Vietnam and the US promote effective implementation of new relations

On the afternoon of June 21, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink on the occasion of his working visit to Vietnam.

Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam always considers the US a partner of strategic importance and is ready to work with the US to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership to develop effectively, stably and substantially on the basis of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, in accordance with the interests of the people of the two countries and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Vietnam supports the US in strengthening cooperation with the region to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region as well as in the world.

Assistant Secretary of State Kritenbrink reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Vietnam.

Minister Bui Thanh Son and US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Kritenbrink assessed that the Minister's visit to the US on the occasion of co-chairing the Foreign Ministers' Dialogue between the two countries is an important step to concretize the cooperation contents of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The United States welcomes and appreciates Vietnam’s increasingly important role in multilateral and regional forums. The United States values and supports ASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture and will continue to pay attention to promoting the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Mekong-US Partnership.

At the meeting, Minister Bui Thanh Son and Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink also discussed specific measures to effectively implement the new framework in the coming time. They agreed to increase contacts and exchanges of high-level delegations, maintain the momentum of economic-trade-investment cooperation, overcome the consequences of war, respond to climate change, etc.

At the same time, promote emerging areas of cooperation such as innovation, semiconductors, and clean energy transition.

The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern and emphasized the importance of resolving disputes through peaceful means on the basis of compliance with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, including the East Sea issue, making a positive contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

On June 22, at a press conference, US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink affirmed that the two countries continue to believe that the Vietnam-US partnership has never been stronger.

Regarding the US's view on Vietnam's foreign policy, Assistant Secretary of State Kritenbrink said that he was not here to evaluate whether Vietnam's foreign policy is truly appropriate or not.

"We have great respect for Vietnam and only Vietnam can decide the best way to protect its sovereignty and promote its interests," Mr. Kritenbrink affirmed. He also said that regardless of the US's stance on other third countries, the US will still maintain that respect.

Regarding the recognition of Vietnam as a market economy, the US Assistant Secretary of State said that it is a process carried out by the Department of Commerce. Currently, trade turnover between the two countries is about 124 billion USD per year, an all-time high, and the US is still Vietnam's largest export market.

President proposes Vietnam-US step by step expand cooperation in national security and defense

President To Lam suggested that Vietnam and the US gradually expand security and defense cooperation in accordance with the wishes of both sides, including cooperation in preventing terrorism, transnational crime, and cyber security.