US expert hails Vu Khoan as consummate, prominent diplomat

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan delivers a speech at a seminar on 75 years of Vietnam's diplomacy sector in 2020. (Photo: VNA)

Washington D.C. (VNA) – Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan was a consummate and prominent diplomat, former Vice President and Counsel of the US-Vietnam Trade Council Frances Zwenig has said about the Vietnamese official who passed away on June 21. 

The US expert told the Vietnam News Agency's reporters in Washington D.C. that the outstanding diplomat had made significant contributions to Vietnam, especially during the period when the US and Vietnam worked together to improve and switch their bilateral relationship “from one of wariness to one of trust.”

“When there were problems and complaints, Minister Vu Khoan, more than most, understood that is where we needed and wanted to go to resolve the problems,” she said.

“Minister Vu Khoan was a person with diplomatic stature and gravitas. He ranked among the best on the world in his times. I was honored to know and work with him. Minister Vu Khoan had vision and he could see around the corner— incredible gift given the complexities of today’s world.”

From left, first row: Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, Vietnamese Minister of Trade Truong Dinh Tuyen rejoice after the signing ceremony of the bilateral agreement concluding negotiations with the US on Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organisation. (WTO). (Photo: VNA)

A State-level funeral is held today in Hanoi for Vu Khoan, who was born on in 1937 and became a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1961. He held various positions, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990), Minister of Trade (2000), Deputy Prime Minister in charge of foreign economic relations and Chairman of the National Committee on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation – APEC (2002)./.

VNA