Nhan, who doubles as Minister of Educationand Training, met with Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the SenateForeign Relations Committee, and leaders of the Departments of Stateand the Interior, and almost 30 local companies.
During the meetings, Nhan and the US officials discussed bilateral aswell as regional and international issues of mutual concern, notingthat the Vietnam-US relationship has seen progress in many fields.
Both sides were optimistic about the prospects for cooperative tiesbetween the two nations, especially in coping with climate change andrising sea level, tertiary education, investment and trade, for thesake of peace, stability and development in Southeast Asia and the Asia– Pacific region.
Deputy PM Nhan briefed his hosts on Vietnam ’s socio-economic situationand the measures being taken by the government to resolve difficultiesresulting from the global financial crisis, so as to stimulate theeconomy and ensure a steady and higher growth rate in the years tocome.
He thanked Senator John Kerry and leaders of the Departments of Stateand the Interior for their contributions to enhancing bilateralrelations, including cooperation in education, training andenvironmental protection.
The deputy PM proposed the Department of State continue supporting andprompting concerned US agencies to implement the Mekong sub-regioncooperation initiative and step up cooperation in education andtraining.
Nhan urged the Department of the Interior and other relevant agenciesof the US to back research activities in a bid to effectively respondto impacts of climate change.
He also requested the US side to take stronger actions to tackle theconsequences of the war, including provision of assistance to AgentOrange/dioxin victims and raising budget for projects designed todetoxify the environment in Vietnam .
Senator Kerry and leaders of the Department of State said the US wishesto develop its stable and durable relationship with Vietnam . Theyapplauded Vietnam ’s role as the ASEAN president in 2010, andemphasised their desire to beef up bilateral collaboration in manyareas.
The US officials thanked Vietnam for its effective coordination in themissing in action (MIA) issue, and affirmed that the US will providemore humanitarian aid to the Southeast Asian country through mineclearance projects, the provision of information about Vietnamesepersons who were reported missing during the war, and the handling ofAO/dioxin consequences.
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs JudithA. McHale acclaimed the two nations’ building and approval of theeducation task group’s reports, including directions and measures toelevate education ties as agreed upon by senior leaders during PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to the US in June 2008.
The Department of the Interior expected that the US and Vietnam willbeef up cooperative relations in the Mekong sub-region and coping withclimate change and rising sea level, and suggested the signing of amemorandum of understanding in this field.
At the round-table talks with representatives from nearly 30 major USfirms, Deputy PM Nhan called on US businesses to make long-terminvestment in Vietnam , particularly in the areas of IT and educationand training.
While in the US , Nhan also had a working session with the World Bank’sManaging Director Juan Jose Daboub, during which he spoke of Vietnam ’ssocio-economic development as well as reforms in the education system.
The deputy PM requested the WB to continue aiding Vietnam and givefinancial support for the establishment of international standarduniversities in the country./.