Fifth Vietnam-US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue
The fifth annual Vietnam-US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue took place in Hanoi on June 20 to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern.
During the event, co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh and US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro, the two sides affirmed their shared interest in elevating their partnership as discussed during the fourth dialogue in Washington in June, 2011 and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship.
They agreed to promote the exchange of high-ranking delegations and boost bilateral cooperation in priority fields, such as trade, investment and economics, science-technology, education-training, coping with climate change and rising sea level.
They addressed measures to strengthen cooperation in multiple areas, including non-proliferation, counterterrorism, law enforcement and information sharing, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and other areas of defence cooperation.
Both sides pledged to maintain cooperation on legacy issues, such as POW-MIA accounting and humanitarian demining, and to continue addressing dioxin and Agent Orange issues.
The US and Vietnamese delegates emphasised the importance of increasing cooperation in regional organisations, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI).
They noted that the maintenance of peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea is in the common interests of the international community.
The two sides also shared the position that territorial disputes in the East Sea should be resolved by peaceful means without coercion or the use of force and that territorial and accompanying maritime claims should comply with international law, including as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.
The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and their interest in continued progress toward a Code of Conduct in the East Sea , thus contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region.
The sixth dialogue is scheduled to take place in Washington next year.-VNA
