Incoming United States Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink paid a visit to the University of Da Nang on Thursday as part of the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week.

Ambassador Kritenbrink, who arrived in Hanoi on Saturday last week for his new post, toured the Maker Innovation Space at the University of Da Nang on Thursday evening, accompanied by representatives of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and American businesses.

The space aims to provide students with a suitable area and fully equipped laboratory to test and launch new technology and innovative solutions for community development challenges.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink speaks at the forum. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The ambassador’s visit was part of the APEC Economic Leaders' Week being held in the city from November 6 to 11.

This year’s Vietnam-U.S. public-private partnership forum is themed “building the next generation of technological and engineering innovators.”

During the visit, Ambassador Kritenbrink shared his goal of fostering and expanding partnerships between universities from the two countries in the fields of science and technology development as well as innovative business.

A student introduces a project to the ambassador. Photo: Tuoi Tre

He expressed his delight at touring, for the first time, the Maker Innovation Space, a project sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Kritenbrink was introduced during the tour to various student-developed innovations at the center and spoke with several students about their aspirations and the difficulties they face in their work.

Representatives of several U.S. enterprises took advantage of the event to search for potential-rich inventions among the students’ designs on display.

Professor Tran Van Nam (second right), rector of Da Nang University, guides the ambassador through the university’s Maker Innovation Space. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Kritenbrink’s first major assignment as the U.S. ambassador for the 2017-2020 tenure was accompanying President Donald Trump during his trip to Vietnam for the APEC summit week and subsequent state visit to the Southeast Asian country.

President Trump arrived in Da Nang on Friday afternoon for the APEC summit.

His state visit will be conducted in Hanoi on November 11 and 12.

Representatives of U.S. enterprises hear presentations of student inventions. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The Economic Leaders’ Week is the culmination of Vietnam’s year-long hosting of a series of APEC meetings.

APEC is a forum of 21 Pacific Rim countries that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

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