The US strongly emphasizes comprehensive cooperation with Hanoi, particularly in the fields of education, culture, trade, tourism, and investment, and is eager to strengthen its relationship with the city in the near future.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper gave the remarks during a meeting with Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh on February 10.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh and US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper on Feb 10. Photo: Hanoimoi

Knapper expressed his delight in observing a significant number of international tourists, including those from the US, making a return to Vietnam. He added that the US and Vietnam are working together to increase the number of tourists visiting each other's countries.

Concerning environmental protection, Knapper stated that the US Embassy is working on a project to support Hanoi in preserving its natural environment. Meanwhile, he added the US hopes to increase the exchange of students between the two nations and encourage more Vietnamese students to study in the US, including those from Hanoi.

As Hanoi is striving to improve the English proficiency of its teachers, Knapper suggested the US support this effort through initiatives such as the Peace Program.

American volunteers are already teaching English to high-school teachers in Hanoi. They will continue to do so in line with the programs set up by the Ministry of Education and Training.

According to Ambassador Knapper, several US universities are interested in establishing partnerships and setting up branches in Hanoi and Vietnam, expecting the local authority to provide assistance in this regard.

In trade and investment, the Ambassador called for Hanoi and Los Angeles to establish a twinning relationship and accelerate the construction of the Embassy's new headquarters in the capital.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh concurred with Knapper's proposals. He noted that Vietnam and the US have been in a comprehensive partnership for 10 years and have maintained diplomatic relations for 28 years, resulting in a deep relationship between the two countries.

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership between Vietnam and the US, and the soon construction of a new US Embassy headquarters would be a fitting way to commemorate this milestone.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, Thanh emphasized the importance of accelerating people-to-people exchanges through tourism to aid the recovery process in each country.

In the education field, many Vietnamese students are currently studying in the US. Thanh called for better conditions for future cooperation in education and student exchange between the two countries.

The city's mayor also proposed that the US increase its volunteer programs to support Vietnamese teachers in enhancing their English proficiency for teaching. As for environmental protection, Thanh voiced his support for the US Embassy's nature conservation projects in Hanoi and hoped that Knapper could serve as a bridge for cooperation between Hanoi and Los Angeles.