On behalf of President Luong Cuong, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung today presented the Friendship Order to US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Friendship Order is a prestigious award from the Vietnamese state, granted to foreign individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to building, strengthening, and developing friendly cooperation between Vietnam and countries globally. This presentation of the Friendship Order to Ambassador Knapper acknowledges his important contributions throughout his term in Vietnam by the leadership and people of Vietnam.

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung presents the Friendship Order to US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper. *Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs*

During a reception following the award ceremony, Minister Le Hoai Trung commended the Ambassador's contributions to fostering increasingly deep and substantive Vietnam-US relations across various fields. He highlighted the elevation of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 9/2023. The Minister stated that Mr. Knapper's active role created momentum for bilateral relations.

The Minister emphasized that Vietnam values the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the US. He proposed that both sides continue to coordinate closely, effectively implementing the agendas agreed upon by the two countries' high-level leaders. This cooperation is based on mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, and national interests, for peace, cooperation, and development regionally and globally.

Ambassador Knapper expressed his pride in contributing to the robust development of relations between the two countries, especially the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This has enhanced political trust, expanded trade, and improved cooperation across many fields. The Ambassador reaffirmed that, regardless of his future position, he will always be a friend of Vietnam, continuing to support the development of Vietnam-US relations.

Mr. Knapper assumed his role as Ambassador to Vietnam in 1/2022. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Japan and Korea within the US Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. The Ambassador's term is set to conclude on 18/1.

Huyen Le