Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung receives US Secretary of Defense

On June 4, US Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during his visit to Vietnam from June 3-4.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received US Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta. (Photo: chinhphu.vn)

Minister Panetta emphasized that the US Government attaches importance to the relationship with Vietnam in the overall US Asia-Pacific policy, and hopes that the relationship between the two countries will continue to develop further in the coming time in many fields, especially in the fields of security and defense. Minister Panetta expressed satisfaction with the Vietnam-US defense cooperation in recent times, and hoped that the two countries would continue to actively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation signed by the two Defense Ministries in 2011. Minister Panetta affirmed that with the existing foundations, the US Government hopes that the two sides can soon elevate the relationship to a higher level of cooperation, for the benefit of the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highly appreciated the positive steps in the Vietnam-US relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that Vietnam always considers the US a leading partner of great importance and hopes that the US, as an Asia-Pacific power, will actively contribute to maintaining peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed that Vietnam wishes to work with the US to strongly promote the relationship between the two countries, especially in the fields of economics, trade, investment, science, technology, education, training and responding to global and regional issues such as counter-terrorism, transnational crime, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, maritime safety and security, response to climate change and other fields for the legitimate interests of the people of the two countries, on the basis of respect for each other's independence and sovereignty.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that both sides need to make more efforts in building trust and enhancing the cooperative relationship between the two countries. To achieve this goal, the US Government needs to soon completely lift the ban on arms sales to Vietnam and make more active contributions to resolving the consequences of war.

Secretary Panetta welcomed the comments of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and thanked the Prime Minister and Vietnamese ministries and branches for creating favorable conditions for the delegation to make the visit a success.

According to VGP News - H