Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received visiting Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee under the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Benjamin Cardin in Hanoi on May 27.

Minh described the visit as an effective way for both sides to exchange views in an open and frank manner on issues of common concern, thus strengthening mutual understanding and fostering the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

It is now a good time for bilateral ties to strongly develop so the US Congress should support and increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, he said.

It should also suggest the US administration to continue opening the market for Vietnamese goods and reduce trade barriers, especially anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties, while granting Vietnam a flexible and preferential treatment in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement as committed, he added.

The US senator said the positively developing bilateral ties have better served the two countries’ interests and contributed to peace and stability in the region.

He voiced his support for the two sides’ efforts to continue the effective implementation of their comprehensive partnership, and expressed his hope that Vietnam and the US will soon conclude TPP negotiations together with other countries, describing it as an opportunity for them to open the market and renew their economic development models.

The two sides also discussed regional and global issues of mutual concern, including the current East Sea situation.

VNA