Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink in Hà Nội on June 21. VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI – Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn has affirmed that Việt Nam always considers the US a partner of strategic importance at a reception for visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink.

At the June 21 meeting, Sơn appreciated Kritenbrink’s contributions to the bilateral ties, and thanked the US Department of State for its part in advancing the relationship to the comprehensive strategic partnership and its close coordination in the organisation of the first Việt Nam-US dialogue at the foreign ministerial level in Washington DC in March.

"Việt Nam stands ready to work together with the US to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership in an effective, stable and practical manner, on the basis of respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions, and in accordance with the interests of the two countries' people, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region," the minister said.

He affirmed that Việt Nam backed the US to strengthen cooperation with the region to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Kritenbrink, who visited Việt Nam from June 21-22, reiterated the US’s commitment to supporting a strong, independent, self-resilient, and prosperous Việt Nam.

Recalling Sơn’s visit to the US for co-chairing the March dialogue, Kritenbrink regarded it as a step forward in concretising cooperation contents of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

The official commended Việt Nam’s increasingly important role in regional and multilateral forums, stressing the US attached importance to and supported the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s centrality in the regional architecture, and would pay more heed to enhancing the ASEAN-US comprehensive strategic partnership as well as the Mekong-US relations.

The two sides compared notes on specific measures to effectively implement the new cooperation framework in the time ahead, especially intensifying contacts and high-level delegation exchanges, and maintaining the pace of collaboration in economy, trade and investment, the settlement of war consequences, and climate change response.

They shared the view that the countries should strengthen cooperation in emerging fields like innovation, semiconductors, and clean energy transition.

The officials also exchanged opinions on regional and international issues of common concern, and emphasised the importance of handling disputes through peaceful measures in line with the basic principles of the UN Charter and international law, including the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

While in Việt Nam, Kritenbrink met Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hà Kim Ngọc to discuss issues within the Việt Nam-US comprehensive strategic partnership, and others of shared concern.VNA/VNS