Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(VNA) US Senator Daniel Inouye has voiced his support for Vietnam’s proposal to promptly establish a Vietnam-US friendship parliamentarians’ group.

In his meeting with National Assembly Deputy Chairman Uong Chu Luu in Hanoi on April 28, Senator Inouye spoke highly of new development in bilateral ties, which he said could be expanded in all fields.

The US politician, who is also President Pro-tempore and Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the US Senate, took the occasion to praise Vietnam’s role in successfully holding the APEC Summit and the ASEAN Presidency in 2010.

NA Deputy Chairman Luu welcomed Senator Inouye’s visit, expressing the hope that the Senator would further promote the friendly relationship between the two countries, legislatures and peoples and the two nations would enhance the exchange of high-ranking and committee-level delegations.

He also proposed the US support Vietnam in bilateral economic and trade ties by facilitating business investment and cooperation, humanitarian cooperation in settling Agent Orange/ dioxin impacts and coping with climate change and sea level rise.

Senator Inouye thanked Vietnam and its army for their help in seeking US MIA (missing in action) and expressed the hope that Vietnam and the US would share experiences in educational models, humanitarian aid, overcoming the aftermath of AO/dioxin impacts and seeking US MIA soldiers in the war while meeting with Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh the same day.

General Thanh said he hoped that Senator Inouye would contribute to promoting the bilateral friendship and cooperation for mutual benefits.

The United States Congress would support the enhancement of Vietnam-US co-operation, said Senator Inouye at meetings with Politburo member and Government Office head Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh the same day.

The American politician said that the US expected to boost trade, investment and education relations with Vietnam.

Climate change, water resources and Agent Orange-related issues will
also be among the common interests of both sides during the Senator's
four-day visit to Vietnam, which started on April 27.

Phuc said the two countries had taken positive steps forward in their bilateral ties, particularly in the fields of trade, investment, education and humanity.

Deputy FM Minh said the US would continue to be one of Vietnam's leading strategic partners./.