State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on July 3 sent messages of congratulations to US President George W. Bush on the occasion of the 232 nd Independence Day of the US (July 4).

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem extended congratulations to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

On the same day, a meeting was held in Ho Chi Minh City on July 3 to mark the 232nd Independence Day of the US (July 4).

President of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations Le Hung Quoc and US Consul General Kenneth Fairfax shared the view that the recent state-level commitments between the two countries match the speedy development of the direct contacts between their peoples

Vietnam always considers the US an important partner and wants to build an all–round co-operation, solidarity, and friendship with the US, affirmed Quoc.

"The Vietnamese and American people, be they politicians, social activists, entrepreneurs, students, or pupils, share the same vision of a long-term and sustainable co-operation for development between the two countries,” he said.

US Consul General Fairfax noted that the number of Vietnamese and US people visiting each other’s country, has increased rapidly, saying that it will contribute to building a brighter future for the US-Vietnam relationship.

He said he was happy about the strong increase in the number of Vietnamese students studying at US universities and colleges and the figure is expected to double that of last year to 9,000 this year.

Important results were also recorded in bilateral co-operation in social and humanitarian fields, the fight against terrorism and trans-national crimes as well as the fight against bird flu and HIV/AIDS, Fairfax said. (Nhan Dan, VNA)