vietnam to address the legacies of war.
The US Embassy will continue to coordinate closely with Vietnam’s National Steering Committee 515 in the search, collection and identification of the remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers.
The ambassador also expressed her sincere gratitude to the Vietnamese government for its close cooperation in efforts to account for US service members missing in action (MIA), describing this work as a model and symbol of reconciliation and the two nations’ shared efforts to move beyond the past.
Vietnamnet.vn
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