US Ambassador hails Vietnam-US cooperation over 25 years of relations
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink has highlighted the two countries’ cooperation, as the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (July 12) is just around the corner.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - US Ambassadorto Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink has highlighted the two countries’ cooperation, asthe 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (July 12) is just aroundthe corner.
At a press meeting on July 2, he said thenormalisation of relations has benefited both sides, noting that his countryrespects Vietnam and recognises its growing contributions to ties.
During his term, he noted, President DonaldTrump has visited Vietnam twice, first on the occasion of the APEC Summit inNovember 2017 and second the US-DPRK Summit in February 2019.
He also mentioned official visits to Vietnam byPresidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, saying they were allmemorable.
Bilateral cooperation activities had beencarried out long before the two countries set up diplomatic ties, he went on,highlighting the search for remains of US soldiers listed as missing in actionduring the war since 1988, while cooperation in issues regarding theconsequences of war has also had a substantial role in relations.
The diplomat said he looks forward to strongerpeople-to-people exchanges between the two countries in the following decades,adding that there are about 30,000 Vietnamese students in the US at present,which also means there are 30,000 cultural ambassadors for the two countries.
He said the two countries’ cooperation in theCOVID-19 fight has been extraordinary, and Vietnam’s response to the pandemichas been “perhaps the best in the entire world”.
The US has been proud to be Vietnam’s partner inthe health sector for more than 20 years. It is pleased to see that cooperationhas extended to Vietnam’s extraordinary efforts to control the pandemic,including sharing technical advice and consultation between the US Centres forDisease Control and Vietnam’s Ministry of Health.
USAID has also been assisting Vietnam in copingwith COVID-19 and recovering its economy, he noted.
Appreciating the assistance Vietnam has providedto the US, he cited the saying that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”, andthat Vietnam is a good friend of his country.
When the US has faced difficulties amid thepandemic, the Vietnamese Government and thousands of Vietnamese friends havedonated millions of face masks and other types of protective medical equipmentfor use in the US, the diplomat said.
He added he is confident that the assistancefrom Vietnam has saved lives in the US, and his country is very grateful toVietnam for that./.
Following the phone talks with partners to continue implementing activities for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 and the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 term hosted by the Defence Ministry, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of Defence, on July 1 held phone talks with David F. Helvey, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense of the US.
Member of the Party Central Committee (PCC) and deputy head of the PCC’s Commission for Communications and Education Thuan Huu hosted a reception for US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink in Hanoi on July 1.
Vietnamese businesses should seek a new approach to the US market as doing business with this market requires large-scale and clear production capacity, Nguyen Hong Duong, deputy head of the Europe-America Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), has said.
Vietnam and the US are set to hold a range of activities in flexible forms that suit the situation amid the COVID-19 pandemic to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on July 2.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink (Photo: VNA) 
