Hanoi Party Committee Secretary Pham Quang Nghi has asked the US to further open its market for Vietnamese products, restrict trade barriers, encourage US investment in Vietnam, and recognise the country’s market economy status. He also proposed that the US increase assistance to Vietnam in dealing with war aftermath, including dioxin remediation, support for dioxin victims, bomb and mine clearance, and search for personnel missing in action (MIA). The Vietnamese delegation held a working session with NDI and IRI leaders Nghi made proposals during his current visit to the US, starting July 21, where he met a number of politicians including Thomas Shannon, Counsellor to Secretary of State John Kerry; Tony Blinken, Deputy National Security Adviser for President Barack Obama; Patrick Leahy, President pro tempore of the US Senate and Senator John McCain. He also met with Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and Mark Green, President of the International Republican Institute (IRI). Pham Quang Nghi (L) and Patrick Leahy, President pro tempore of the US Senate Nghi briefed his hosts on Vietnam’s open foreign policy and affirmed that Vietnam wants to further boost cooperation with the US within the framework of the comprehensive partnership established in July 2013. He reiterated the two countries’ determination to break with the past and look to the future, and said both sides need to take specific measures to develop bilateral relations in an effective and substantial manner, primarily in economics, trade and investment. He stressed the need to increase the exchange of delegation, especially in 2015 to mark 20 years of Vietnam-US normalisation. Pham Quang Nghi worked with Department of State officials Nghi also said Vietnam welcomes the US’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with Asia and the Pacific, for the sake of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. He appreciated congress people’s contributions to Vietnam-US relations in recent times, including dialogue mechanisms between the two countries’ legislatures and cooperation between their localities. Leaders of the US Department of State said the US values Vietnam’s role in addressing regional and international issues, as well as issues in US-Vietnam relations. They said the US attaches great importance to Asia-Pacific in its overall strategy, and vowed to accelerate negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement to end the process this year. They pledged to provide technical assistance for Vietnam to improve its capacity and flexibility in meeting TPP commitments. US Senators spoke highly of Vietnam’s leading role in resolving regional issues and said the US Congress supports the government in promoting relations with Vietnam. US officials expressed their concern over recent tensions in the East Sea after China placed its oil platform Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. They said the US has its interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, including freedom, safety and security of navigation in the East Sea. They appreciated Vietnam’s recent efforts to prevent confrontations and disputes in the region. Nghi is scheduled to leave Washington DC on July 23 (local time) for New York, continuing his working visit to the US. VOV