President Truong Tan Sang arrived in Andrew airport, Washington onJuly 24 (Vietnam time), beginning his official visit to the USat the invitation of President Barack Obama.
President Sangwas welcomed at the airport by US Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear,representatives of the US Department of Foreign Affairs and VietnameseAmbassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong.
The President then met with Vietnamese Embassy staff and was briefed on the agency’s recent performance.
He praised their work and said that growing cooperation with the USin economics, education, science, national defence and foreignaffairs was made possible by their efforts.
The State leadersaid that 18 years after the normalisation of ties between the twonations, Vietnam and the US are now seeking ways to enhance theirrelationship further on a foundation of mutual respect and benefit.
He urged the Vietnamese diplomats to rise to the challenges posed by the significant enhancement of the relationship.
People back in Vietnam will continue to support the embassy, hedeclared, adding that he had full confidence in the ability of staff tocontinue fulfilling the tasks assigned to them by the Vietnamese Party,State and people.
In reply, Ambassador Cuong said that as oneof the overseas Vietnamese diplomatic agencies with the highest numberof diplomats, the embassy in the US has forged a diplomatic bridgebetween the two nations.
He added that the embassy has alsoprovided support to businesses, helping promote the two countries’economic relationship.-VNA