Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc (Photo: VNA)
Washington DC (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador tothe US Ha Kim Ngoc has held phone talks with US Congressman Ami Bera, Chairmanof the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific andNonproliferation, on the comprehensive partnership between the two countriesand bilateral cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.
During the talks on May 21, the two sides rejoiced atthe strong developments of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership andexpressed their hope that the celebration of the 25th anniversary ofthe two countries' diplomatic ties will mark new milestones and determination toadvance the relationship.
Ngoc thanked the US administration and Congress fortheir support to Vietnam in the pandemic combat, saying recent medical cooperation activities have reflected the spirit ofeffective partnership and collaboration in the hardest time.
Bera, who had work in health care for more than twodecades before becoming a congressman, lauded and congratulated the VietnameseGovernment and people on well containing the disease.
He said he wants to visit some countries in theregion, including Vietnam, after the pandemic is put under control.
One of the priorities of the Subcommittee and thecongressman is promoting multifaceted cooperation with regional countries,covering economy-trade, national defence-security, and maritime security andsafety, Bera said.
The two sides also exchanged views on the East Seasituation and the Mekong-US cooperation.
Regarding the East Sea, Bera said he and the USCongress are always interested in and keep a close watch on developments inthe East Sea and oppose acts that infringe upon sovereignty and run counter tointernational law, causing regional disorder.
On this occasion, Ngoc and Bera discussed enhancing multifacetedcollaboration between Vietnam and California, including the implementation of aletter of intention in this regard signed by representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and Los Angeles city in May 2019.
Ngoc called on the California side to create morefavourable conditions for Vietnamese in the state to live, work and study.
He also appealed to the US Congress and administrationto take measures to protect the Vietnamese community given the recent wave of discriminationagainst Asians in the country due to COVID-19 concern./.
