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Vietnam and the
United States had advanced ties to a new level under the Obama
administration amid a dispute with China over South China Sea
issues, while Trump has also expressed his hope for a stronger
relationship.
Trump sent a letter to Quang "affirming his wishes to promote
cooperation on economics, trade, regional and international
issues", the Vietnamese government website said.
Quang made the remarks during a meeting with the U.S. ambassador
to Vietnam on Friday.
Quang emphasized that Vietnam welcomes U.S. efforts to improve
cooperation with countries in the region to maintain the freedom
of navigation and aviation.
U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius was reported as saying that Trump is
considering attending the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam this year.
Vietnam had been expected to be one of the biggest beneficiaries
of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal which
Trump pulled the U.S. out of in January, but Hanoi has also been
building links with the United States amid a maritime dispute
with China.
China claims most of the South China Sea, while Taiwan,
Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei claim parts of the
sea that commands strategic sea lanes and has rich fishing
grounds along with oil and gas deposits.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said last month he was ready to
visit the United States to promote ties, particularly trade.
(Reporting by My Pham; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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