Vietnam and US begin talks on roadmap for concrete partnership results, ambassador says

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Caroline Wicks, has revealed that the two nations are engaged in discussions to forge a more concrete partnership. Ambassador Wicks emphasized that both countries share a similar vision for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which encompasses various sectors such as politics, security, law enforcement, economy, health, education, and people-to-people connections. The goal of this partnership is to promote prosperity and security for both nations.

A notable example of their cooperation is the recent visit of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to Vietnam's central coastal city of Da Nang. The ambassador also highlighted the potential for economic and commercial cooperation between the U.S. and Vietnam, pledging to advocate for U.S. companies and private sector interests while ensuring that Vietnamese authorities and consumers are aware of the high-quality products and services offered by U.S. businesses.

During her tenure as ambassador, Wicks aims to work towards advancing shared interests between the two countries. She has already engaged in discussions on potential collaborations in sectors such as aviation, energy, technology, and defense. Additionally, she praised Vietnam's willingness to engage with the U.S. regarding market access and regulatory challenges to ensure a level playing field for American firms.

In the realm of defense and security cooperation, the ambassador noted that the progress made in addressing the legacies of war has fostered trust between Vietnam and the U.S. War legacy programs serve as a solid foundation for the growing trust and demonstrate how Vietnamese and Americans can collaborate towards common goals. Regarding future cooperation, Wicks highlighted the importance of identifying missing persons, suggesting that U.S. support could utilize government resources, technology, expertise from the private sector, and educational institutions.

Education and people-to-people exchanges are another crucial aspect of the partnership, with Vietnam being the leading country in ASEAN and among the top worldwide for students studying in the U.S. Finally, the ambassador concluded the roundtable by pledging to work towards achieving positive outcomes for both Vietnam and the U.S.