Vietnamese Minister of Defence Ngô Xuân Lịch (right) held talks with the visiting US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien in Hà Nội on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Minister of Defence General Ngô Xuân Lịch and US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien shared the view that the defence ties between Việt Nam and the US have made positive contributions to the bilateral comprehensive partnership, during their meeting in Hà Nội on Saturday. 

The defence cooperation has developed in line with agreements reached by high-ranking leaders and defence ministries of the two countries, they said.

Vietnamese defence minister Lịch spoke highly of the significance of the US delegation’s visit that took place on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (1995-2020) as well as outcomes of collaboration in post-war consequence settlement. 

He highlighted the projects on dioxin remediation at Biên Hoà airbase in the southern province of Đồng Nai, provision of support to Vietnamese people with disabilities in the localities affected by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, bomb and mine consequence settlement and the search for US soldiers missing in action, along with the US’ assistance for Việt Nam in UN peacekeeping operations and improving the capacity of Vietnamese coast guards. 

For his part, O'Brien affirmed that the US attaches importance to the comprehensive partnership with Việt Nam, and backs a strong, independent and prosperous Việt Nam.

He expressed a hope that the country will play an increasingly important role in the region. 

The US will continue to consider cooperation in handling war consequences a focus and foundation of the bilateral defence ties, O'Brien stressed. 

On this occasion, the US official thanked Việt Nam for its support of the search for missing-in-action US servicemen, and pledged to push ahead with joint projects and activities in this regard.

The same day, O’Brien also had talks with Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm, during which the two stressed security cooperation between the two countries’ security agencies had still developed despite the complicated pandemic situation.

Tô Lâm said the ministry highly appreciated the achievements made in this regard and expressed the wish for the two sides to continue to foster this cooperation for the benefits of the two countries’ peoples, for peace, stability, development, and prosperity.

During the talks, the two officials noted the increasingly profound, multidimensional and effective cooperation in the security field had contributed to the deepening of ties between the US and Việt Nam. — VNS