* The NA leader said the U.S. is one of the most important partners of Vietnam not only bilaterally but also regionally and globally. He affirmed that Vietnam wants to promote relations with the U.S. via all channels, from political party, government and parliament to people-to-people exchanges.
Hue hailed the great contribution that many U.S. senators and congressmen have made to the normalization and development of the Vietnam-U.S. relationship, citing as examples late senator John McCain, former senator John Kerry and president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate Patrick Leahy.
He asked the U.S. ambassador to help further promote the ties between the two countries’ parliaments to be commensurate with the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive partnership.
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National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper |
Knapper said a number of U.S. senators and congressmen have expressed strong interest and a wish to play a role in promoting not only the U.S.-Vietnam relations but also the ties between the law making bodies of the two countries.
He informed that the president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, Patrick Leahy, will again visit Vietnam late this year, followed by former senator John Kerry, saying that he wants to coordinate closely with the Vietnamese N.A.’s agencies to ensure the success of those visits.
The ambassador also took the occasion to reveal that the U.S. House of Representatives is working to establish a group of U.S.-Vietnam friendship parliamentary group similar to the Vietnam-U.S. Friendship Parliamentary Group in the Vietnamese National Assembly. The formation of the group is intended to stir the interest in Vietnam among members of the House and promote exchanges and contacts between legislative bodies of the two countries, he said.
* Meanwhile, Congratulating the diplomat on assuming his post in Vietnam, the host leader expressed his belief that relations between the two countries, including the two parliaments, will continue to flourish during the ambassador’s term.
Steil also held that Vietnam - Canada ties will continue developing strongly on the basis of existing foundations, adding he hopes there will be more cooperation activities between the countries’ parliaments in 2023, when they mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Chairman Hue highlighted the progress made in the Vietnam - Canada comprehensive partnership as seen in mutual visits and meetings on the sidelines of international conferences, along with the vigorous growth in bilateral trade, which reached 6 billion USD in 2021 (up 18.5% from 2020) and over 2.9 billion USD in the first five months of this year. Canada is currently the second largest American trading partner of Vietnam, which in turn is its biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He asked the ambassador to actively promote bilateral economic, trade, and investment links, stressing that their cooperation potential is huge.
The N.A. of Vietnam supported Canada’s enhancement of relations with Vietnam and other ASEAN countries, he noted, recommending the two sides should further capitalize on opportunities generated by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The top legislator agreed on the organization of parliamentary cooperation activities to mark five years since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023.
Both countries should further boost their parliamentary cooperation on par with the comprehensive partnership, he said, asking Steil to help step up mutual visits between the two parliaments, parliamentary friendship groups, and legislators of Vietnam and Canada to share experience and support each other at international parliamentary forums.
At the meeting, the Canadian diplomat voiced his delight at the thriving bilateral trade, particularly since they joined the CPTPP.
He affirmed that Canada views Vietnam as an important partner in the Asia-Pacific and hopes the latter will support the elevation of its ties with ASEAN to a strategic partnership later this year.
Steil also said he hopes with the COVID-19 pandemic under control, more delegations from the Vietnamese N.A. will pay working visits to Canada.
Sharing his guest’s view, Hue affirmed that Vietnam welcomes Canada’s promotion of connections with Asia-Pacific, Vietnam and ASEAN, suggesting that the two sides increase dialogue and substantive cooperation to facilitate the upgrade of ASEAN - Canada relations.
Source: VNA