Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and the US’s Alaska are eyeing cooperation in greenenergy, liquefied natural gas, aquatic processing, aviation and maritimetransport, tourism, education and training, according to Ambassador to the USHa Kim Ngoc.

Ngocvisited Alaska at the invitation of two Republican senators representing the state– Lisa Murkowski, head of the US Senate Committee for Energy and NaturalResources and Dan Sullivan, a member of the US Senate Committee on ArmedServices, becoming the first Vietnamese ambassador to visit the locality.

Duringhis stay, the diplomat had working sessions with Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy,Senator Dan Sullivan, Senator Roger Wicker, representatives from the Office ofSenator Lisa Murkowski, and Senator of Alaska Elvi Gray Jackson.

Healso met representatives from economic development and natural resourcesmanagement agencies of the state and local firms such as Exxon Mobile, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, as well as leaders of thelocal government, parliament and enterprises attending the Kenai River Classic,an event to preserve fish resources in Alaska.

At the meetings, Ngoc highlighted the sound development of theVietnam-US comprehensive partnership in various areas, as well as growing tiesbetween Vietnam and US states.

He said Alaska was a priority for him to visit, showing Vietnam’shigh evaluation of the locality’s role in the Vietnam-US partnership.

Ambassador Ngoc sent his regards and thanks to former SenatorFrank Murkowski, the father of Senator Lisa Murkowski, who made greatcontributions to the normalisation and development of Vietnam-US relations.

For their parts, Governor Mike Dunleavy, Senator Dan Sullivan andleaders of Alaska and local firms agreed Alaska and Vietnam boast highpotential for cooperation in many areas, highlighting the need for both sidesto increase the exchange of delegations of businesses as well aspeople-to-people contacts.

Duringthe visit, the Vietnamese Embassy helped connect aquatic companies of bothsides to seek partnerships. Ngoc invited Alaska’s leaders to visit Vietnam to discussmeasures to foster cooperation.

Theambassador proposed Alaska help the about 800-strong Vietnamese community inthe state settle down.

AtNgoc’s working session with Senator Sullivan, the two sides discussed recentdevelopments in the East Sea. Sullivan affirmed his opposition to actions violatingthe sovereignty of coastal states and challenging international law.

Meanwhile,at a meeting with the ambassador, Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the USSenate Committee for Commerce, Science and Transportation,told Ngoc he will continue supporting ties between Vietnam and the US, andrevealed he will visit Vietnam soon.-VNA