Mr Chien made the remarks at a reception in Washington D.C on January 11 marking full normalisation of the relations between Vietnam and the US and Vietnam’s official admission to the World Trade Organisation.

“From now on, US businesses will be on equal footing on Vietnamese ground, and Vietnamese goods should no longer be treated differently and less favourably than those of other countries in the US market,” Mr Chien told more than 300 guests, including Congresspersons, government officials, military officers, businessmen and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the US.

"We will witness new forms of exchange and cooperation among artists, scientists, military personnel and civil organisations of the two countries," said Mr Chien.  

The ambassador also expressed his belief that bilateral cooperation in health, education, and social welfare and other humanitarian concern will be strengthened, while bilateral and multilateral relations will be intensified for the sake of global development.

US Congresspersons, government officials and businessmen hailed Vietnam's full WTO membership, saying that this important event, together with the recent approval of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Vietnam by President George W. Bush will take the two countries' relations to a new stage of development.

Vietnamese and US businesses will now have more opportunities for investment and development in a fair playing-field, they said.

The reception was held by the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and the US-Vietnam WTO Coalition.

Vietnam was granted official membership to the world's biggest trade body on January 11.