Vietnam values ties with the US: President

Vietnam values and wishes to boost the relations with the United States (US) in a stable, extensive and effective manner, on the basis of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, President Tran Dai Quang has said.

President Tran Dai Quang and US President Donald Trump chair a joint press conference following their talks in Hanoi on November 12.
President Tran Dai Quang and US President Donald Trump chair a joint press conference following their talks in Hanoi on November 12.

* President Tran Dai Quang hosts banquet in honour of US President

President Quang made the statement during his talks in Hanoi on November 12 with US President Donald Trump, who are paying a State visit to Vietnam from November 11 to 12.

He spoke highly of the significance of President Trump’s Vietnam visit to ties between the two countries, considering this as a milestone contributing to strengthening bilateral relations in the time ahead.

The President affirmed Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, and proactive and active international integration.

President Trump voiced his delight at visiting Vietnam in the first year of his presidential tenure, whilst expressing his sympathy with the Vietnamese leaders and people for the losses of life and property caused by the recent Typhoon Damrey.

The guest spoke highly of Vietnam’s dynamic development as well as its role in the region and the world, affirming that the US values the friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.

He shared President Quang’s viewpoint that both countries need to strengthen bilateral relations on the basis of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions.

President Trump expressed his hope that the visit will be an important premise contributing to further accelerating the comprehensive partnership between the two countries in the time ahead.

The two leaders voiced their pleasure at the progress of bilateral ties, emphasising the “comprehensive partnership” framework established in 2013 as an important foundation for both sides to consolidate relations in the current period.

They also discussed measures aiming to develop bilateral relations in a more substantive and effective manner, with priority given to facilitating economic, trade and investment cooperation, which is a driving force for the acceleration of the comprehensive partnership, contributing to growth and job creation in both countries.

Both sides agreed to boost the exchange of delegations and meetings, especially at the high level; strengthen the efficiency of current cooperation mechanisms and consider the establishment of new appropriate mechanisms; and further accelerate cooperation in the other bilateral fields, such as the handling of war consequences, people-to-people exchange, science-technology, education-training, and security-defence.

President Quang expressed his gratitude for the US’s timely assistance to Vietnam after the recent Typhoon Damrey, whilst calling for the country’s closer cooperation with Vietnam in the deployment of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief aid in the time ahead.

The two leaders applauded the two sides’ efforts to finalise the Da Nang Airport detoxification project and to implement the work at the Bien Hoa Airport as well as in other locations in the future.

Vietnam and the US shared common interests in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, development and international law observance in the Asia-Pacific region, they affirmed, agreeing to continue enhancing coordination at regional and international forums.

President Quang thanked the US for having cooperated closely and supported Vietnam to successfully organise the APEC Year 2017, whilst calling on the US to further ties with ASEAN.

President Trump congratulated on the success of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and spoke highly of Vietnam’s role as the host country, whilst affirming the US’s support for ASEAN’s central role and for the acceleration of the US-ASEAN strategic partnership.

With regards to regional issues, the two leaders stressed the significance of maintaining aviation and maritime security, safety and freedom, as well as free trade in the East Sea, agreeing to peacefully resolve the East Sea disputes in line with international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They also called on the full respect of the diplomatic and legal proceedings, the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the prompt signing of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).

The two Presidents also discussed other regional issues of mutual concern, including the Korean Peninsula situation.

Following their talks, President Quang and his US counterpart Donald Trump chaired a joint press conference to answer the questions raised by media agencies; issued a joint statement on Vietnam-US relations; and witnessed the signing of a number of important economic cooperation deals, worth over US$12 billion in total.