Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Vietnam and the United States need to strive more in trust-building process and elevation of bilateral co-operative ties, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told the US Defence Secretary Leon Edward Panetta in Hanoi on May 4. 

 

Dung said to the aim, the US Government should totally lift the ban on selling weapons to Vietnam , and work better in resolving war consequences. 

 

He also appreciated positive development in the Vietnam-US ties since the two countries normalised diplomatic relations in 1995. 

 

Dung said that Vietnam always reckons the US as a leading partner of great importance, and hopes the US - as an Asia Pacific power - will actively contribute to maintaining peace, security, stability, co-operation and development in the region. 

 

Dung also said Vietnam wants, together with the US, to elevate bilateral ties, particularly in terms of economics, trade, investment, science, technology, education and training. 

 

The country also expects to boost co-operation with the US in regional and global concerns, including anti-terrorism, trans-national crimes, non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons and the fight against climate change. 

 

In return, Panetta said the US Government attachs importance in boosting ties with Vietnam under its Asia-Pacific policy. 

 

He also expressed his wish to expand co-operation between the two countries on various aspects, especially in security and defence. 

 

Panetta, who ended his two-day visit to Vietnam on May 4, said he hopes the two nations will continue to actively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on defence co-operation signed by the two defence ministries last year. 

 

The US Government also wants the two sides to elevate the bilateral ties for the mutual benefit, he said. 

 

Also June 4, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with Panetta. The two sides discussed matters of mutual and regional concerns. 

 

The guest introduced the US new defence strategies, with a focus on enhancing co-operation with Asia Pacific and Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam . 

 

The two sides also affirmed to broaden co-operation on matters such as safety and security in the East Sea and water conservation and sustainable development of the Mekong River-VNA