US president names new ambassador to Vietnam
US President George W. Bush announced Friday plans to nominate Michael W. Michalak as the new ambassador to Vietnam.
The incumbent, Michael Marine, wraps up his three year term this summer.
If the Senate ratifies his nomination Michalak will become the fourth ambassador to Vietnam since the two countries normalized diplomatic ties 12 years ago.
Michalak, who hails from Michigan, is a career diplomat and currently serves as US Senior Official to the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum at the Department of State.
Earlier he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US embassy in Tokyo.
He has served in the past as deputy director at the China Desk for Economics at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Michalak got his bachelor's degree from Oakland University and master's degrees from Catholic University and Harvard University.
He accompanied President Bush at the APEC leaders’ summit in Vietnam last December.
By Xuan Danh - Thanh Nien - May 25, 2007.
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