Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh had phone talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday.

Congratulating Blinken on his appointment as US Secretary of State, Minh expressed his readiness to work closely with Blinken to promote the Viet Nam - US comprehensive partnership for the sake of the two peoples, contributing to peace, security, development, and prosperity in the Asia - Pacific region and the world.

Sharing the view that the two countries’ relations have enjoyed strides in all aspects over the last 25 years, the officials agreed to work together to develop bilateral ties more comprehensively and intensively, with focus on economy, trade, investment, settlement of war consequences, improvement of maritime capacity, science-technology, education-training, COVID-19 prevention and control, and climate change response.

The US Secretary of State offered congratulations on the success of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, adding his country sees relations with the Southeast Asian nation as important.

He also congratulated Viet Nam on its successful performance as 2020 ASEAN Chair and the first half of its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The US respects and supports ASEAN’s centrality in the region and wants stronger co-operation between the two sides in regional and international mechanisms on issues of common concern, Blinken added. VNS