President Truong Tan Sang told Senator Bob Corker, a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said yesterday that Viet Nam was ready to expand economic and trade ties with the US .

Viet Nam was also willing to join the US in seeking ways to remove barriers hindering bilateral trade, he said during a meeting in Ha Noi.

Sang made it clear that Viet Nam was determined to conclude negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and hoped that the US would create favourable conditions to design a suitable roadmap for the deal.

He said Viet Nam treasured the bilateral partnership and was willing to discuss issues on which the two sides differed.

He also proposed that the US lift the ban on lethal weapons trade with Viet Nam, while removing all barriers and opening its door wider for the trading of high technology equipment to develop Viet Nam.

Sang thanked the US Senate for its support of Viet Nam and ASEAN on the East Sea issue.

He said Viet Nam's policy was to maintain and build friendly relations with other countries in the region and the world, opposing the use of threats or force.

He added that all territorial disputes must be settled through peaceful measures in conformity with international law.

Corker said the Trans Pacific Partnership was an opportunity for the region as a whole.

He said he believed the ban on lethal weapons trade with Viet Nam would be removed in the near future for mutual benefit.

Noting that ties between the two countries were "on the rise", the senator said he believed that many joint activities would be successfully held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Viet Nam-US diplomatic ties in 2015.

On the East Sea issue, Corker supported Viet Nam's stance to solve all disputes through peaceful measures and respecting international law, underscoring the need for the solidarity among ASEAN member countries.

TPP bears strategic significance: US senator

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement does not only benefit the economies of both Vietnam and the US but is also of strategic significance for other countries, said US Senator Bob Corker.

It is necessary to balance the interest of all parties involved as well as between the two countries, Corker, who is also a ranking member of the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters in Hanoi on August 8 on the occasion of his visit to Vietnam-the first destination of his tour to some Asian countries.

The US is keen on intelligence property and the market access right in the TPP, according to the Senator.

Corker said he is optimistic that the agreement would be reached in between 12-18 months.

The Senator revealed that the US Congress has passed the civilian nuclear deal with Vietnam (Agreement 123) which will become effective in the next few days, contributing to bringing bilateral cooperation to a new height.

Corker said the East Sea issue was tabled during his working sessions with the Vietnamese side, stressing the need for all parties concerned to respect international law in the settlement of all territorial disputes.

Vietnam keen on promoting legislative partnership with US

The National Assembly of Vietnam always wishes to strengthen its cooperation with the US Congress and people, thus lifting the relationship between the two countries to a new level of development.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung made the statement while meeting with US Senator and ranking member of the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker in Hanoi on August 4.

He described the visit as a contribution to fostering collaboration between the two legislatures and the two countries in general.

Corker held that with its potential and strategic geopolitical position, Vietnam will continue to strongly develop together with the Asia-Pacific region in the years to come.

He noted with pleasure that the two countries are working actively for the signing of many important cooperation agreements, creating a momentum for the development of bilateral ties for mutual interest.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed that the two legislatures should increase the exchange of delegations and the sharing of legislative experience, contributing to consolidating the friendship between the two peoples.

Host and guest also discussed a number of matters of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue.

Chairman Hung affirmed that Vietnam opposes China’s actions that harm the stability and maritime and aviation trading in the East Sea, causing deep concern among regional countries and threatening peace and stability in the region and the world.

He stated that Vietnam always pursues its consistent policy of maintaining peace and friendship with China as well as other countries in the region and the globe.

The country plans to use diplomatic measures, with consideration of legal solutions, to safeguard its sovereignty on the basis of international law, he added.

The top Vietnamese legislator expressed his wish that Corker and other US congressmen will continue their voice and actions backing Vietnam and promote peace, security, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Corker said the US Congress kept a close watch on the Ease Sea situation and opposed China ’s illegal placement of its rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in early May.

The same day, the American guests was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh who suggested that the US Congress continue supporting the promotion of economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries.

Vietnam hopes to receive the US ’ continued flexible and preferential treatment in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, as well as its wider door for Vietnamese products, said he.

Deputy PM Minh also highly valued the US Senate’s voice to the maintenance of peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Raising his concern about recent developments in the East Sea since China illegally placed its rig in Vietnam’s waters, Corker said all disputes must be settled through peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

VNS/VNA