Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh (R) yesterday met former US Secretary of State John Kerry who is on a two-day working visit to Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Khang

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh yesterday met former US Secretary of State John Kerry who is on a two-day working visit to Việt Nam. 

Minh spoke highly of Kerry’s efforts and contributions to Việt Nam-US relations over the past decades in his capacity as both Secretary of State and Senator, as well as his continued special attention to Việt Nam.

The Deputy PM welcomed the connection between Fulbright University Việt Nam’s training programmes with high-demand sectors such as engineering, aerospace and cyber security as well as proposals to minimise climate change impacts on the country. 

Minh suggested Kerry continue supporting Việt Nam-US cooperative ties, especially in economy, trade, investment, education, science-technology, overcoming the aftermath of war and the response to climate change. 

For his part, Kerry said he will continue exerting efforts for the development of Việt Nam-US ties, especially in areas benefiting the Vietnamese people. 

He thanked the foreign ministry of Việt Nam for supporting the establishment of the Fulbright University Việt Nam, expressing his belief that the university will contribute to the country’s development and deepening the Việt Nam-US relationship in the future. 

Kerry underlined the significance of green and renewable energy development to sustainable socio-economic development in each country, affirming that he is willing to support Việt Nam in the field.

Post-war assistance

Meeting with Kerry on the same day, President Trần Đại Quang has called on the former Secretary of State to continue backing Việt Nam-US relations.

Mentioning the Trump administration’s commitment to assisting Việt Nam in overcoming the aftermath of war, Quang said Việt Nam will continue helping the US search for servicepersons missing in action and suggested Kerry supports Việt Nam’s concerns, especially speeding up the detoxification of Biên Hòa airport, mine clearance, looking for missing Vietnamese soldiers and aiding war victims. 

While acknowledging Kerry’s proposal on sustainable energy development in Việt Nam, Quang expected that, with its strength in clean and renewable energy, the US will continue co-operating and assisting Việt Nam in the field. 

For his part, Kerry said Việt Nam’s policies are on the right track and expressed his expectation that the two countries will co-operate more closely in all sectors. 

Kerry told his host that over the past 30 years, he has spared no effort to enhance Việt Nam-US relations, and found that Việt Nam became a typical economic model with high competitiveness. 

Meetings between the two countries’ senior leaders will contribute to promoting the bilateral relationship in the future, he added. — VNS