Its ASEAN chairmanship and good relations with neighbouring countries show Vietnam’s increasing role in the region.

That’s why Vietnam is placed in the centre of US policies on Southeast Asia, Cronin said.

Present in Vietnam during the wartime, Cronin expressed his delight at the fine development of Vietnam-US relations over the years and insisted that the two countries further cooperate in the areas of common interest.

Cronin, who is also an expert on the Mekong river issues, said the US is willing to share with Vietnam and other countries in the basin its lessons from building damps.