(VOVworld) – Many foreign diplomats consider Vietnam their second homeland and wish to stay here for a long time. Being not only a bridge further promoting cooperation between Vietnam and other countries, they have taken specific actions to accompany Vietnam’s development.

US ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius

"Hello, my name’s Ted Osius. Being appointed by President Obama to be new US ambassador to Vietnam has made my dream come true. In 1996, it was great honor for me to come to Vietnam to help the ambassador then to lay foundation for Vietnam-US relations. A prosperous, strong and independent Vietnam has been and will always be important companion to the US". 

In December 2014, a video to greet Vietnam by the new US ambassador prior to his office time in Vietnam posted on his website and the US embassy’s website attracted special attention from Vietnam’s internet community. The perfect Vietnamese pronunciation and impressive introduction left a good first impression of a diplomat who is friendly and has great knowledge about Vietnam.

Ambassador Osius said that he had a natural bond with Vietnam. He said it was after 20 years of serving as Political Officer at the US Consulate General and US embassy in Hanoi from 1997 to 2001, and taking part in the visiting US senior official delegation to Vietnam after normalization of bilateral relations that made Ted Osius better understand and love the country. Ambassador Osius has strongly supported Vietnam’s proposal to the US to lift a ban on the sale of lethal weapons to the country. Having only been in office for a short time, Ted Osius has taken part in a great number of diplomatic events. “I would like to see it as very ambitious when it comes to education cooperation including to establish a Fullbright university in Vietnam which is not only the best in Vietnam but also the best in the world”.

Another diplomat, French ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noel Poirier, is also someone who has good knowledge of Vietnamese culture, likes learning Vietnamese and considers Vietnam his second home. Ambassador Poirier shared his feeling on the occasion of Lunar New Year: “I had a special impression of Vietnam ever since I was young, through my family’s stories about the Southeast Asian region and Vietnam’s history. My grandmother was born in Da Nang, my grandfather had worked in the maritime sector and had traveled to Sai Gon many times. I had seen many objects my grandfather bought from Sai Gon which stirred my curiosity about Vietnam”.

French ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noel Poirier (Photo: vnexpress.net)

With his great interest in Asia, especially Vietnam and its history, Jean-Noel Poirier decided to learn Vietnamese and later was appointed to work at the Department for Asian affairs under France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His first visit to Vietnam in 1989 left a special impression on him when he met General Vo Nguyen Giap and the former Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Co Thach at the French embassy in Hanoi. 23 years later, Jean-Noel Poirier was appointed French ambassador to Vietnam.

After 2 years in office, ambassador Poirier has shuttled between France and Vietnam on various diplomatic trips for the two countries. The ambassador has spent much time and effort promoting cooperative projects, including renovating Long Bien bridge, organizing friendly football matches between the French and Vietnamese football teams and creating conditions for Vietnam to access French documents regarding the East Sea.

Having married a half-Vietnamese girl, Jean-Noel Poirier has become used to the Vietnamese lifestyle. Though this is not his first Lunar New Year in Vietnam, the Ambassador is still excited about the festival: “I have celebrated the Lunar New Year here for several times and realize that Tet is an important festival where you can discover a lot about Vietnamese culture. On this occasion, everyone shares the same feelings of family reunion. On the first morning of the Lunar New Year, no one goes out. I like that atmosphere, it is very special in Vietnamese culture”.

The ambassadors respect the history and culture of the Vietnamese people.

Through their knowledge and diplomatic activity, ambassadors serve as bridge connecting Vietnam with other countries in the world.