President Truong Tan Sang met the outgoing US Ambassador David Shear to Vietnam in Hanoi on August 6. The President praised the ambassador’s mission, which had contributed significantly to developing relations between the two countries.

President Sang also expressed his pleasure at the growing diplomatic and trade ties between Vietnam and the US over the past 20 years. He also proposed that the two countries maintain the exchanges of high-level delegations, adding that Vietnamese senior officials are ready to make visits to the US to deepen mutual understanding.

He also took the occasion to invite President Barack Obama to visit Vietnam on the occasion of the 20 th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.

Highly valuing the US ’s support for Vietnamese products to enter its market, the state leader expressed his belief that investment cooperation between the two countries will further flourish without facing any barrier, together with growing cooperation in various areas, including education.

He also suggested that the US continue assisting Vietnam in bomb and mine clearance, contributing to overcoming the aftermath of war.

For his part, Shear thanked the Vietnamese side for supporting him during his operation in Vietnam .

As Defense Secretary Assistant when he returns to the US, Ambassador David Shear said he would continue to promote relations between the two countries.

He noted with pleasure that the relation between Vietnam and the US was lifted up to comprehensive partnership during the visit of President Sang to the US last year.

The Ambassador also said that the Boeing Company and Vietnam Airlines were stepping up their cooperation in a bid to launch direct flights between Vietnam and the US on the occasion of the 20 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.-VNA