people
Q: First, tell us a little about yourself
and walk us through your background.
A:
I took office in Houston about
eight months ago. I worked for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Viet-
nam for more than thirty years and
for most of my time served there I
was in charge of bilateral relations
between Vietnam and the South
Asian countries. I served in the As-
sociation of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Department in 1995. At
that time Vietnam first joined ASE-
AN. In 2000 I was posted in Sweden
for three years. I worked for the Asia-
Europe Partnership for five years.
During that time, in 2004, Vietnam
hosted the ASEAN Summit in Ha-
noi. In 2008, I moved to work at
the Embassy in Laos and in 2014 I
returned home and worked for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs where I
was in charge of the Communication Q: What are some past, present and
Technology Department.
future goals for Vietnam’s relationship
with the U.S.?
Q: What does a Consul in your ca-
pacity do? Tell us about the Consulate A: Vietnam attaches great impor-
General of Vietnam in Houston. What tance to its relations with the U.S.
parts of America are covered by the and wants to further increase this
Consulate and what are the services multi-faceted relationship, deepen-
it provides?
A: Our Consulate General enhances
relations with the U.S. in fields such
as political, economic, cultural rela-
tions, promoting people-to-people
exchange, and safeguarding Vietnam’s
interests in the U.S. and the interests
of the Vietnamese people who stay
in Texas specifically. We also provide
consular services to American and
Vietnamese people. We encourage
and facilitate organizations on both
sides to do business in each country
and we promote bilateral trade be-
tween Vietnam and Texas.
34 iF Magazine | March 2018
50
ing the Comprehensive Partnership
between the two countries for their
long-term sake as well as promot-
ing peace, stability and development
in the region and the world. I am
pleased to witness substantial and
constructive development in the re-
lationship between the two coun-
tries on the three prongs i.e. bilat-
eral, regional and international arena.
Vietnam is working with the U.S. to
enhance the Comprehensive Part-
nership to a higher level on the ba-
sis of mutual respect for each other’s
independence, sovereignty, territorial
integrity and respective political sys-
tems.
Main milestones in Vietnam’s rela-
tionship with the U.S. include the
following: In February 1994, former
President Bill Clinton’s declaration
on lifting the embargo against Viet-
nam was followed by the signing of
an agreement to set up Liaison Of-
fices in each country in January