Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh has held talks with US Secretary of State MichaelPompeo, who said the US hopes a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam willplay an increasingly important role in the region.

At the talks in Hanoi on July 9, Deputy PM Minhhighlighted the importance of Pompeo’s official visit, from July 8 to 9, to thetwo countries’ relations, noting that Vietnam attaches importance to and hopesthat the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership will continue to develop in a stableand result-oriented manner.

State Secretary Pompeo expressed his delight athis first trip to the Southeast Asian nation, adding that the US treasures thefriendship and all-round cooperation with Vietnam.

The two sides noted with satisfaction thesubstantive strides in bilateral relations and agreed to further enhance theVietnam-US comprehensive partnership in the interests of the two peoples andfor peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

They agreed to increase mutual visits,especially those at high levels, and continue to consider trade and investmentties as a driving force for bilateral ties. They will also actively carry outdefence agreements and bolster education-training connections andpeople-to-people exchange.

The officials applauded the successfulimplementation of the project on environmental remediation of dioxincontamination at Da Nang airport. State Secretary Pompeo said the US will sooncarry out a similar project at Bien Hoa airport and will further assist Vietnamto address war consequences.

At the talks, the two sides also exchanged viewson regional and world issues of shared concern, including the East Seasituation. They voiced concern about the recent complicated happenings in theEast Sea, reaffirming the support for peaceful settlement of disputes on thebasis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea, full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the East Sea, and efforts to finalise an effective and legallybinding Code of Conduct in the waters.

Deputy PM Minh and State Secretary Pompeo agreedto increase coordination at regional and international forums. They shared theview on the need to maintain ASEAN’s central role in resolving regional issuesand promoting the steady and effective expansion of the ASEAN-US strategicpartnership, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and developmentin the region and the world.

The host official highly valued relevantparties’ efforts to step up the peace and denuclearisation process in theKorean Peninsula. He affirmed that Vietnam supports all constructive effortsand dialogue towards the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. 

Vietnam will continue to be an active andresponsible member of the international community in this process, headded.-VNA