Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan was a consummate and prominent diplomat, former Vice President and Counsel of the US-Vietnam Trade Council Frances Zwenig has said about the Vietnamese official who passed away on June 21.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan made great contributions to Vietnam's innovation and development over the past decades. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

The US expert told the Vietnam News Agency that the outstanding diplomat had made significant contributions to Vietnam, especially during the period when the US and Vietnam worked together to improve and switch their bilateral relationship “from one of wariness to one of trust.”

“When there were problems and complaints, Minister Vu Khoan, more than most, understood that is where we needed and wanted to go to resolve the problems,” she said.
“Minister Vu Khoan was a person with diplomatic stature and gravitas. He ranked among the best on the world in his times. I was honored to know and work with him. Minister Vu Khoan had vision and he could see around the corner— incredible gift given the complexities of today’s world.”

First Vice Chairman of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association Piotr Tsvetov, who used to work with Vu Khoan for many years, said Khoan grasped the direction of bilateral ties and confidently and effectively handled issues emerging.

A reporter talks with Mr. Piotr Tsvetov, First Vice Chairman of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association and associate professor of international relations at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry. (Photo: VNA)

He held that Vietnamese leaders were right when assigning Khoan with the task of promoting Vietnam’s integration into the world.

With his diplomatic capacity, Khoan helped Vietnam establish its stature, enter the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and then sign a bilateral trade agreement with the US, which were events creating favorable conditions for Vietnam to develop, according to Tsvetov.