In an interview with VietNamNet Newspaper, US Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper, assessed the achievements in the 10 years of the Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership and what he has done as Ambassador.

According to the Ambassador, with 10 years of comprehensive partnership, is this an opportunity for both sides to re-evaluate the effectiveness of developing the relationship, and at the same time create momentum for the relationship to develop even more strongly in the future?

Certainly, this is an opportunity for us to look back at what we have achieved and to consider where we want to go in the next phase.

Whether it is educational cooperation, trade and economic cooperation, cooperation to build an innovative economy for Vietnam… We work with Vietnam, these are also our key areas as both countries seek a deeper relationship.

Grateful to the government and people of Vietnam

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries, Secretary Blinken said that overcoming the consequences of war is a matter of demonstrating the US's "trust and obligation" to Vietnam. So how will this continue to be promoted, Ambassador?

We will continue our efforts to account for missing persons, not just from the United States but also from Vietnam. This is important to us. It is as important as dealing with the legacy of war, whether it is mine clearance, dioxin remediation, or helping people with disabilities.

In my view, this demonstrates the deep understanding and trust between our two countries, not only the leaders in Washington and Hanoi but also the people of our two countries.

In the search for the bodies of missing soldiers, the Vietnamese people all participated and helped. I witnessed and saw that this was very difficult, like wading into muddy areas, trying to dig, sift to identify something. Without the support of the community, the people and local leaders, we could not do this.

Therefore, we are deeply grateful to the Vietnamese government and people and hope that these efforts can continue.

For an independent, prosperous and self-reliant Vietnam

In the current context, what has the US done to ensure its commitment to always respect the choices of countries?

Thank you for the important question you raised. Looking at the Vietnam-US relationship, we look at its intrinsic values.

It is a story of what a strong, useful, friendly relationship between the two countries means to their people and to the future of the two countries.

I think we have succeeded in ensuring that our two countries' goals are consistent. We share the goal of an independent, prosperous and self-reliant Vietnam.

We respect each other's political systems, our territorial integrity, our sovereignty. This is not just a slogan. We practice this every day.

I think we are doing this every day, whether through efforts to promote Vietnam's economic development, promote education, through efforts to respond to climate change, build a green and clean economy, or efforts to help Vietnam transform its digital economy...

Ambassador Marc E. Knapper: "In every way, we have done to help the American and Vietnamese people understand the importance of this relationship." Photo: Pham Hai

Take the friendship between the two countries further

You have been in the position of US Ambassador to Vietnam for more than half of your term. Up to this point, what results in your work have made you most satisfied?

I think what we have done is not because of me alone. With the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and the embassy in Hanoi, we have nearly 1,100 staff members, both Vietnamese and American. They are people who work hard every day for the friendship between Vietnam and the United States.

In every way, big or small, whether it is the US President's state visit to Vietnam or through activities to help Vietnamese youth choose schools in the US, or support an American company to succeed in Vietnam and vice versa... In every way, we have done it to help the American and Vietnamese people understand the importance of this relationship.

I am very proud of what our teams in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have done to further strengthen and deepen the friendship between our two countries and to establish a foundation for faster and stronger growth in the future.

What is the priority work that the Ambassador wants to do best in the second half of his term?

As I always say, we build trust and then understand each other more deeply through people-to-people connections. I want to find ways to get more young Vietnamese people to come to America, as well as work to get more young Americans to come here.

People-to-people ties, educational or otherwise, are the key, the premise to take the friendship between the two countries further.

Vietnamnet.vn