Vietnam, US look to stronger comprehensive partnership

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc (Photo:VNA)

Ngoc thanked the US administration and Congress for their support to Vietnam in the fight against the pandemic, saying recent medical cooperation activities have demonstrated the spirit of effective partnership and collaboration during the hardest time.

Bera, who had work in health care for more than two decades before becoming a congressman, congratulated the Vietnamese Government and people on bringing the epidemic under stricter control.

He expressed a desire to visit some countries in the region, including Vietnam, after the pandemic is kept in check.

One of the priorities of the Subcommittee and the congressman is promoting all-around cooperation with regional countries, covering economy-trade, national defence-security, and maritime security and safety, Bera said.

During the phone talks, they also compared notes on the East Sea situation and the Mekong-US cooperation.

Regarding the East Sea, Bera said he and the US Congress are always interested in and keep a close watch on developments in the East Sea and voice objection to acts that infringe upon sovereignty and run counter to international law, causing regional disorder.

On this occasion, Ngoc and Bera touched upon stepping up multifaceted collaboration between Vietnam and California, including the implementation of a letter 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 California to offer the best possible conditions for Vietnamese in the state to live, work and study.

He also appealed to the US Congress and administration to take measures to protect the Vietnamese community given the recent wave of discrimination against Asians in the country amid COVID-19 concern.