Washington D.C (VNA) – A seminar on Vietnam – US relationswas held by the Centre forStrategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C onJanuary 23, bringing together officials, congressmen, scholars, andrepresentatives from the US business community.

CSIS President John Hamre stated that the seminar aimed to respond to theincreasing interest in the US, especially after the two countries upgradedtheir relations.

In his pre-recorded speech sent to the event, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui ThanhSon applauded CSISfor its initiative in organising the seminar and deploying a research programmeon Vietnam.

Highlightingthe historic progress in the relationship between the two countries in 2023, Son said the decision to upgrade the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategicpartnership for peace, stability, and sustainable development reflected the fruitful developmentof the Vietnam - US ties after nearly three decades since the normalisation of their diplomatic ties, and 10 years since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership.

The upgrade of the bilateral relationship will open up many new opportunities forcooperation, benefiting both sides and contributing to peace, stability, anddevelopment in the region and the world, Son said.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US NguyenQuoc Dung reviewed significant milestones in the Vietnam - US relationship, especially the decision to upgrade the relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership,saying that this was a historic decision, and also a fitting development step basedon the progress and achievements attained in the bilateral relationship.

The diplomat stressed that the comprehensive strategic partnership is theinheritance and continuation of existing cooperation foundations and platforms, including the fundamental principles guiding the bilateral relationship over the past time, especially the respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, andpolitical regimes, deepening the agreed-upon pillars of cooperation and expandingcooperation to new priority areas.

Economic, trade, investment, and innovation cooperation has continued to drive the bilateral relationship, while scientific,technological and digital partnership has been a new breakthrough, he said.

Dung affirmed that Vietnam is determined and committed to fullyimplementing the comprehensive strategic partnership and turning high-level agreements into specific actions and measures for the performance.

Attending the seminar from Vietnam, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnamand Dr. Can Van Luc, Chief Economist of the Bank forInvestment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), and other delegates discussed measures to furtherstrengthen the bilateral cooperation in different areas such as security, strategy, trade,technology, and energy.

Delegates expressed their joy and optimism about the prospects ofthe Vietnam-US relationship. They underlined the necessity to effectivelyimplement the new cooperation framework, especially in the areas of trade,investment, digital economy, ensuring supply chains, coping with climate change,and addressing post-was consequences.
  
The seminar was part of the CSIS US - VietnamInitiative deployed this year, which aimed to increase exchanges between officials and scholars fromboth countries, helping to promote mutual understanding and seek initiatives and ideas to further expand the Vietnam-US partnership./.