Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
The two diplomats reviewed positive developments in the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership over the past time, with last year’s two-way trade enjoying robust growth of US$123 billion.
They highlighted collaboration in the COVID-19 combat, as well as the efficiency of cooperation projects on dealing with war legacies, notably the one on dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Airport, along with the increasing number of Vietnamese students in the US.
Vietnam always considers the US a leading important partner and desires to strengthen the comprehensive partnership on the basis of mutual benefits, and respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions of each other, Son told his guest.
He hailed the coordination between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Department of State over the past time, emphasising Blinken’s role in enhancing the bilateral ties, including the recent phone talks between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden, contributing to consolidating trust, creating more momentum, and opening a new period for cooperation between the two nations.
Son suggested the two sides intensify all-level delegation exchanges and contacts this year which marks the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive partnership, and deepen the bilateral relations practically, for mutual benefits, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world as a whole.
Blinken, in turn, affirmed his nation’s recognition of importance to the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, and applauded Vietnam’s dynamic development, role and position in the region.
The US will set aside more resources and budget to help Vietnam settle war consequences, and further bilateral cooperation in important fields such as trade-investment, science-technology, digital transformation, green transition, and high-quality personnel training in serve of the country’s development, he went on.
Both host and guest also compared notes on regional and international issues of shared concern.
Son suggested the US continue its active role to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in Asia-Pacific, Indian Ocean and the world as well.
Blinken said the US backs ASEAN’s centrality in the region, and will work harder to augment cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN-US comprehensive strategic partnership.
The US also supports the Mekong-US partnership, climate change adaptation efforts and UN peacekeeping operations, he continued.
Regarding the East Sea issue, they underlined the importance of ensuing peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation and aviation in the waters, settling disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards achieving an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
