Hanoi and the US Embassy in Vietnam will work to strengthen ties between the capital city and Los Angeles, according to a meeting between Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Tran Sy Thanh and US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper in Hanoi today [March 12].

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh and US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper. Photo: The Hanoi Times

This is also one of the cooperation activities with Hanoi mentioned by Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, who underscored the US's willingness to strengthen cooperation with the city in several areas of American strength that the capital has prioritized for its development, such as assessing and improving air quality, addressing environmental pollution, and developing tourism.

The ambassador said American businesses, researchers and education experts are increasingly interested in Hanoi. One example is the cooperation between the US government and the National Innovation Center in Hanoi's Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park. 

He stressed that more American companies will land in Hanoi, especially in the fields of innovation, high technology and education.

The two sides have also achieved new successes in people-to-people exchanges through high-profile events such as the US-Vietnam Friendship Festival in Hanoi, which the ambassador said was well recepted by the city's residents.

The ambassador hopes to continue this event throughout the year, as well as the upcoming BridgeFest music festival, with the goal of connecting and promoting diversity and cultural exchange. He also expressed his expectation that these plans will be supported by the Hanoi authorities.

He said Vietnam-US relations have reached important milestones, including the upgrading to a comprehensive strategic partnership during US President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam last year. Cooperation between localities, as well as between US partners and Hanoi, lays a strong foundation for bilateral relations between the two countries.

"These achievements were made possible thanks to the significant contribution of the Hanoi City Government," said Ambassador Knapper.

Knapper thanked the city government for facilitating the construction of the Embassy building during the visit of the US Secretary of State last year. He affirmed that the project, once completed, will become a symbol of the relationship between the two countries.

Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People's Committee, Tran Sy Thanh, said the city has always provided favorable conditions for Vietnamese-American cooperation projects. He expressed confidence that the embassy compound project will be completed soon and become one of the significant symbols in the relations between the two countries.

Hanoi welcomes and encourages American businesses and professional partners to explore the investment environment, expand business opportunities, and seek solutions to urban challenges, Thanh stressed. 

At the same time, he expects the US ambassador to become a bridge for potential American partners and companies looking to do business in Hanoi, as well as promote sisterhood between Hanoi and Los Angeles.

The mayor also said that cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts are among the priorities for the development of relations between the two sides. Hanoi is ready to create conditions for cultural, musical and artistic events as suggested by the ambassador.

Hanoi will keep in touch with the US city to update and coordinate on related issues for the signing of memoranda of understanding and move towards signing agreements in the near future, Thanh said.