Washington DC (VNA) – A delegation of the NationalAssembly (NA)’s Committee for National Defence and Security paid a workingvisit to the United States and the United Nations from July 26 to 30.

The delegation, led by Chairman of the committee Maj. Gen. LeTan Toi, held talks with Chairman Adam Smith and Ranking Member Mike Rogers ofthe US House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee.

The Vietnamese lawmakers also met with Congressman Joaquin Castro, Co-Chair of the CongressionalCaucus on ASEAN and member of the US House Permanent Select Committee onIntelligence; Senator Tammy Duckworth, member of the Senate Committee on ArmedServices; Senator Bill Hagerty, member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relationsand Committee on Appropriations; Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security JohnTien; Assistant Secretary of State Jessica Lewis; and Assistant Secretary ofDefence Ely Ratner.

The delegation had meetings with the assistants toPresident Pro Tempore of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee onAppropriations Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee JackReed, and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jim Inhofe.

Speaking at the events, Toi affirmed that Vietnam consistently viewsthe US as a leading partner and highly values the US’s support for anindependent and prosperous Vietnam.

Vietnam always wishes to develop the comprehensivepartnership with the US in an increasingly substantive, stable, and long-termmanner on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty,territorial integrity, and political regimes.

The US officials said the Southeast Asian nation is animportant partner of their country, and that the US parliament stronglysupports the two countries’ relations and hopes bilateral ties will record newstrides.

They pledged to continue supporting Vietnam’s economicdevelopment and enhance defence and security cooperation, with a focus onhelping Vietnam address war consequences, including environmental remediation ofdioxin contamination and unexploded ordnance clearance, assist the disabled,search for Vietnamese soldiers’ remains, and improve maritime capacity.

The US side also expressed their readiness to assist Vietnamin UN peacekeeping operations and other fields that suit both sides’ conditionsand demand.

The Vietnamese and US officials also discussed measures forfurther reinforcing parliamentary ties, shared information and experience inlegislative and supervisory activities and transnational crime fight, andexchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

At the meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General for OperationalSupport Atul Khare, Toi thanked his host and the UN for actively assistingVietnam to engage in UN peacekeeping operations and improve the country’sstature and capacity in the settlement of international affairs.

He called on the UN and the Under-Secretary-General tocontinue helping Vietnam contribute more to the UN’s noble goal of resolvingconflicts and maintaining peace and stability for all people around the world.

The official asked the UN to create conditions for Vietnam tofurther take part in peacekeeping operations, help with training for Vietnameseforces, and pay attention to compensation for Vietnam’s contributions andlosses when performing peacekeeping duties. He also suggested stronger trilateralcooperation and that the UN consider organising training courses for countries’peacekeeping forces in Vietnam.

For his part, Khare highly valued Vietnam’s active support,participation and contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, affirmingcontinued assistance for the country in training.

He also voiced his hope that Vietnam will share itsexperience in training peacekeeping personnel with other countries, especiallythose in its region./.