Meeting on the sidelines of the 47^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Myanmar on August 9, Minh and Kerry said the two countries still have untapped potential for strengthening cooperation in the coming time, first and foremost in 2015 when they celebrate 20 years of diplomacy.

Kerry hailed Vietnam’s increased role in ASEAN and the region, and agreed that both the US and Vietnam need to maintain high-level exchange visits

The diplomats also touched upon specific areas of cooperation, including the ongoing negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, and cooperation in climate change adaptation and civil nuclear power generation.

They exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the recent tensions in the East Sea.

In a phone call with Minh on May 21, 2014, Kerry expressed concern about China’s provocations in the East Sea and spoke highly of Vietnam’s goodwill towards settling the territorial dispute through peaceful measures.

He reiterated the US stance of resolving the East Sea issue peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

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