Party chief welcomes US President

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hailed President Barack Obama’s visit to Vietnam as a reaffirmation of the commitment of the two countries’ leaders to the bilateral comprehensive partnership while receiving the US leader in Hanoi on May 23.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received President Barack Obama in Hanoi on May 23. (Credit: VGP)

He affirmed Vietnam continually considers the US as one of its leading partners, stressing the need for both sides to further the comprehensive partnership in a more practical and effective manner on the basis of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, while not intervening in each other’s internal affairs, for the interests of both people and for peace, stability, co-operation, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

The Party chief appreciated US co-operation with Vietnam in activities to address war aftermath and hoped for the country’s continued assistance in this field.

He reaffirmed Vietnam’s viewpoint on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, asking the US to continue implementing its technical assistance commitment for Vietnam during the enforcement process.

He also exchanged notes with the guest on measures to step up the two countries’ economic co-operation.

The Party General Secretary also welcomed statements and actions of other countries, including the US, in a bid to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.

He reiterated Vietnam’s stance of handling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful, diplomatic and legal measures on the basis of following international law.

For his part, President Obama spoke highly of the role and vision of the Communist Party of Vietnam in leading the country to achieve important milestones over the past years and in its strategic policy on the TPP negotiation process.

He affirmed that the US considers Vietnam its important partner in the region, while pledging to do everything he can to boost his country’s relations with Vietnam in priority fields, especially in providing technical assistance for Vietnam’s TPP enforcement, following in the spirit of the Joint Statement on the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership in 2013 and the Joint Vision Statement in 2015.

He confirmed that the US’s complete lifting of its ban on lethal weapon sales to Vietnam is to create a change in the two countries’ relations.

The US leader also highlighted the necessity to ensure maritime and aviation safety, security and freedom, and to address disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means with respect to international law.

He expressed his belief that Vietnam-US relations will grow even further in the future, for each country’s interests as well as for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world.

(Source: NDO)