Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) receives outgoing US Ambassador Ted Osius in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc received outgoing US Ambassador Ted Osius in Hà Nội yesterday, congratulating the diplomat on a successful term in Việt Nam. 
The PM said that during the envoy’s tenure, more Vietnamese and US leaders exchanged visits than during any other period, including a historic visit to the US by Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng in July 2015, a visit to Việt Nam by US President Barack Obama in July 2016, and his own tour of the US in May 2017. 
Economic, trade and investment remained key for relations, with trade growing from US$36 billion in 2014, when Osius took office, to more than $50 billion at present. Total US investment in Việt Nam has surpassed $10 billion. He expressed his belief that with the sound development of Việt Nam-US ties, these figures will keep rising. 
Welcoming an upcoming visit to Việt Nam by President Donald Trump, PM Phúc applauded Ambassador Osius’ contribution to the enhancement of bilateral relations. Việt Nam-US ties will continue to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, he added. 
For his part, Osius said the PM’s visit to the US last May helped drive development in bilateral relations and voiced his hope that the upcoming visit by President Trump would boost ties to a new height. The diplomat also said he the two countries’ relations, especially in education, would continue to progress. 

He also praised Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities’ efforts in organising the November 6 to 11 meetings of 21 heads of state in the central Đà Nẵng City , which Trump will attend, calling it an occasion for the country to show its dynamism to the world.

Osius also revealed that he would stay on in Viet Nam after his tenure ends, and work in the education sector.— VNS