Vietnam, US boost people-to-people exchange

Hanoi (VNA) - A US delegation from the “2 Sides Project” (2SP) is on a visit to Vietnam to enhance the exchange between the two nations’ people.

The delegation was received by representatives from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-US Society in Hanoi on November 26.

Representatives from the 2SP and the Vietnam-US Society recalled important milestones in the Vietnam-US relations since the normalisation of their diplomatic ties in July 1995.

They affirmed that people-to-people exchange activities, especially among youths of the two countries, have contributed to strengthening the message of peace and friendship and further promoting the Vietnam-US relationship.

The 2SP aims at connecting sons and daughters who lost fathers on both sides of the Vietnam-US war.

Launched in 2015, the project encourages exchanges between children of fallen Vietnamese and US soldiers to share losses and difficulties.

Vietnam-US relations have developed significantly since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1995. From enemies at war, the two nations improved their relations to become comprehensive partners in 2013, opening the way for expanded cooperation in multiple fields – from politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, and investment, to security and defence, culture, education, science and technology, to the settlement of war aftermaths, and people-to-people exchange.

Since 2015, the two sides have accelerated the exchange of high-level visits, which have deepened the bilateral Comprehensive Partnership and fostered the development of ties on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and with respect for each other’s independence and political regime.

Two-way trade between the countries soared from 500 million USD in 1995 to 50 billion USD in 2017. Vietnam is the US’ biggest export market in Southeast Asia, meanwhile the US remains in the top 10 investors in Vietnam.

Coordination in addressing the aftermaths of war is of special concern to the two sides, contributing to trust-building in their Comprehensive Partnership. Vietnam has worked effectively with the US in searching for missing US soldiers in the country while the US has also taken steps to assist in the clearance of unexploded ordinances (UXOs) and Agent Orange/dioxin detoxification.

Vietnam and the US have also expanded cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, and people-to-people exchange. It was estimated that about 30,000 Vietnamese are currently pursuing degrees in universities and colleges in the US.-VNA