Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed a wish to develop the comprehensive partnership with the US on the basis of mutual benefits, for the sake of peace, stability and development in the region and the world during his reception in Hanoi on July 29 for visiting US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.
He welcomed the Defence Secretary's visit to Vietnam, saying that the visit will help promote bilateral defence ties as well as more substantial development of the relationship between the two countries.
The PM affirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, multilateralisation and diversification, and proactive and active international integration, as well as being a good friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community.
Vietnam wants to enhance cooperation in the US in the fields of trade-investment, climate change, science-technology, education and training, he said, stressing that there is still huge room for bilateral economic cooperation and suggested promoting partnership in fields of the US’s strength and Vietnam’s potential such as infrastructure, transportation, human resources and renewable energy.
Hailing the agreement recently reached between the US Department of Treasury and the State Bank of Vietnam, PM Chinh said the two sides should seriously implement the agreement in the time ahead.
On the occasion, the PM thanked the US for offering vaccine and medical equipment supplies to Vietnam via the COVAX Facility initiative and bilateral channels. He asked the US Government to continue providing vaccine for Vietnam at the earliest possible, facilitate the transfer of vaccine production technology to the country, and share experience with Vietnam in licensing vaccine.
PM Chinh highly valued the outcomes of talks between the Vietnamese Defence Minister and the US Secretary of Defence, as well as the joint work across the fields, especially in addressing war consequences, participating in UN peacekeeping activities, and improving the capacity of maritime security.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosts a reception for US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. (Photo: VNA)The Vietnamese Government leader suggested the two sides bolster cooperation in dealing with war consequences, including dioxin detoxification at Bien Hoa airport and other localities and humanitarian assistance to Vietnamese suffering from effects of Agent Orange/dioxin.
Vietnam will continue to fully and effectively cooperate in the search for remains of the US soldiers missing in action, he said, pledging to create favourable conditions for the two defence ministries and armies to enhance exchange, raise mutual understanding and trust and form mutually-beneficial partnerships based on their respective needs and capacity.
Austin, for his part, affirmed the US attaches importance to the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and supports a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam with an increasingly active role in ASEAN and the United Nations Security Council.
He affirmed that the US will continue assisting Vietnam in dealing with war aftermaths, including searching for remains of Vietnamese soldiers killed during the war, dioxin detoxification and mine clearance; improving maritime security capacity and joining UN peacekeeping activities.
The US will continue helping Vietnam and countries access vaccines early to drive back COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible.
Discussing regional and global issues of shared concern, both sides underscored the importance of ensuring peace, freedom, and security of maritime and overflight in the East Sea, settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world./.
