Hanoi (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong hosted US Ambassador toVietnam Marc E. Knapper in Hanoi on June 5, during which the State leaderaffirmed the importance that Vietnam attaches to cooperation between the two countries, describingthe US as one of the leading partners of Vietnam.

He hailed the US diplomat’s efforts to collaborate withVietnamese authorities and visit many Vietnamese localities to seek strongerpartnership between the two countries.

Knapper expressed his delight at the progress of bilateral ties after28 years of normalising their relations and 10 year of setting up their comprehensivepartnership.

He said that US President Joe Biden was pleased with the outcomes of histelephone talks with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong inMarch. The ambassador held that amid many global challenges, the strengtheningof cooperation between the two countries is meaningful for peace and stabilityin the region and the world.

He told the host that US businesses who have visited Vietnam recentlyare eager to invest in health care, high technology, and especially education-training,one of the focuses in the Vietnam-US partnership over the years with thesuccess of the Fulbright University model.

The US will continue to work closely with Vietnam in dealing with aftermaths of the war, including settling problems caused by Agent Orange/dioxin,conducting bomb and mine clearance activities, and searching for soldiers listed as missing-in-action after the war.

Mentioning the fruitful outcomes of the recent phone talks, President Thuongsaid that the leaders shared important orientations for thedevelopment of the bilateral ties in the long run. They also assigned relevantagencies of both sides to implement cooperation in all fields.

He said he hopes the two sides will coordinate closely in organising activitiesin celebration of the 10-year strategic partnership between the two countries.

The State leader underlined the need to increase the exchange of delegationsand meetings at all levels, and to conduct more joint programmes andprojects in all fields, thus benefiting both sides.

Regarding economic and trade partnership, Thuong stressed that Vietnamalways creates favourable conditions for US firms seeking investment andbusiness opportunities in Vietnam. He suggested that the two sides  better exploit their cooperation potential in education and training.

The two countries should also further expand partnership indefense, security, and the settlement of the aftermaths of the war. Other areas of cooperation include humanitarian aid, especially coping with the consequences of Agent Orange in Vietnam, he said, adding that contributing to the process of reconciliation, and healing and building trustbetween the two countries will open up new opportunities in other important fields./.