US Vice President Kamala Harris and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh at the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asia Regional Office of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Prime Minister Minh told the ceremony that healthcare cooperation has always been a highlight in the relationship between the US and ASEAN. The opening of CDC's Office demonstrates the commitment and close cooperation of the US government to the region in efforts to control COVID-19 and other dangerous diseases. The Deputy Prime Minister said he believes that CDC's Southeast Asia Office will work closely with partners inside and outside the region to pursue the important goal of ensuring the best health care services for people.

Vice President Harris said the launch of the office is a testament to the US commitment to the roadmap for ASEAN. The US wishes to deepen cooperation in public health with ASEAN, towards the goal of assisting regional countries to respond to potential health threats, she said.

One of the priorities of the Southeast Asia Office is to coordinate COVID-19 prevention activities in the region, expand regional public health testing training, improve the health of mobile and migrant populations towards eradication of diseases such as measles, rabies and malaria, while supporting the US Government's foreign policy initiatives in the region.

Within the framework of the US Vice President’s visit, US Embassy's Charge d'affaires in Vietnam Christopher Klein and Director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Duy Cuong on Wednesday signed an agreement on the new location of the US Embassy in Hanoi. Vice President Harris and Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Chu Ngoc Anh witnessed the signing ceremony.

According to the agreement, the new headquarters of the US Embassy will span 3.2 ha of land in Cau Giay district, Hanoi, marking an important milestone in the diplomatic relationship between the US and Vietnam.