Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Union of FriendshipOrganisations held a ceremony on October 7 to mark the 25th anniversary ofVietnam-US diplomatic ties.

Addressing the event in Hanoi, Deputy PrimeMinister Vu Duc Dam emphasised that the normalisation of Vietnam-US diplomaticrelations was an important decision of the countries’ leaders, which closed aperiod full of difficulties and heralded a promising era.

The Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership hasbeen developing extensively and substantively, from politics-diplomacy,economy-trade and defence-security to science-technology, health care andeducation. Bilateral trade has increased 170-fold since 1995 to approximate 80billion USD. Meanwhile, people-to-people exchange is increasingly vibrant,according to him.

The official described cooperation in differentfields as an important bridge for building and consolidating trust, goodwilland durable friendship between the two countries.

He highlighted Vietnam’s consistent foreignpolicy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification andmulilateralisation of diplomatic relations, noting that the country considersthe US a partner of leading importance in its foreign policy.

This year, when Vietnam is serving as the ASEANChair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, thetwo sides have coordinated closely in issues of common concern at regional andinternational forums, Dam said, adding that they have also been working withthe international community to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and otheremerging global challenges.

On this occasion, he also appreciatedcontributions by generations of leaders, politicians, organisations andindividuals of Vietnam and the US to bilateral connections.

He stressed that Vietnam will keep joining theUS in expanding and intensifying their bilateral comprehensive partnership,thereby making effective and practical contributions to the countries’development as well as regional and global peace, stability and development.

At the ceremony, US Ambassador Daniel J.Kritenbrink described his country’s relations with Vietnam as impressive,noting that they have been cooperating closely with each other in all aspects,from security, trade, education and post-war issues to energy and healthcare.

Besides, the rapidly growing trade ties and USbusinesses’ increasing investment in Vietnam have generated numerous economicachievements for both sides. The US remains one of the biggest exportdestinations of Vietnam, which in turn is among the markets with fastest growthof imports from the US, he said.

The diplomat held that both countries have theresponsibility of continuing to develop their relations based on mutual trustand friendship, expressing his wish that bilateral ties will keep flourishingin the time to come./.