Vietnam-US Foreign Ministers discuss measures to strengthen comprehensive partnership

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on measures to strengthen comprehensive partnership.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and the Vietnamese Government delegation arrived in Washington DC early this morning (March 31) (Vietnam time) to attend the 4th Nuclear Security Summit.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on measures to strengthen the comprehensive partnership and prepare for President Barack Obama's visit to Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh holds talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry

At the talks, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh appreciated the two sides' continued efforts to concretize areas of cooperation within the framework of the comprehensive partnership, thereby bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries, as well as peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that the Vietnamese leaders and people welcome President Obama's visit to Vietnam. In that spirit, the two sides need to actively increase exchanges to reach specific agreements during the visit.

Secretary of State John Kerry affirmed that President Obama is looking forward to his upcoming visit to Vietnam and wishes to promote cooperation to further deepen the comprehensive partnership between the two countries on strategic issues, especially economics, trade, investment, education, climate change, science and technology, etc. Secretary of State Kerry expressed his hope that the two sides will soon establish mechanisms to enhance people-to-people exchanges, including reaching an agreement on the Peace Corps teaching English in Vietnam.

Mr. Kerry also affirmed that the US will continue to support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of war, especially in detoxifying hotspots contaminated with dioxin. The US Secretary of State also suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation in maritime security, pledging that the US will increase support for Vietnam in improving its law enforcement capacity and coast guard force.

Secretary Kerry also shared the negative impacts of climate change that the Vietnamese people as well as people in the region are suffering and affirmed that the US will have more specific support measures in the coming time to help overcome drought and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam.

US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that the Obama administration especially appreciates the efforts of Vietnam and other countries to conclude negotiations on the TPP Agreement.

Secretary Kerry said that the Obama administration particularly appreciated the efforts of Vietnam and other countries to conclude the TPP negotiations, considering this a joint effort to create an increasingly favorable business environment for businesses of both countries, especially small and medium enterprises. Mr. Kerry affirmed that the Obama administration is committed to making efforts to pass the TPP in 2016. The US Secretary of State pledged to continue promoting issues of interest to Vietnam, especially the recognition of Vietnam's market status, increasing technical assistance to Vietnam in the implementation of the TPP, and soon creating conditions for Vietnamese representative agencies in the US to have stable headquarters under US law.

Secretary Kerry affirmed his support for efforts to ensure maritime security and safety, resolve disputes through legal processes and peaceful means, on the basis of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the DOC, demilitarize and refrain from reclamation of islands and reefs, and support the building of regional connectivity structures in which ASEAN plays a central role.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh received leaders of Boeing Corporation and ACDL Corporation. The Deputy Prime Minister pledged to continue facilitating foreign enterprises to invest and do business in Vietnam, and highly appreciated the cooperation of Boeing Corporation with Vietnamese aviation enterprises. The Deputy Prime Minister asked Boeing to continue providing technical support so that Vietnam can soon achieve Category 1 aviation safety standards (CAT1) to be able to establish direct flights to the US as well as support the development of aircraft component production in Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh highly appreciated the ACDL Group's investment project to build a resort complex in Ho Tram, which has contributed to improving the quality of high-quality tourism infrastructure in Vietnam. The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated the project's initial successes, including achieving high rankings in the world's leading tourism rankings. The Deputy Prime Minister encouraged ACDL Group to have other expansion projects and long-term investments in Vietnam.

Tomorrow morning (April 1) (Vietnam time), Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend President Obama's reception at the Nuclear Summit, before joining the senior leaders of the countries in the official discussion session one day later./.

According to VOV