VietNamNet Bridge – President Truong Tan Sang’s newly-concluded visit to the US has formed a new framework for the development of Vietnam-US relations in the new period, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh told the press following the visit.

President Truong Tan Sang and his US counterpart Barack Obama. (Source: VNA)

The FM said President Sang’s trip is an important step in implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, diversification of relations, and proactive international integration as set out by the 11th National Party Congress, with the aim of elevating the country’s position, and deepening relations with important partners, including the US.

Furthermore, this is the first high-level visit between Vietnam and the US over the past five years. The visit aims to form a new framework for bilateral relations in the new period, boosting the relations both on scale and in depth, particularly in fields of the two countries’ shared interest and of Vietnam’s priority, including economics, trade, science-technology, education and training, and addressing post-war consequences.

In addition, the visit demonstrated Vietnam’s goodwill and readiness to discuss in a straightforward, open and constructive manner issues in which Vietnam and the US still hold different viewpoints, including human rights issues, thus enhancing mutual understanding and narrowing differences between the two countries while affirming the Vietnamese Party and State’s sound guidelines and policies in ensuring and respecting human rights.

FM Minh noted that President Truong Tan Sang and his entourage had a very busy schedule during the visit with nearly 20 meetings with US government officials, congressmen and others, just within the course of nearly three days.

Within the framework of the visit, governmental officials accompanying the President also held many working sessions with US partners to discuss concrete measures to boost cooperation in such areas as economics, trade, investment, education and training, and national defence.

After reviewing the specific outcomes of the visit in the fields of politics, economics and people-to-people diplomacy, the FM shared his viewpoints on prospects for the Vietnam-US relations in the coming time.

He said Vietnam will continue considering the US as a leading partner and the US also gives an important place to Vietnam in its regional policy.

The FM stressed that the framework for the two countries’ relationship in the new period formed during the visit based on fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter, with goodwill, mutual understanding and respect, will create favourable conditions for them to further their relations, making contributions to peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Accordingly, Vietnam-US relations are expected to maintain its development momentum with new progress, the cooperation contents in each area will be more in-depth and more result-oriented.

On the plane of politics, the two countries will increase the exchange of delegations at different levels while existing mechanisms will be consolidated and possibly upgraded or new ones will be formed, FM Minh said.

He also affirmed that apart from the bilateral ties, President Sang’s visit has contributed to further enhancing the coordination between Vietnam and the US within the framework of ASEAN.

In terms of economics, the two countries will step up cooperation in various fields, including trade, scientific and technological investment, particularly hi-tech areas, in order to build a knowledge-based economy.

The FM urged ministries and branches to make sure agreements reached by the two countries are well implemented, to serve the country’s socio-economic development.

Source: Vietnam Plus