Visiting Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told his Vietnamese counterpart General Phung Quang Thanh during talks in Hanoi on June 4.

He said the US and Vietnam should continue to develop bilateral relations in various areas, especially in defence and security cooperation.

Panetta said his visit aims to build up mutual trust and understanding between the two states and armies on the basis of full respect for each other’s independence, self-reliance, and sovereignty. He vowed to try his best to promote this relationship.

He thanked Vietnam for supporting the US in searching for American personnel missing in action (MIA) during the Vietnam War, and asked the country to speed up the work.

For his part, General Thanh stressed that Vietnam attaches importance to the friendship and cooperative relations with the US.

“The US is one of Vietnam’s key partners, primarily in economics and trade,” said Thanh.

He acknowledged progress made in the MIA issue and pledged to assist the US in this humanitarian work.

Both host and guest agreed to realize a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation signed late last year, under which Vietnam and the US will establish regular high-ranking dialogue mechanisms for maritime security, search and rescue operations, UN peacekeeping activities, and humanitarian and disaster relief.

They will also enhance ties for English training, military medical services, bomb clearance, and the detoxification of areas contaminated with Agent Orange, as well as searching for US and Vietnamese war remains and other issues of mutual concern.

Thanh and Panetta stressed that US-Vietnam defence cooperation will not damage the security of neighbouring nations.

They agreed that in-depth cooperation between the two defence ministries will improve international and bilateral relations, and contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

Panetta invited Thanh to visit the US to deepen bilateral ties on national defence.

Both sides later informed the media about the results of their talks.