Vietnam says Trump, in phone call, hoped to promote ties

HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam’s government says U.S. President-elect Donald Trump told Vietnam’s prime minister in a telephone conversation that he hopes to promote relations with the Communist country.

“President-elect Donald Trump spoke highly of Vietnam’s recent achievements, the positive developments in bilateral relations and asserted his wish to co-operate with Vietnam to accelerate the relations,” the government said Thursday on its website.

In the conversation Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated Trump on his election victory and stressed the importance of maintaining friendship and co-operation with the United States, the government said.

It said the two leaders discussed ways to accelerate economic ties, trade and investment.

Vietnam is expected to lose out if Trump honours his vow to cancel the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The country is seen as one of the greatest beneficiaries of the agreement, which has already been signed but still needs to be ratified by the legislatures of its member nations.

Also Thursday, the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin arrived in Cam Ranh International Port for a routine technical stop, the U.S. Embassy said.

The port is part of Cam Ranh base, a U.S. air and naval base during the Vietnam War.

“The USS Mustin’s stop in Cam Ranh International Port is an example of the depth of our comprehensive partnership and the importance of strengthening our civilian and military ties,” U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius said.

Relations between the two former foes have improved steadily since their normalization of diplomatic ties in 1995.