WASHINGTON – In Episode #34 of his podcast, Thomas Fraser talks with Ted Osius about diplomacy, the history of America’s reconciliation with Vietnam and business opportunities in Southeast Asia.  Osius is President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council and, previously, US Ambassador to Vietnam.  Osius is also the author of the excellent new book “Nothing Is Impossible: America’s Reconciliation with Vietnam.”

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In Part 1 of this episode, Osius discusses the remarkable transformation that has taken place in the US-Vietnam relationship.  Thirty years after a brutal war, the United States and Vietnam enjoy fundamentally improved political, diplomatic and trade relations.  Successful diplomacy is about investing in relationships and building trust, Osius says.

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In Part 2, Osius describes business opportunities in the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries and how the US-ASEAN Business Council works with US companies to help them succeed in Southeast Asia.  With a projected annual growth rate of more than 5.5% per year, ASEAN is forecast to become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030.

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“Nothing Is Impossible: America’s Reconciliation with Vietnam” is published by Rutgers University Press.

 

To learn more about the US-ASEAN Business Council, please click here.

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