US Ambassador to Việt Nam Ted Osius described the recent historical visit to Việt Nam by President Barack Obama as “a great success”.

US President Barack Obama speaks to members of the business community after a panel discussion with three young Vietnamese entrepreneurs at the Dreamplex Co-Working Space in HCM City during his visit.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington D.C on Thursday, attended by hundreds of international experts and academicians, 

Ambassador Osius said President Obama was very touched by the warm reception of the Vietnamese people.

He reviewed significant achievements of the President’s trip, including the Vietnam-US Joint Statement, which demonstrates that the bilateral relationship is quickly broadening and deepening based on the two countries’ comprehensive partnership.

Osius said further that the US had thought it would only clinch seven or eight joint cooperation agreements with Việt Nam during the President’s visit.

However, the two countries came to 20 agreements, ilustrating their willingness to collaborate, both bilaterally and multilaterally, in economics-trade, navigation security and safety, climate change adaptation, education, and science-technology as well as in addressing war consequences, preventing the illegal trade in wildlife, and promoting people-to-people exchanges, the diplomat said.

This wide array of agreements created a solid foundation for the two countries’ relations over the coming 50 and 60 years, he added.

Regarding bilateral economic and trade co-operation, the Ambassador said the two sides signed a number of commercial agreements, including the sale of 100 Boeing jets to Vietjet Air, which will provide the equivalent of 61,000 jobs in the US.

He said the US would support Việt Nam in fully implementing its commitments under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – the world’s largest free trade pact.

Osius praised Việt Nam’s engagement in the TPP in order to propel its economy forward and encourage continuous reform, which also offers excellent opportunities for US businesses.

People-to-people exchange and education are also highlights in the Vietnam-US relations, demonstrated by Việt Nam’s granting of a licence to open a Fulbright University program – the first independent not-for-profit American-style university in HCM City, as well as the arrival of US volunteers in Việt Nam to teach English and the extension of visas for US citizens to one year.

As regards security cooperation, the Ambassador underlined the US President’s full removal of the lethal arms embargo against Việt Nam as a historical move to eliminate a major obstacle in the two countries’ normalisation process.

The US pledged to boost security cooperation with Việt Nam, especially navigation security, he confirmed.

The bilateral collaboration in climate change adaptation was also a success, he said, noting that during the President’s visit the two sides agreed to work together to cope with environmental changes in the Red River Delta and Mekong Delta.

The US promised to help Việt Nam deal with the recent drought in the Mekong Delta, he said.

Việt Nam and the US were exerting every effort to address war consequences, especially searching for soldiers missing in action. The US spent US$92 million over the past decade on cleaning up unexploded ordnance in Việt Nam, he said.

Osius affirmed that the US would continue to support Việt Nam in the decontamination of Agent Orange/Dioxin in central ĐàNẵng City and BiênHòa Airport in southern ĐồngNai Province. The US would also assist AO/dioxin victims in the 10 hardest hit provinces.

Answering experts’ questions on the East Sea issue, the Ambassador said the US called on the involved parties to respect international law, avoid use or threat to use forces in the East Sea.

About the US approach to Cam Ranh Bay, the diplomat said it did not intend to put military bases in Việt Nam.

VNS