VN, US discuss politics, security, defence
HA NOI — Bilateral, regional and global issues were on agenda at the fifth annual Viet Nam-US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue in Ha Noi yesterday.
The event was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh and US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro.
The two sides affirmed their shared interest in elevating their partnership as discussed during the fourth dialogue in Washington in June last year and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship.
They agreed to promote the exchange of high-ranking delegations and boost bilateral co-operation in priority fields, such as trade, investment and economics, science and technology, education and training, and coping with climate change and rising sea levels.
They addressed measures to strengthen co-operation in multiple areas, including non-proliferation, counterterrorism, law enforcement and information sharing, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and other areas of defence co-operation.
Both sides pledged to maintain co-operation on legacy issues, such as POW-MIA accounting and humanitarian mine removal and to continue addressing dioxin and Agent Orange issues.
The US and Vietnamese delegates emphasised the importance of increasing co-operation in regional organisations, including the ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, the East Asia Summit and the Lower Mekong Initiative.
They noted the maintenance of peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea was in the common interests of the international community.
The two sides also shared the position that territorial disputes in the East Sea should be resolved by peaceful means without coercion or the use of force and that territorial and accompanying maritime claims should comply with international law, including as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.
The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and their interest in continued progress toward a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, thus contributing to peace, stability and development in the region.
The sixth dialogue is scheduled to take place in Washington next year. — VNS