Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Senator John McCain, Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Armed Services, has said he will continue working to enhance US-Vietnam ties during a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh.

McCain said on December 2 that relations between the two countries have enjoyed progress, both bilaterally and multilaterally, giving momentum to the solidification of their comprehensive partnership.

It is necessary to capitalise on potential in economy, trade, investment, education, science-technology, energy, security-defence and people-to-people exchanges, he noted.

Regarding international and regional matters, McCain said more cooperation is needed to ensure peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea on the basis of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He lauded Vietnam’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 2017, pledging to help the country successfully organise this event.

Ambassador Vinh delivered congratulations from Vietnamese leaders and himself to McCain on being re-elected to the US Senate. He also spoke highly of McCain’s contributions to the countries’ relations in past years.

Vinh said he hopes the US Senator will continue supporting bilateral ties in various aspects, and in regional and international issues of shared concern, thereby fostering the practical, effective and sustainable development of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership for the two peoples’ interests and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

At the meeting, McCain thanked Vinh for his invitation to visit Vietnam and promised to make the trip as soon as possible./.