New US Ambassador vows to promote partnership with Vietnam

US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius (middle). (Source: usembassyjakarta)

US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius took an oath on December 10 in Washington, vowing to foster and deepen the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

The event saw the presence of Secretary of State John Kerry, Assistant Secretary Danny Russel, representatives from the State Department and Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh.

Addressing the ceremony, Osius stressed "a unique opportunity" to deepen the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US as they look toward the 20th anniversary of normalised relations in 2015.

In addition, a successful Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement will create jobs and growth in both countries, he said.

He pledged to continue boosting multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, including security, science, health care, climate change and environment.

Secretary Kerry said Vietnam is one of Asia's great economic success stories and the relationship between the two countries is reaching new heights.

Ted Osius was nominated as the US Ambassador to Vietnam by US President Barack Obama on May 15.

Osius, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is an Associate Professor at the National War College, a position he has held since 2013. 

He served as Political Officer at the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and at the US Embassy in Hanoi from 1997 to 2001. 

In 1996, he joined the first US delegation to Vietnam since the two countries normalised their bilateral relations and had one year in Hanoi to prepare for the presence of the first US ambassador to Vietnam.

He also held other positions at US embassies in many countries.

Osius received a BA from Harvard College and a MS from the School of Advanced International Studies at The Johns Hopkins University.-VNA

Source: http://en.vietnamplus.vn/