(VOVworld) - Ted Osius officially claimed his position as the US Ambassador to Vietnam at a swearing-in ceremony in Washington on Wednesday.

Ambassador Ted Osius is swearing in.

At the ceremony, Secretary of State John Kerry said Vietnam is one of the big success stories in economic development and that US-Vietnam relations have reached to a new height.

Secretary of State John Kerry in his address at Ted’s swearing-in ceremony

Kerry praised Osius for his great contributions to improving bilateral ties and expressed his hope that as Ambassador, he will continue to boost the relationship.

Ambassador Ted is delivering a speech

Osius expressed his deep gratitude for all the support and trust placed in him, especially by President Barack Obama. He said: “today marks a dream come true for my family and me.…. A strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam that respects the rule of law and human rights will be a critical partner for the United States on the many regional and global challenges that we face together.”

The new ambassador said that both countries are planning to celebrate 20 years of normalized ties next year,  a unique opportunity for deepening their comprehensive partnership. Osius pledged to boost cooperation in security and maritime safety, and to enhance the dialogue on human rights.