NEW YORK — Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed on the need for Việt Nam and the United States to strengthen ties.
The consensus on increasing delegation exchanges and dialogues to boost their bilateral relationship was reached during their meeting in New York yesterday on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. 
The two sides discussed how to translate into action the agreements reached during US President Barack Obama’s visit to Việt Nam in May 2016.

They also agreed to work together to manage differences between the two countries, for the sake of their people and for peace and development. 
Blinken suggested Việt Nam and the United States utilise the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, to which they are both signatories, to enhance their collaboration in trade-investment, science-technology, climate change response, national security and defence. 
The two officials talked about regional politics and security, including traditional and non-traditional security challenges. 
Further, they discussed the settlement of disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures while respecting international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to maintain peace, stability, security and maritime and aviation freedom in the area. 
The same day, Deputy PM Minh held a roundtable talk with more than 25 large US business houses, including large investors in Việt Nam such as Intel, Metlife, Cargill and Coca Cola. 
He attributed the thriving relationship between Việt Nam and the United States to contributions from the businesses. 
Viet Nam has signed free trade agreements, including the TPP, he said, calling on US enterprises to maximise opportunities afforded by the pacts to step up their investments in the Southeast Asian nation. 
The Vietnamese government will continue to improve the local investment climate to help foreign firms operate in the country, the official pledged. 
A number of the US businesses said they are interested in manufacturing, services and finance-banking in Việt Nam. — VNS