NA Chairman Hue stressed that Vietnam wishes to develop a stable and long-term strategic partnership with the US in a substantive, trustworthy and extensive manner in the spirit of setting aside the past and looking toward the future, and respecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regime of each other.

He spoke highly of the US’s consistent message of supporting a strong, independent, and prosperous Vietnam.

The US Congress members hailed bilateral cooperation programmes and activities over the past years, especially in dealing with war aftermath, supporting people made disabled by war, and Agent Orange/dioxin remediation. They emphasised the importance of DNA analysis to support the search for the remains of US and Vietnamese soldiers missing in action, which is an important activity that will continue in the future.

They expressed wish to continue building a deeper and stronger relationship between the two peoples, and vowed to exert further efforts to upgrade bilateral ties in the coming time.

Speaking highly of Vietnam’s commitments at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP-26), the guests said the US wants to cooperate with Vietnam via specific actions, including in clean energy transition, adding that US firms want to access clean energy like solar and wind power and seek markets with high labour standards.

Both sides underlined the importance of building legal frameworks and suitable mechanisms to deliver on commitments at the COP-26.

The top Vietnamese legislator wished to further reinforce cooperation between the two legislatures in all areas and via all channels. He hoped both sides will set up a cooperation framework, consider building a mechanism for exchanges and official working sessions between their agencies, and strengthen ties among parliamentarians’ groups. He wished that the US Congress would soon set up the US-Vietnam Friendly Parliamentarians’ Group. 

On regional and global issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue, host and guest highlighted the need to maintain peace, stability, cooperation, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, refrain from using or threatening to use force in international relations, and abide by international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The US Congress members expressed their hope for the early signing of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) while reiterating the importance that the US attaches to the ASEAN and its support for ASEAN's central role. They also pledged to continue promoting ASEAN-US relations in the future to address common issues such as climate change.

Regarding the IPEF, Hue said Vietnam is actively considering the pillars of cooperation within the IPEF, adding that Vietnam is ready to hold discussions with partners on the basis of international law, respect for countries' independence, sovereignty and national security, equality, and mutual benefit.

The Vietnamese NA leader affirmed that Vietnam always respects and protects human rights and citizens' rights in accordance with its Constitution and laws. The country also respects and fully follows international conventions on human rights that it has signed and joined, he added.

On the occasion, Chairman Hue extended an invitation to young members of the US Congress to attend the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians which will be hosted by the Vietnamese NA in September.

Prime Minister receives US Congress delegation

Vietnam always considers the US as one of the most important partners in its foreign policy, and highly appreciates the US government and political circles' support for a strong, prosperous, self-reliance and independent Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a delegation of the US Congress led by Senator Jeff Merkley in Hanoi on April 8.
 
In his reception for the delegation in Hanoi, the Vietnamese government leader said the delegation's working visit to Vietnam helps tighten cooperation between the legislative bodies and  the governments of the two countries, contributing to promoting the Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership in a substantive and effective manner.

PM Chinh expressed his pleasure at the remarkable development of the bilateral relations over the past time, and the results of Vietnam - US cooperation over 28 years after the normalisation of diplomatic ties, and 10 years of establishing comprehensive partnership, stressing that economic-trade ties are a pillar and a motivation of the two countries' relations.

 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Senator Jeff Merkley at the reception (Photo: VNA)

He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to work with the US to continue promoting the bilateral relations in an effective and practical manner, on the basis of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions; serving the interests of the two peoples, and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region as well as in the world. 

Chinh suggested the US Congress continue to pay attention to the allocation of resources and budget to support Vietnam in handling war consequences, including bomb and mine clearance projects and assistance for Agent Orange/dioxin victims.

The PM also called on the US Congress to support the two countries’ governments in strengthening cooperation in trade-investment, defence-security, education-training, science-technology and innovation, energy transition and response to climate change.

For his part, Senator Merkley affirmed that the US Congress considers Vietnam as one of the most important partners in the region. He agreed on the importance of promoting meetings and exchange of delegations between the governments and the legislatures of the two countries, especially on the occasion of the 10th founding anniversary of the comprehensive partnership in 2023, as well as maintaining bipartisan consensus in the US to support the relations with Vietnam.

He pledged to continue supporting Vietnam in areas of mutual benefit, and wished the two side to upgrade their relations to a strategic partnership.

The US Congress delegates said that priority will be given to addressing war consequences such as supporting people affected by war, clearing mines, decontaminating dioxin, searching for missing soldiers; combating climate change; promoting cooperation in investment, trade, energy transmission; and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the US. 

Regarding regional and international issues, the two sides agreed that they have cooperated more effectively within the framework of multilateral institutions, especially ASEAN and related regional mechanisms.

The US side asked Vietnam to back the US in strengthening responsible cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

For the East Sea issue, the two sides affirmed their stance on maintaining freedom and safety of navigation and aviation in the sea; peacefully solving relevant disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and working towards the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Defence Minister receives US Congress delegation

Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for a delegation of members of the US Congress led by Senator Jeff Merkley in Hanoi on April 8.

The minister said the visit of the US Congress delegation is significant in the context of the two countries preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive partnership.

He affirmed that Vietnam always considers the US one of its important partners and wants to promote relations with the US on the basis of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty and political institutions, for the interest of both countries and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.   

According to Giang, bilateral defence cooperation has been rolled out in alignment with the sound development of the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, producing positive outcomes in terms of dialogue-consultation, delegation exchange, war aftermath settlement, training, search-rescue, UN peacekeeping work and military medicine.

He highlighted the joint work in overcoming war consequences. Through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the two sides have cooperated effectively in such projects as dioxin cleanup at Bien Hoa airport, and support for people with disabilities in provinces severely affected by Agent Orange/Dioxin.

Minister Giang took the occasion to thank US Congress members for their contributions to the cooperation on war aftermath settlement, particularly those made by Senator Patrick Leahy.  

He proposed that members of the US Congress push for the Congress’s continued support of defence cooperation between Vietnam and the US, focusing on war consequence settlement, training, military medicine and UN peacekeeping.

Senator Merkley pledged to work to promote collaboration with Vietnam, particularly in the field of surmounting war aftermath.

On the occasion, Merkley presented the Vietnamese Defence Ministry a set of documents containing information on Vietnamese soldiers going missing during the war in Vietnam.

Minister Giang, on his part, sent to Senator Patrick Leahy a film on the senator’s contributions to the two countries’ relations.

Source: VNA