VietNamNet Bridge – President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on July 18 hosted separate receptions for former US President Bill Clinton on his re-visit to Vietnam.

President Truong Tan Sang (R) welcomes former US President Bill Clinton in Hanoi. (Photos: VNA)

President Sang thanked the former US President and his wife for their contributions to the normalization of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations when they were in office as well as their current charitable activities through the Clinton Foundation.

Vietnam is committed to fully implementing agreements reached at high-level meetings, Sang said, adding that he desires to welcome President Obama’s early trip to Vietnam.

Regarding accomplishments achieved after the two countries established the comprehensive partnership, President Sang said Vietnam and the US are actively negotiating for the early signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). Sang suggested the US pay attention to developing countries, including Vietnam by intensifying support solutions for Vietnamese goods to achieve deeper US market penetration.

The Vietnamese State leader also affirmed his nation’s willingness to offer the best possible conditions for US firms’ operations in the country and asked the US to lift its ban on lethal weapon sales soon and accelerate programs that assist Vietnam to clean up toxic chemicals and deal with the consequences of Dioxin/Agent Orange (AO) left over from the war.

Sang also welcomed the US Senate’s resolution on the East Sea that opposes and requests China to withdraw its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou- 981 to reset the status quo of this sea area.

He also thanked the US Government, Congress, politicians and scholars for their strong support for Vietnam’s struggle against Chinese infringement upon its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

Former US President Bill Clinton, in turn, said that Vietnam and the US should actively cooperate together to address pending issues to further strengthen the comprehensive partnership between the two nations in the time to come.

In regard to regional developments, Bill Clinton stated that his country wants to build stronger cooperative relations and support peace and stability, prosperity of all nations.  

All countries in the region must cooperate with each other to prevent a big country from using coercive force against other regional nations, he said.

Bill Clinton said he will give feedback on President Sang’s proposal on lifting the ban on lethal weapon sales when returning to the US, noting that he will make greater efforts to boost bilateral ties.

Meeting with the US former President, PM Dung welcomed his re-visit to Vietnam and highly appreciated humanitarian and practical activities run by the Clinton Foundation and Clinton’s sentiments towards the Vietnamese people and contributions to the Vietnamese Government’s efforts in preventing HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.

PM Dung said he hopes the foundation will grow steadily while voicing his government’s readiness to create favourable conditions for its operations.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung meets with former US President Bill Clinton.

He expressed his convention that with their good sentiments and prestige, Clinton and his wife, Hilary Clinton, will continue to support and contribute to Vietnam-US relations for mutual benefit.

For his part, Clinton said that the US government always supports the peaceful settlement of disputes over sovereignty in the East Sea in accordance with international law.

The US has shown its stance through government statements and a recent resolution issued by the Senate that demanded China withdraw it drilling rig from Vietnam’s waters.

In terms of the Clinton Foundation’s activities in Vietnam, former President Clinton asserted the fund will provide maximum support for Vietnam in combating HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases, and is ready to work together with other agencies, and businesses on producing HIV/AIDS treatment drug in Vietnam.

Clinton’s Vietnam visit this time aims to promote the Clinton Foundation’s activities regarding HIV patient care and treatment.

Operating since 2006, the Clinton Foundation has supported and mobilized more than US$40 million for Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS prevention and control and other charitable activities.

VNA/VNN