Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (Source: VNA) The Vietnamese official, who is on an official visit to the US from 20-21 April,made the suggestion at a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Advisorof the US National Security Council HerbertRaymond McMaster on April 20 in Washington DC.
He reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent foreignpolicy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisationof relations, and international integration.
Vietnam and the US boast great potential to strengthen cooperation, he said, suggestingthe two sides expand links in education, training, science-technology, security-defence,and humanity, and in overcoming the consequences of war.
Hestated that Vietnam is willing to work with the new US administration to reinforceand deepen the Comprehensive Partnership, based on respect for independence,sovereignty and political institutions of both nations, contributing to maintainingpeace, stability, cooperation and development in Asia Pacific and the world.
Forhis part, State Secretary Tillerson and Advisor McMaster highlighted the flourishingdevelopment of Vietnam-US ties in recent times, expressing their belief thatthe relationship will become stronger.
The new US administration attaches importance to and supports its ComprehensivePartnership with Vietnam, they stressed, adding that the two sides need toenhance exchange of all-level visits to foster cooperation.
Tillerson affirmed that his country would work with Vietnam to ensure that theAPEC 2017 will bring about practical results.
While comparing notes on regional and international issues, Tillerson andMcMaster underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security,safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea.
TheUS backs the settlement of disputes in the sea by peaceful measures based ondiplomatic and legal processes, in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea (DOC), they stressed.
At the meeting, Minh conveyed President Tran Dai Quang’s invitation to USPresident Donald Trump to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2017 and visit Vietnam.
Tillersonand McMaster affirmed President Trump will attend the event in Vietnam.
AdvisorMcMaster also conveyed President Donald Trump’s invitation to Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc to visit the US.
The same day, the Vietnamese official also met US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who affirmed the US supportsVietnam to continue receiving international developmentassistance loans from the World Bank in accordance with Vietnam’sdevelopment in the near future as well as cooperative activities within APEC .-VNA
VNA
