The relationship between the US andVietnam is pretty new, since it has been normalized just 15 years ago,but it has developed quite rapidly, said Deputy Assistant Secretary ofState Scot A. Marciel.

In an interview granted toVietnam News Agency's Washington-based reporters on Dec.16, Marcielsaid that it “has evolved in a relationship in which we cooperate in avery wide range of issues".

"The US-Vietnam relations have expanded significantly over the years.We are working together in many areas: health, environment, andeconomic growth, and trade, as well as in regional issues, security,for example. Overall, I would say the relationship is quite good."

Regarding Vietnam's role in US foreign policy towards Southeast Asia,Marciel, who is also Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, said: "For us,Vietnam is an important country, it's large, it's dynamic, it hasachieved very rapid economic growth, which has created a largeopportunities for the business community. And next year, Vietnam willchair the ASEAN, which puts it in the role of tremendous responsibilitybecause ASEAN has a lot of works to do. It is going to take tremendousleadership. From Vietnam , to achieve the goal of ASEAN, we'll workwell with Vietnam bilaterally, and we look forward to working withVietnam as the chair of ASEAN."

Marciel thinks the prospect of US-Vietnam relationship is good, sayingthe two countries "have common interests, first in region, in seeingASEAN be successful, and seeing economic integration, in workingtogether to increase our trade and investment, working together more onsecurity issues, health, education and environment. So there is animmense opportunity to continue to improve the relationship, broad itand deepen it."

To further boost the US-Vietnam relations in the years to come, the USdiplomat assured that his country is going to work in support ofVietnam as ASEAN chair to promote the building of community inSoutheast Asia and the two countries "are going to work together oneconomic recovery, and promoting trade in the region, including atrans-Pacific partnership."

The prospects for the trans-Pacific Partnership are growing, he said,adding that "right now, it consists of four countries ( New Zealand ,Chile , Brunei and Singapore ) that have agreements. Other countries,including the US and Vietnam , have expressed their interest inparticipating. So I think there is a tremendous opportunity here tobegin to build a broader area of free trade between the West and theEast, and certainly Vietnam is an important player in that."

According to the US Deputy Assistant Secretary, there are some areas ofdifferences between the two countries, however, "it's important that wecontinue to talk about those areas," he assured VNA reporters.

Vietnam has over the last 10 or 15 years created a perception of beinga place that is moving ahead in terms of reform. So, it has created afavorable environment that has attracted a lot of US companies,affirmed the diplomat.

However, he deemed it necessary to have further reforms in Vietnam ,including important things like the rule of laws, ability to doresearch, sharing information, the use of internet which is veryimportant for companies./.