 |
|
Mr Mansfield addresses the ceremony
|
A ceremony was held in Hanoi on Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of normalisation of Vietnam-US diplomatic ties. Present at the event were Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien, US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Marine, US Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield and many diplomats from both sides.
A ceremony was held in Hanoi on Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of normalisation of Vietnam-US diplomatic ties.
Present at the event were Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien, US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Marine, US Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield and many diplomats from both sides.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister Nien highlighted the positive developments in the two countries' relations during the past decade. He recalled the significance of the historic first official visit to the US by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, saying that the visit brought bilateral ties to a new level through the development of a constructive partnership, friendship and multifaceted co-operation on the principle of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit.
Mr Nien stressed that Vietnam-US relations have expanded in various fields, including politics, economics, trade, culture and education. In particular, Vietnam and the US have boosted co-operation in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as anti-terrorism efforts.
"Vietnam-US relations will benefit the development of both countries and actively contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world as a whole," Mr Nien said. "I believe that bilateral ties will further develop in the future."
For his part, Gordon H. Mansfield, who is visiting Vietnam as a special envoy of US President George W. Bush, conveyed President Bush’s congratulations to President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. "I am much impressed by various activities held in Vietnam to mark the event. Vietnam today is a dynamic country with much more progress in all fields than in the past decade," Mr Mansfield said.
Confidence in future prospect
US Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon Mansfield has expressed confidence in the vigorous development of relations between the US and Vietnam in the future.
Over the past ten years of diplomatic normalisation, the US and Vietnam have had opportunities to "understand each other and issues of each country better," and now the two countries are "moving forward", the US official told a press briefing in Hanoi on Tuesday.
He said that President Bush considered the celebration of the two countries' normalised relations an important event illustrated by the sending of an official presidential envoy to Hanoi.
He said he had met in Hanoi a number of senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, National Assembly deputies and war veterans' organisations of Vietnam, who all said that they attached importance to bilateral ties with the US and were looking forward to an improved mutual understanding.
Officials of the two sides were of the same view that they would jointly resolve outstanding issues, Mr Mansfield said, adding that by being partners, the US and Vietnam would gain more fruits of co-operation in the future.
Search for US POW/MIA hailed
Relations between Vietnam and the US have grown in many aspects since the two countries established diplomatic ties 10 years ago, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phuc Thanh told Mr Mansfield in Hanoi on Tuesday.
He said Vietnam has been doing its best in co-operating with the US, creating favourable conditions for the US search for its prisoners of war and missing in action soldiers (POW/MIAs) in Vietnam.
Both sides should take more efforts to solve the consequences of the war and promote exchanges and mutual understanding, Mr Thanh said, hailing contributions of the US Department of Veterans in normalising diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Mr Mansfield thanked Vietnam for its assistance in the search for US POW/MIAs. He recalled President Bush’s support for Vietnam’s entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and praised Vietnam’s efforts in its bid, particularly legal reforms.
Photo exhibition marks 10 years of Vietnam-US ties
An exhibition of black and white photos entitled "Vietnam: A Decade of Images" was held at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi on Tuesday evening to mark the 10th anniversary of normalisation of Vietnam-US diplomatic ties.
The exhibition showcases 60 black and white photos of Vietnam taken between 1993 and 2004 by Peter Steinhauer and Nguyen Hoai Linh, featuring the beauty and vitality of Vietnam’s dynamic culture and land.
These photos were selected from an exemplary photo collection of two friends: Peter Steinhauer, an American from Colorado who has lived in Vietnam for eight years and currently resides in Ho Chi Minh City; and Nguyen Hoai Linh, a photographer for the Vietnam Pictorial under the Vietnam News Agency.
Their photos depict a peaceful and beautiful Vietnam, ranging from magnificent landscapes to intimate portraits, and from ancient lifestyles to contemporary urban culture.
The exhibition will last until August 8.
VOV - (14/07/2005)
|
