Party and State leaders host US Secretary of Defence
VOV.VN -Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran Dai Quang hosted separate receptions for US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Hanoi on January 25.
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Meeting with the Vietnamese Party chief, Secretary Mattis informed of practical and efficient cooperative areas between the two countries, especially in UN peace keeping operations, military medicine training, East Sea security and law enforcement. He said the US respects and wishes to step up wide-ranging cooperation in multiple areas with Vietnam.
Mattis glowingly spoke of Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements as well as the country’s increasing regional and international position and role.
Trong appreciated the outcomes of Mattis’s talks with Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich, and showed his satisfaction with positive development in the two countries’ all-around cooperation.
Party leader Trong reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of respecting the development of bilateral ties with the US for mutual long term benefit and peace, stability and development. He called for more cooperation in overcoming war aftermaths and deepening mutual trust to develop a bilateral comprehensive partnership.
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At the meeting with the US defense leader, President Quang said Vietnam respects the comprehensive partnership with the US, considering it one of top partners and wishes to promote the relationship on the basis of mutual respect for each other’s independence, national sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions.
He welcomed the US commitment to long-term cooperation for regional peace, stability, cooperation and development and pledged Vietnam’s full and effective support for the US in searching for US servicemen missing in action.
President Quang asked the US to work hand in hand with Vietnam in undertaking a dioxin decontamination project at Bien Hoa airport, to deliver the next Hamilton-class patrol vessel to Vietnam next year, and to support Vietnam in launching a level-2 field hospital to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in 2018.
He suggested the two sides continue consulting and coordinating closely with each other at multilateral forums, especially those chaired by the ASEAN.
The State leader called for joint implementation of a project on dioxin detoxification in Bien Hoa airport, continued transfer of Hamilton-class cutter to Vietnam in 2019, and joint organization of a US aircraft carrier visit in March.
In reply, Defense Secretary Mattis said the US respects its comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and strives to promote cooperation across areas, especially searching for information about Vietnamese soldiers missing in the war and support for dioxin detoxification in Bien Hoa airport.
The US places great importance on the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and will work with Vietnam in augmenting cooperation in all fields, Mattis said.
Concerning the growing defence cooperation between the two countries, he said that the US is working hard together with Vietnam to deal with war aftermaths such as dioxin decontamination and searching for missing US servicemen.
Regarding regional and international issues, Mattis affirmed that his nation will support Vietnam’s active role in the ASEAN as well as multilateral forums within the ASEAN framework.
The US will continue backing Vietnam and regional countries in observing the rights to freedom of navigation and aviation in line with international law for common prosperity, he added.