Vietnam has expressed hope that whoever the next US president will be will advocate stronger Vietnam-US relations, which have thrived across the board in recent years.

Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duong Hoai Nam at a regular press briefing Hanoi on November 5. Photo: Minh Tuan

After 25 years of normalization, the Vietnam-US relationship has made great strides in a comprehensive, substantial and deeper manner, creating a solid foundation for the two countries to continue promoting and expanding their ties, said Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duong Hoai Nam at a regular press briefing on November 5.

The bilateral relations have contributed to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large, he added.

“We believe that any incoming president of the United States will support this process,” the spokesperson stressed.

Trade between the two former war foes has thrived from US$450 million a past quarter century ago to about US$80 billion today.

In a surprise to Vietnam late last month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that the US supports a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam. “We have enormous respect for the Vietnamese people and your country’s sovereignty,” the secretary told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi.

“We look forward to continuing to work together to build on our relationship and to make the region - throughout Southeast Asia, Asia and the Indo-Pacific - safe and peaceful and prosperous,” AP quoted Mr. Pompeo as saying.

Vietnam considers the US one of the most important partners on the basis of respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political systems, and mutual benefits, Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duong Hoai Nam said on Thursday.

“Vietnam hopes the US will continue to expand, consolidate and develop the bilateral relations in a substantive, effective and sustainable manner,” the spokesperson continued.

“Vietnam welcomes the role and initiatives of the US to help maintain peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region, including supporting ASEAN Centrality in harmony with regional cooperation mechanisms and in compliance with international law,” he said.

The two presidential candidates, incumbent President Donald Trump (right) and former Vice President Joe Biden

In response to a petition to comment on the ongoing US presidential election, Mr. Nam said that the presidential election is an “internal affair of the US and only the American people have the right to make decisions.”

After the November 3 election, neither of the two presidential candidates, incumbent President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, have secured the required 270 electoral votes to declare win.