Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, now ona working visit to the US and the United Nations, received US Secretary ofState Antony Blinken in Washington DC in May 13 morning (local time).

The PM congratulated the US for its timely response to theCOVID-19 pandemic and successfully bringing the life back to normal, andthanked the government and people for providing Vietnam with nearly 40 millionvaccine doses at a point of time when Vietnam was in difficulty.

On bilateral relations, the PM stressed they have a specialhistory. Going through upheavals, they have now achieved long and positiveprogress, in which the historical visit to the US 7 years ago by Party GeneralSecretary Nguyen Phu Trong laid a firm foundation and created a basis for theVietnam-US comprehensive partnership to develop intensively and extensively, inthe principle of respect to each other’s political institutions, independence,sovereignty and territorial integrity, for the sake of peace, cooperation anddevelopment in the region and the world over, bringing about practical benefitsto the two peoples.

PM Chinh affirmed the US is one of Vietnam’s partners of thetop importance, and spoke highly of the country’s policy of supporting Vietnampowerful, independent and prosperous. He welcomed positive achievements in thebilateral relations over the recent past, and asked the US to continue pushingthe activities of cooperation with and support to Vietnam in various fields.

Agreeing with Chinh’s opinions on the positive growth and potential of theVietnam – US relations, Blinken reiterated that the US supports Vietnam strong,independent and prosperous.  

He stated the US considers the issue of overcoming the war consequencesone of high priorities in its relations with Vietnam and will continue to workclosely with the Southeast Asian nation in this field.

Congratulating Vietnam on its achievements in the COVID-19 fight, the diplomat said he hopes Vietnam will continue toactively join the international efforts in controlling the disease.

He welcomed Vietnam's commitments at the 26th United NationsClimate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), affirming that the US will assist the country in implementing them.

The two also exchanged ideas on regional and internationalmatters of common interests, with the PM welcoming the organisationof the ASEAN-US Special Summit as contributing to strengthening the  comprehensiveand responsible cooperation between the two sides in particular and between theAsia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions in general.

They agreed to emphasise the importance of ensuring peace,freedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; and ofsettling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), helping maintaing peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region andthe world over./.