National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn (right) gives a souvenir to US Ambassador to Việt Nam Marc Evans Knapper. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn affirmed that Việt Nam always regards the United States as a partner of strategic importance at his reception for US Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper in Hà Nội on Thursday.

The chief legislator used this occasion to thank the US for sending condolences to the Vietnamese Party, State and people over the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng. US President Joe Biden sent a letter of condolences and assigned Secretary of State Antony Blinken to come to Việt Nam to pay respects to late Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

He appreciated the ambassador’s understanding about Việt Nam and its people, as well as his contributions to enhancing the bilateral relations, including the preparation for the state visit to Việt Nam by President Joe Biden in September 2023.

Mẫn noted his hope that Knapper will pay more attention to the implementation of agreements reached by the two countries, contributing to promoting the Việt Nam-US ties.

The leader also welcomed the US’s continued commitment to supporting a strong, independent, self-resilient and prosperous Việt Nam.

Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023, the two countries’ relevant agencies have coordinated in implementing the new framework, he said, adding that the two sides have stepped up all-level delegation exchanges and recorded positive results.

The two-way trade reached nearly US$111 billion last year, and over $66.1 billion in the first seven months of this year, Mẫn said.

The two countries’ legislators have also maintained delegation exchanges, and cooperation in law making and supervision, the NA leader revealed.

He suggested the two sides work harder to effectively materialise the Việt Nam-US joint statement and action plan towards the 30th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2025.

Mẫn held that ample room remains for the two countries to foster their cooperation, and suggested them raise the bilateral trade revenue, and intensify investment promotion in science-technology, education-training, and health care.

The two legislatures should deepen their cooperation to exchange experience in law making and supervision over the implementation of collaboration agreements, he said.

The NA Chairman said he hopes that the ambassador will urge US agencies consider and soon recognise Việt Nam’s market economy status, and remove Việt Nam from the list of countries for export restrictions on high technologies, support the Southeast Asian nation at major important forums like the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and increase funding for dioxin remediation, bomb and mine clearance, aid to persons with disabilities, and search and identification of Vietnamese martyrs.

For his part, Knapper stressed the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng was a huge loss to not only Việt Nam, but also the Việt Nam-US relations, and affirmed that the US will continue its close coordination with Party General Secretary and President To Lam and other leaders of Việt Nam.

He said legislative cooperation remains an important pillar of the bilateral relations, and thanked the Vietnamese NA and its agencies for their support in strengthening the bilateral ties, and promoting understanding between Vietnamese and US legislators.

The diplomat pledged to continue to work with relevant ministries and agencies to soon recognise Việt Nam’s market economy status, and remove it from the list of countries for export restrictions on high technologies, expressing his belief that the Việt Nam-US relations will reap more achievements in the time ahead. — VNS