Promoting bilateral relations between Vietnam and the United States was the focus of an international workshop on June 26 in Hanoi.

The event, organised by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, was part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the US.

It also aimed to review the achievements the two nations have made in their bilateral ties over the past 20 years.

VASS Deputy President Nguyen Quang Thuan highlighted the year as a milestone, laying the foundation to boost bilateral cooperative ties to a new height.

The two nations will continue boosting their comprehensive partnership in nine key fields, including politics, economics, national defence, security, science and technology, and education, Thuan elaborated.

They also share strategic benefits in developing the community of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN Community) and cooperating in the East Asian Summit (EAS), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC forum) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Thuan said.

For his part, US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius highlighted the huge potential for cooperation relations between Vietnam and the US.

He also voiced his hope the event would present opportunities for experts and authorities to share their initiatives on developing the relations in the future.

Vietnam and the US have seen a remarkable increase in trade from 451 million USD in 1995 to some 35 billion USD in 2014.

The two countries are also among 12 nations joining negotiationd for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the signing of which is expected to open up huge opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises.-VNA