Hawaii to better ties with Vietnam: Governor
At
a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Le Cong Phung on March
10 in Honolulu, the Hawaii Governor agreed upon the Ambassador’s
proposal that while Vietnam – US relations have matured after more
than 15 years of diplomatic relations, Hawaii should strengthen
relations with Vietnam as well as establish ties with its cities and
provices.
“You can rest assured that our relations
with the Vietnamese community here will be better,” Governor
Abercrombie told the Vietnamese diplomat. “I will continue supporting
the Vietnamese community here”.
He informed the
Ambassador that the Vietnamese community in Hawaii , who account for 3
percent of the State’s population (about 36,000 people), has integrated
itself in an exemplary way in Hawaii.
He
expressed satisfaction at the considerable contributions made by the
Vietnamese community in Hawaii to the State’s achievements.
Dung his working visit to Hawaii from March 9-12, Ambassador Phung
was briefed by the State Lieutenant Governor, Brian Schatz, about
Hawaii’s preparations for the Asia – Pacific Cooperation Forum summit,
scheduled for Nov. 7-13 this year in Honolulu.
Ambassador Phung had a working session with senior officers of the
United States Pacific Command (PACOM) at the headquarters in
Honolulu.
Ambassador Phung and Admiral Robert
Willard discussed the desire of Vietnam and the U.S. to increase
broad bilateral cooperation as well as military relations.
During their constructive conversation, they agreed on the importance
of maintaining a stable and secure maritime common, noting that
disagreements over territorial claims and the appropriate use of the
maritime domain appear to be a growing challenge to regional stability
and prosperity.
They addressed how both Vietnam
and the United States, in addition to other Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, ASEAN Regional Forum
participants, other maritime nations and the broader international
community, all have national interests in freedom of navigation with
respect for relevant international law.
They held
that it was ripe for the two countries to boost greater cooperation,
including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and
rescue, peacekeeping operations, maritime security, exchanges including
defence research institutions, military medicine, as well as high-level
dialogues. They also highlighted Vietnam’s role in ASEAN and the
ARF.
During his stay in the newest state of the
U.S., Ambassador Phung had working sessions with senior officials of
the East – West Centre, the Asia – Pacific Centre for Securities Studies
and the University of Hawaii . He also met with members of the
Association of Vietnamese Students in Hawaii and attended the
Association members’ participation in Honolulu festivals./.