US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius (Photo: US Embassy)

(VOVworld) – The US hailed Vietnam’s Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to the United States, said US Ambassador to Vietnam, Ted Osius, at a press briefing on Tuesday in Hanoi. He said the visit reflected the growing mutual trust between Vietnam and the US and had opened new cooperative opportunities in the future for the two countries. Ambassador Osius said that during talks in the Oval Office, President Barrack Obama and Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong pledged to respect both countries’ political systems, and discussed future bilateral relationship, issues regarding security in the East Sea, maritime safety, peace keeping activities, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. They also spoke of remaining differences, including human and religious rights and national reconciliation issues.

Ambassador Ted Osius said Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s speech at the US Center for Strategic and International Studies received big applause from the public, indicating optimism for bilateral ties in the future. During the visit, both sides signed several cooperative agreements including one on the purchase of civil planes, worth 13 billion USD. The two countries agreed to open direct flights and granted a license for the establishment of a Fulbright University in Vietnam. Progress has been seen in narrowing the gaps in TPP negotiations, paving ways for new negotiations on the TPP in Hawaii.

Ambassador Osius said the visit indicated the huge potential for cooperation between Vietnam and the US, noting that US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Vietnam in August and President Obama will probably visit Vietnam before the end of this year at the invitation of Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong.