Party leader concludes US visit

Officials of Vietnam Embassy in the US and Vietnam Delegation at the United Nations see off Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (Credit: qdnd.vn)

During his visit from July 5-10 in Washington D.C., the Vietnamese party leader held talks with President Barrack Obama. He met with US Trade Representative Michael Froman, US religious dignitaries, US lawmakers, as well as Vietnamese and US representatives of all levels.

General Secretary Trong delivered a key speech and discussed the Vietnam-US relations at the Washington D.C. based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

He also attended a roundtable seminar with leading US businesses and witnessed the signing of numerous co-operation agreements between Vietnam and the US, in addition to agreements between Vietnam and the World Bank.

In New York, the Vietnamese party chief met with the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters and visited former US President Bill Clinton at his residence in Kittle House.

He also held conversations with Chairman of the Communist Party USA John Bachtell and advocates of left-wing groups in addition to meeting representatives of the Vietnamese community and Harvard University intellectuals.

On the occasion, Vietnam and the US adopted a joint vision statement between the two countries.

The US and Vietnam recognise the positive and substantive developments in all areas of cooperation over the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, particularly the growth in economic and trade cooperation, cooperation in addressing war legacy issues as well as in science and technology, education, healthcare, environment, response to climate change, defense, security, human rights, and increasing regional and international cooperation on issues of mutual concern.

Both countries affirmed their continued pursuit of an enhanced, sustained, and substantive relationship on the basis of respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, as well as each nation’s political systems, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The two sides are committed to maximising shared interests and co-operation at both bilateral and multilateral levels, for the benefit of both peoples, contributing to peace, stability, co-operation and prosperity in the Asia – Pacific region and the wider world.

The US and Vietnam are committed to enhancing co-operation at regional forums and recognise the importance of a united and strong ASEAN, as well as it’s central role in regional political and security mechanisms.

Both countries shared their concerns regarding recent developments in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea), recognising the importance of upholding the internationally recognised freedoms of navigation in the region.

Both countries support the peaceful resolution of disputes in conformity with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (UNCLOS), and recognise the importance of fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea in its entirety, as well as efforts to conclude the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

NDO/VNA