Mekong - U.S. Partnership
(VOV) -Vietnam and the U.S. are set to promote the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) at a seminar jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy and the U.S. Department of State in Washington on May 1.
In his speech, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Vinh highlighted LMI contributions to boosting the relations between the U.S. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and building the ASEAN Community by 2015.
The Vietnamese diplomat spoke highly of the role of the US government and businesses in the LMI.
Acting Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Yun emphasized that the LMI plays an important part in the U.S.’s re-set policy towards Asia.
He also praised the role of Vietnam in improving public health, education, and food and energy security.
In recent years, the US has carried out a number of projects on water resource exploration, irrigation construction, flood control, malaria prevention, and English language improvement with priority given to countries in the Lower Mekong sub-region, he said.
He added that the U.S. administration plans to allocate around US$50 million from its budget for the LMI within three years.
Source: The Voice of Vietnam
Source URL: http://english.vov.vn/Politics/US-Vietnam-cooperate-in-promoting-Lower-Mekong-Initiative/259885.vov
