President Truong Tan Sang begins US visit

President Sang was welcomed at the airport by US Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear, representatives of the US Department of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong.

The President then met with Vietnamese Embassy staff and was briefed on the agency's recent performance.

He praised their work and said that growing cooperation with the US in economics, education, science, national defence and foreign affairs was made possible by their efforts.

The State leader said that 18 years after the normalisation of ties between the two nations, Vietnam and the US are now seeking ways to enhance their relationship further on a foundation of mutual respect and benefit.

He urged the Vietnamese diplomats to rise to the challenges posed by the significant enhancement of the relationship.

People back in Vietnam will continue to support the embassy, he declared, adding that he had full confidence in the ability of staff to continue fulfilling the tasks assigned to them by the Vietnamese Party, State and people.

In reply, Ambassador Cuong said that as one of the overseas Vietnamese diplomatic agencies with the highest number of diplomats, the embassy in the US has forged a diplomatic bridge between the two nations.

He added that the embassy has also provided support to businesses, helping promote the two countries' economic relationship.

(CPV/VNA)