HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh held talks with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, who said the US hoped a strong, independent and prosperous Việt Nam would play an increasingly important role in the region.

At the talks in Hà Nội today, Minh highlighted the importance of Pompeo’s official visit, from July 8 to 9, to the two countries’ relations. He noted that Việt Nam hoped that the Việt Nam-US comprehensive partnership would continue to develop in a stable and result-oriented manner. 

Pompeo expressed his delight at his first trip to the Southeast Asian nation, adding that the US treasures the friendship and all-round cooperation with Việt Nam. 

The two sides noted with satisfaction the substantive strides in bilateral relations and agreed to further enhance the Việt Nam-US comprehensive partnership in the interests of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 

They agreed to increase mutual visits, especially those at high levels, and continue to consider trade and investment ties as a driving force for the bilateral relationship. They will also actively carry out defence agreements and bolster education-training connections and people-to-people exchange. 

The officials applauded the successful implementation of the project on environmental remediation of dioxin contamination at Đà Nẵng airport. Pompeo said the US would soon carry out a similar project at Biên Hòa airport and would further assist Việt Nam to address war consequences.

At the talks, the two sides also exchanged views on regional and world issues of shared concern, including the East Sea situation. They voiced concern about the recent complicated happenings in the East Sea, reaffirming support for peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and efforts to finalise an effective and legally binding Code of Conduct for the waters. 

Minh and Pompeo agreed to increase co-ordination at regional and international forums. They shared a view of the need to maintain ASEAN’s central role in resolving regional issues and promoting the steady and effective expansion of the ASEAN-US strategic partnership, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 

The host official highly valued relevant parties’ efforts to step up the peace and denuclearisation process in the Korean Peninsula. He affirmed Việt Nam’s support for all constructive efforts and dialogue towards the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. 

Việt Nam would continue to be an active and responsible member of the international community in this process, he added. — VNS