HÀ NỘI — Deputy Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn held talks with visiting US Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

During the talks, Thanh Sơn welcomed the positive and substantive development of Việt Nam-US ties, highlighting important milestones such as the visit by US President Donald Trump for the second US-DPRK Summit in Hà Nội in February this year.

The Deputy FM spoke highly of the progress in bilateral economic and trade ties, with the US being Việt Nam’s largest export market and Việt Nam emerging as one of the fastest-growing importers of the US, with an annual growth of nearly 20 per cent.

He lauded the active implementation of the action plan towards a harmonious and sustainable trade balance, as well as new developments in bilateral collaboration in education-training, post-war recovery, national defence-security, and regional and global issues of shared concern.

Thanh Sơn proposed the two countries bolster their cooperation next year when they mark the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and suggested they maintain visits, especially those at high level, promote economic-trade-investment ties as the driving force for bilateral ties, as well as collaboration in post-war recovery, science-technology, education-training, and national defence-security.

Stilwell reaffirmed that the US treasures its comprehensive partnership with Việt Nam and commits to supporting a strong, independent and prosperous Việt Nam that plays an increasingly important role in the region.

He wished to continue partnering with Việt Nam to promote the practical and substantive development of bilateral ties in the near future, especially on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The guest agreed to prioritise economic-trade-investment ties as a focus and driving force of the bilateral comprehensive partnership, and effectively realise signed economic-trade deals.

He pledged to help Việt Nam overcome war consequences, including the dioxin clean-up project at Biên Hoà airport, adding that he hoped the two sides will soon reach a consensus on the Peace Corps programme so that it can be launched soon in Việt Nam.

On regional and global issues, he affirmed the US’ policy of maintaining security, safety, maritime and aviation freedom, and unobstructed trade in the South China Sea (known in Việt Nam as the East Sea).

The US supports the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, with full respect for diplomatic and legal process as well as full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, towards the early signing of an effective and practical Code of Conduct in the East Sea, he said.

The US wants to step up collaboration within the framework of the Lower Mekong Initiative, increase coordination with Viet Nam at regional and global forums, especially when Việt Nam serves as Chair of ASEAN and a non-permanent member on the United Nations Security Council.

Following the talks, host and guest attended a ceremony to announce the logo of the 25th anniversary of Việt Nam-US diplomatic ties, the first in a series of events celebrating the occasion.

At the event, the US embassy in Việt Nam screened a video clip featuring US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s message marking the anniversary.

Defence ties

The same day, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyễn Chí Vịnh hosted a reception for the visiting US diplomat.

Vịnh laid stress on the fruitful defence cooperation between the two countries over the past decade, particularly in the fields of exchange of delegations at all levels, war consequence settlement, training, experience sharing in UN peacekeeping activities, and marine security, among others.

He said both sides should bolster the collaborative ties especially when Việt Nam is acting as ASEAN Chair in 2020.

Priority should be given to delegation exchange, organisation of consultative dialogues, search and rescue activities, humanitarian aid, marine security, military medicine, and so on, he highlighted.

The US diplomat expressed his hope that Việt Nam and the US will enhance cooperative ties, contributing to concretising all signed agreements as well as boosting bilateral defence ties. — VNS

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyễn Chí Vịnh had talks with US Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell. — Photo from the People's Army Newspaper