Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh (Source: VNA) He made the statement during a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency featuring the new Donald Trump-led US administration’s adjustment of policies to Asia-Pacific, the future of Vietnam-US ties and his personal feeling in the context of the US’s power transition.
Vinh said over the past two decades, Vietnam and the US have seen leaps in bilateral diplomatic ties and become comprehensive partners on the basis of shared benefits. Two-way trade has soared to 50 billion USD from 500 million USD.
The bilateral partnership has expanded across science-technology, investment, education, national defence-security. No matter what adjustments President Trump makes, both sides will still maintain existing shared interests and seek new ones, he said, adding that he believes similarities will be much more than differences and new, better cooperative forms will be needed, he noted.
Apart from bilateral connections, the two countries also have cooperation frameworks in service of their own interests and the region at bilateral and multilateral forums.
According to him, the US will not steer clear of the Asia-Pacific region and its interests in the East Sea of peace, stability and freedom. Together with regional countries, the US will attach importance to peace, stability, security, maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea – a strategically geo-political area and a major sea route.
To that end, countries will rely on international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as enhance regional cooperation in this regard, he said.
Commenting on the US’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, Vinh said the US, in any form, must connect with the region for its own interests because the Asia-Pacific region contributes to a half of the world’s economic and trade growth.
Sooner or later, he said, the US still has to convey a message about economic and trade connectivity with the region, as it is also for its own interest and the expectation of the region.
No matter what the future of TPP is, Vietnam will keep pushing forward economic reform and global integration, which is also a requirement for national development and free trade agreements in which Vietnam is a member, he said.
Commenting on the US’s possibility to change policies towards the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the diplomat said he believes that amid the global economic recovery and challenges, countries need to sit down together to consider their own interests and more active participation.-VNA
VNA
