WASHINGTON – Việt Nam and the United States have pledged to effectively implement bilateral agreements reached during US President Barack Obama’s May visit to Việt Nam in order to make their comprehensive partnership practical and effective.

The commitment was made at the eighth Việt Nam–US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue, which took place in the US capital on Wednesday. The meeting was co-chaired by Việt Nam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hà Kim Ngọc and US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs, Tina Kaidanow. Other attendees included officials from Việt Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Public Security and their US counterparts.

The two sides discussed measures to make development co-operation the focus of their ties, as well as various economic and trade issues, such as American recognition of Việt Nam as a market economy, accelerating the adoption of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and opening the US market for Vietnamese exports.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hà Kim Ngọc asked the US to intensify its help in searching for missing-in-action Vietnamese soldiers (MIA), demining, decontaminating dioxin-polluted areas and supporting war victims.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary Kaidanow said the US gives priority to co-operating with Việt Nam to mitigate the consequences of war and will continue its support in this area. She said there is more potential in other areas for bilateral co-operation, such as humanitarian aid, disaster relief and maritime security.

The hosts and guests shared their views on political and security situations in the region, including terrorism, human trafficking, cyber security, peacekeeping, drug trafficking and wild life trafficking.

The two sides also discussed peaceful measures, diplomatic and legal procedures in conformity with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to maintain peace and stability as well as to solve disputes in the East Sea (South China Sea). — VNS