Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc. (Photo: VNA)Both expressed their delight at the progress in theVietnam-US relationship after 25 years of establishment of bilateral diplomaticrelations and their hope to soon exchange high-level and parliament delegationsafter the COVID-19 is put under control.
Ngoc thanked the US for supporting Vietnam and ASEAN inresponding to the pandemic and speeding up economic recovery, while proposingthe US further accelerate support for Southeast Asian countries to access theCOVID-19 vaccines, and cooperate with Vietnam on technology transfer and vaccineproduction licensing.
Castro, who is also Chair of the House Foreign AffairsCommittee’s Subcommittee on International Development, International Organisations,and Global Corporate Social Impact, affirmed that he will discuss with authoritiesabout Ngoc’s proposal regarding the two countries’ maintenance of dialoguesin a constructive manner to resolve the differences. He also shared concernsover increasing violence and discrimination against Asian Americans, andpledged to work to ensure security, safety and the right to access to health,education and social security services for the Vietnamese community in the US.
The Vietnamese diplomat highly valued Castro and CongressmanAnn Wagner of Missouri’s introduction of the Southeast Asian Strategy Act. Heasked Castro to support the promotion of the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership,including the US’s presence at the ASEAN-US Summit and the East Asia Summit(EAS).
Castro affirmed his efforts to, together with other MPs, hasten the government to increase active and constructive engagement in theregion and canvass the House of Representatives and Senate to pass the Southeast Asian StrategyAct.
They took the occasion to exchange views on several regionalissues. Ngoc suggested that the US government and parliament pay more attentionto implementing the Mekong - US partnership. He appreciated the US stance onupholding the basic principles to ensure the rules-based maritime order and supportingVietnam's legitimate interests in the East Sea. Regarding the recent complicateddevelopments in the sea, especially in the Ba Dau and Sinh Ton Dong areas, Castroaffirmed that the US strongly supports the respect of sovereignty of regionalcountries, including Vietnam./.
VNA
