Senator John McCain and Congressman Eliot Engel spoke glowingly of Vietnam’s status and role in the region at their January 22 meeting with Vietnam Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh.

Meeting with Senator John McCain, Vinh congratulated McCain on his new position, thanking him for fine sentiments toward Vietnam and significant contributions to the friendship and cooperative relations between the two nations.

Ambassador Vinh suggested McCain support the effective and substantive implementation of the comprehensive partnership for mutual benefit and for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

In observance of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the Vietnamese ambassador shared common priorities for forging bilateral relations in all realms consistent with the comprehensive partnership framework, furthering cooperation in economics, trade, investment, science and technology, education, security and defense, accelerating the early finalization of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) in accordance with participating countries’ interests, and  increasing cooperation in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC).

On the occasion, Vinh extended an invitation to visit Vietnam this year to Senator McCain.

McCain, in turn, applauded Vietnam’s accomplishments in national construction and development as well as its external relations. He also recalled memories of Vietnam for years, affirming that he would actively contribute to spurring bilateral cooperation in dealing with the war aftermath and accelerating the elimination of ban on arms sales against Vietnam.

He expressed a desire to visit Vietnam this year on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Senator John McCain and Ambassador Vinh also compared notes on issues of common concern such as the regional situation and the East Sea issue, laying an emphasis on ensuring peace, stability, freedom of navigation in the region and peacefully resolving disputes.

Meeting with Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee the same day, the Vietnamese diplomat briefed his host on Vietnam’s development and major foreign policy and wished Engel to continue to strengthen the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.

Engel hailed the positive developments in bilateral relations and the significance of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations, noting that the Vietnam-US relations, including parliamentary relations  are highly crucial, helping promote benefits of each side and contribute to peace and stability across the region.

Engel praised Vietnam for hosting the 132 General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) and promised to attend the great political event.

VOV