Mattis made the statement during a recent reception for outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh, during which both sides highlighted the important strides in the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership over the past few years, including the cooperation in security and defence.
The host affirmed his desire to continue fostering relations with the Southeast Asian country in defence, search and rescue, disaster relief, maritime security, peacekeeping, and war aftermath settlements.
The two officials also discussed a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern, including strengthening the relationship between the ASEAN and the US, and ensuring peace, security and development cooperation in the region, including the East Sea issue, thus securing maritime and aviation freedom and security, while fully respecting international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
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US Secretary of Defence James Mattis hosts a reception for outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh. (Photo: MOFA)
Mattis expressed his sincere gratitude and highly appreciated the contributions made by Ambassador Vinh in strengthening the Vietnam - US bilateral relations during his tenure, including the cooperation in security and defence.
For his part, the guest affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the comprehensive partnership with the US. He expressed his pleasure at the growth of the bilateral relations over the past few years, especially through the mutual visits made by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the US in May 2017, the Vietnam visit by President Donald Trump in November 2017, and the historical visit to the US in July 2015 by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.
Ambassador Vinh stated that the Vietnamese side would continue the effective implementation of the bilateral defence cooperative programmes, especially promoting the outcomes of the US visit in August 2017 by Vietnamese Minister of Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich and the Vietnam visit in January 2018 by US Secretary of Defence James Mattis.
