Trump sends letter to Vietnamese President proposing increased cooperation

US President Donald Trump has sent a letter to President Tran Dai Quang to discuss bilateral relations and is considering attending APEC.

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AP

President Tran Dai Quang yesterday mentioned the letter sent by the US President, about increasing cooperation between the two countries, when talking with US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius, VNA reported.

In a letter sent on February 23, President Trump affirmed his desire to promote cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of economics and trade, regional and international issues, and together with Vietnam and countries in the region, ensure peace and prosperity in Asia-Pacific on the basis of respect for international law.

The Vietnamese President asked Ambassador Osius to send his thanks to Mr. Trump, saying that Vietnamese leaders are ready to cooperate in maintaining the momentum of bilateral relations, promoting the Comprehensive Partnership on the basis of mutual benefit, respect for the political institutions, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country.

Ambassador Osius and the President of Vietnam yesterday met and discussed bilateral relations, including cooperation in organizing APEC 2017 and the 25th APEC Summit in Vietnam.

The US Ambassador also conveyed President Trump's thanks to President Tran Dai Quang, who congratulated him on his inauguration in mid-January. Mr. Osius said the US President is actively considering attending the 25th APEC Summit to be held in Vietnam later this year.

Faced with rapid, complex developments and potential risks of conflict in the region, President Tran Dai Quang emphasized that Vietnam welcomes the US to continue to strengthen cooperation with countries in the region in maintaining freedom of navigation and aviation, and supports the settlement of disputes through diplomatic measures and dialogue, based on international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as ASEAN mechanisms such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC), towards a Code of Conduct (COC).

According to VOV