The Prime Minister receives the US Senator.

On the morning of May 28, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Senator Benjamin Cardin, Chairman of the East Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who was on a working visit to Vietnam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Senator Benjamin Cardin.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stated that Senator Benjamin Cardin's working visit to Vietnam was a positive contribution to further deepening, strengthening, and enhancing the effectiveness of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed that Vietnam values ​​and wishes to continue working with the United States to further develop and deepen cooperation between the two countries in various fields, for the practical benefit and common development of both Vietnam and the United States. The Prime Minister also affirmed Vietnam's readiness to discuss and frankly exchange views with the United States on areas of cooperation as well as issues of mutual interest.

Vietnam has participated in and made every effort in the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). However, as one of the less developed countries, a poor nation with unique characteristics, Vietnam hopes that the United States will show the necessary flexibility and appropriateness during the negotiation process, thereby contributing to the successful conclusion of the TPP negotiations.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked the United States for speaking out against China's illegal actions in deploying and placing the Haiyang 981 oil rig illegally in Vietnam's Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf. This action seriously violated international law and threatened peace, security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The Prime Minister hoped that the United States would continue to speak out even more strongly to condemn China's blatant disregard for international law.

In addition, the Prime Minister requested the United States to cooperate and provide more support to Vietnam in addressing the consequences of landmines after the war and the effects of Agent Orange, while affirming that Vietnam is always ready to cooperate with the United States in the field of environmental protection.

Informing the Prime Minister of the main results of his talks with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, Senator Benjamin Cardin stated that the United States wishes to further promote multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam for the common development of both countries; expressing confidence that Vietnam and the United States, along with other countries participating in the negotiations, will soon successfully conclude the TPP negotiations, thereby creating opportunities for countries to open their markets and innovate their economic development models, promoting economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

Senator Benjamin Cardin affirmed that the United States will continue to cooperate closely with Vietnam in addressing the consequences of Agent Orange, mitigating the effects of unexploded ordnance after the war, protecting the ecological environment, responding to climate change and rising sea levels, etc., and expressed his hope that the two sides will closely coordinate, discuss, and exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

Referring to the serious and complex developments in the South China Sea when China brazenly deployed the Haiyang 981 deep-sea drilling rig along with numerous armed vessels, military ships, and escort aircraft into Vietnamese waters and placed the rig within Vietnam's continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, Senator Benjamin Cardin expressed his indignation and deep concern over China's provocative actions; stating that China's actions constitute a particularly serious violation of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); destabilizing the situation and directly threatening peace, stability, security, and maritime safety in the South China Sea; and proposing that disputes be resolved peacefully, based on respect for international law.

Reaffirming that China's actions are provocative, Senator Benjamin Cardin also stated that, at the end of his visit to Vietnam, he will travel to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Forum and will raise the issue of the Haiyang 981 oil rig and other complex developments in the South China Sea at this important forum.

According to chinhphu.vn