The US State Department on December 16 issued a fact sheet on theUS-Vietnam comprehensive partnership, describing it as “an overarchingframework for advancing the bilateral relationship”. Following areexcerpts of the document:
In July 2013, PresidentBarack Obama and President Truong Tan Sang launched the US-VietnamComprehensive Partnership, an overarching framework for advancing thebilateral relationship. The new partnership advances key initiatives tobolster US-Vietnam relations and underscores the enduring UScommitment to the Asia-Pacific rebalance. In an effort to advance theComprehensive Partnership and highlight the dramatic transformation inUS-Vietnam relations over the years, Secretary of State John Kerryannounced the following deliverables during his visit to Vietnamfrom December 14-16:
Maritime Capacity Building: Secretary of State John Kerry announced an initial commitment of 32.5million USD in new regional and bilateral assistance to expand maritimecapacity building in Southeast Asia . The Secretary’s announcementbuilds upon the longstanding US commitment to support the efforts ofSoutheast Asian nations to enhance security and prosperity in theregion, including in the maritime domain. In Vietnam , the UnitedStates intends to provide 18 million USD in new assistance to enhancethe capacity of coastal patrol units to deploy rapidly for search andrescue, disaster response, and other activities, beginning with trainingand the provision of five fast patrol vessels to the Vietnamese CoastGuard.
Economic Engagement: The Secretary metwith US and Vietnamese business leaders in Ho Chi Minh City toadvance economic and commercial ties. He congratulated General Electricand Cong Ly Company on their recent contract for GE to provide 94million USD in additional wind turbines for their signature wind farmproject in Bac Lieu province. This is the first US-Vietnam privatesector agreement under the US-Asia Pacific Comprehensive EnergyPartnership, and the first renewable energy project to be financed, inpart, under a 500 million USD memorandum of understanding executedbetween the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the VietnamDevelopment Bank. This commercial deal underscores US-Vietnamcooperation in renewable energy and sustainable development in theMekong Delta, generates significant US exports, and supports US andVietnamese jobs. In October, GE Aviation signed a deal to provide 1.7billion USD in engines and servicing for Vietnam Airlines’ Boeing 787aircraft. These commercial deals build on a strong bilateral traderelationship that has increased over 50-fold in the past 20 years,reaching 25 billion USD in 2012.
In Hanoi ,the Secretary and Vietnamese leaders committed to further deepen thistrade relationship through the TPP. The Secretary announced an initial4.2 million USD for USAID's “Governance for Inclusive Growth” assistanceprogramme, designed to facilitate broad-based, sustainable growth.
Climate Change and Environmental Issues: SecretaryKerry visited the Mekong Delta on December 15, highlighting US-Vietnamcooperation to address climate change, environmental, and developmentissues crucial to maintaining the Mekong as a source of livelihood andsustenance for nearly 70 million people in the region. The Secretaryannounced a commitment of 17 million USD for USAID’s Vietnam Forests andDeltas Program, which is now active in four provinces, including LongAn in the Mekong Delta. The Secretary also highlighted the Lower MekongInitiative and the Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong programme,which offers countries the best science available to make decisions oninfrastructure.
Education Cooperation: SecretaryKerry met with alumni and faculty of the State Department-fundedFulbright Economics Teaching Program, which provides Masters degreesfrom its Ho Chi Minh City campus. The Secretary expressed strongsupport for plans to turn the programme into an American-styleuniversity.
Promoting Respect for Human Rights:Underscoring the key role human rights plays in economic growth andsocial stability, as well as in the bilateral relationship, SecretaryKerry engaged civil society leaders, welcomed the Government ofVietnam’s signing of the Convention Against Torture and invitation tothe UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief to visit in2014.
In addition, since July 2013 when PresidentObama and President Sang announced the Comprehensive Partnership, theUnited States and Vietnam have initialed an agreement on civilnuclear cooperation, awarded a contract for an environmental assessmentof dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa Air Base, and signed a memorandum ofunderstanding on continued unexploded ordnance cooperation. The UnitedStates and Vietnam have also intensified bilateral dialogues andincreased high-level visits (including visits to Vietnam by TreasurySecretary Lew, US Trade Representative Froman, United States PacificCommand Commander Locklear, and Coast Guard Commandant Papp) to enhancebilateral cooperation on key regional and global matters.-VNA
In July 2013, PresidentBarack Obama and President Truong Tan Sang launched the US-VietnamComprehensive Partnership, an overarching framework for advancing thebilateral relationship. The new partnership advances key initiatives tobolster US-Vietnam relations and underscores the enduring UScommitment to the Asia-Pacific rebalance. In an effort to advance theComprehensive Partnership and highlight the dramatic transformation inUS-Vietnam relations over the years, Secretary of State John Kerryannounced the following deliverables during his visit to Vietnamfrom December 14-16:
Maritime Capacity Building: Secretary of State John Kerry announced an initial commitment of 32.5million USD in new regional and bilateral assistance to expand maritimecapacity building in Southeast Asia . The Secretary’s announcementbuilds upon the longstanding US commitment to support the efforts ofSoutheast Asian nations to enhance security and prosperity in theregion, including in the maritime domain. In Vietnam , the UnitedStates intends to provide 18 million USD in new assistance to enhancethe capacity of coastal patrol units to deploy rapidly for search andrescue, disaster response, and other activities, beginning with trainingand the provision of five fast patrol vessels to the Vietnamese CoastGuard.
Economic Engagement: The Secretary metwith US and Vietnamese business leaders in Ho Chi Minh City toadvance economic and commercial ties. He congratulated General Electricand Cong Ly Company on their recent contract for GE to provide 94million USD in additional wind turbines for their signature wind farmproject in Bac Lieu province. This is the first US-Vietnam privatesector agreement under the US-Asia Pacific Comprehensive EnergyPartnership, and the first renewable energy project to be financed, inpart, under a 500 million USD memorandum of understanding executedbetween the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the VietnamDevelopment Bank. This commercial deal underscores US-Vietnamcooperation in renewable energy and sustainable development in theMekong Delta, generates significant US exports, and supports US andVietnamese jobs. In October, GE Aviation signed a deal to provide 1.7billion USD in engines and servicing for Vietnam Airlines’ Boeing 787aircraft. These commercial deals build on a strong bilateral traderelationship that has increased over 50-fold in the past 20 years,reaching 25 billion USD in 2012.
In Hanoi ,the Secretary and Vietnamese leaders committed to further deepen thistrade relationship through the TPP. The Secretary announced an initial4.2 million USD for USAID's “Governance for Inclusive Growth” assistanceprogramme, designed to facilitate broad-based, sustainable growth.
Climate Change and Environmental Issues: SecretaryKerry visited the Mekong Delta on December 15, highlighting US-Vietnamcooperation to address climate change, environmental, and developmentissues crucial to maintaining the Mekong as a source of livelihood andsustenance for nearly 70 million people in the region. The Secretaryannounced a commitment of 17 million USD for USAID’s Vietnam Forests andDeltas Program, which is now active in four provinces, including LongAn in the Mekong Delta. The Secretary also highlighted the Lower MekongInitiative and the Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong programme,which offers countries the best science available to make decisions oninfrastructure.
Education Cooperation: SecretaryKerry met with alumni and faculty of the State Department-fundedFulbright Economics Teaching Program, which provides Masters degreesfrom its Ho Chi Minh City campus. The Secretary expressed strongsupport for plans to turn the programme into an American-styleuniversity.
Promoting Respect for Human Rights:Underscoring the key role human rights plays in economic growth andsocial stability, as well as in the bilateral relationship, SecretaryKerry engaged civil society leaders, welcomed the Government ofVietnam’s signing of the Convention Against Torture and invitation tothe UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief to visit in2014.
In addition, since July 2013 when PresidentObama and President Sang announced the Comprehensive Partnership, theUnited States and Vietnam have initialed an agreement on civilnuclear cooperation, awarded a contract for an environmental assessmentof dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa Air Base, and signed a memorandum ofunderstanding on continued unexploded ordnance cooperation. The UnitedStates and Vietnam have also intensified bilateral dialogues andincreased high-level visits (including visits to Vietnam by TreasurySecretary Lew, US Trade Representative Froman, United States PacificCommand Commander Locklear, and Coast Guard Commandant Papp) to enhancebilateral cooperation on key regional and global matters.-VNA
