Viet Nam is optimistic about bilateral relations between Viet Nam and the US in 2018, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said at a seminar in HCM City on Wednesday. 

Viet Nam is optimistic about bilateral relations between Viet Nam and the US in 2018, said Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc at a seminar on Wednesday.

The seminar, called “Viet Nam – US Relations under President Donald Trump’s Administration”, attracted the participation of local and international officials and experts, including US Ambassador to Viet Nam Daniel Krintenbrink and Fulbright University Viet Nam’s Founding President Dam Bich Thuy, among others.

According to Ngoc, 2017 witnessed many changes, particularly with the US’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).

“Realising the importance of bilateral relations between Viet Nam and the US, Viet Nam last year set humble targets on development, with focuses on keeping up with the existing momentum, refraining from losing its regional status, and avoiding trade confrontation with the US,” he said.

“Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited the US and President Donald Trump came to Viet Nam in 2017,” he said, adding that this had reflected the successful relationship between the two countries.

“The two countries’ respect for each other’s policy, sovereignty and territorial integrity has played a significant role in the success,” Ngoc said.

In 2018, Viet Nam seeks to promote exchanges of high-level delegations; enhance economic, trade, cultural, and educational cooperation; and strengthen collaborations in resolving consequences of the war with the US.

Speaking at the seminar, US Ambassador to Viet Nam Daniel Krintenbrink stressed Viet Viet Nam is one of the most important partners of the US.

On behalf of President Trump, Krintenbrink said the US would take action to further promote bilateral relations.

Security, trade and investment, human rights, people-to-people ties, and humanitarian aid are among the priorities that the US would focus on, he said. “I’m optimistic about our future, considering our achievements so far.”

In addition to Viet Nam – US relations under Trump’s administration, the seminar discussed people-to-people ties between Viet Nam and the US, President Donald Trump’s policies on Asia and their impact on Viet Nam, and trade and investment opportunities between Viet Nam and the US after the TPP.

The event was hosted in HCM City by Fulbright University Viet Nam (FUV) and the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). — VNS