VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Minister of Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh received Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, Commander of the US Pacific Command, in Hanoi on December 9.

Vinh noted the US Pacific Command plays an important role in the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership and the two countries’ armies in particular.

He said the admiral’s visit will help strengthen friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two armies.

Admiral Locklear said both sides need to strengthen cooperation in the areas of mutual concern such as overcoming war aftermath, the search for US personnel missing in action (MIA), as well as coordination at multilateral forums.

The US Pacific Command is willing to expand cooperation with Vietnam as agreed at the Vietnam-US defence policy dialogue in Washington DC in October 2013, said Locklear.

The same day, Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, held talks with the US commander, reviewing defence cooperation between Vietnam and the US in recent times.  

Vietnam boosts multifaceted cooperation with US 

Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening multifaceted cooperation with the US, both bilaterally and multilaterally, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has said.

Deputy PM-Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) urged the US to remove trade barriers and recognise Vietnam's market economy status.

While receiving Caroline Atkinson, US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs in Hanoi on December 9, Minh noted with satisfaction the positive development of Vietnam-US relations over the years.

He appreciated the recent establishment of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership and progress in negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.  

Minh voiced Vietnam’s support for the US’s resolve to conclude the negotiations, taking account various development levels of TPP member countries to reach a more balanced trade pact.

He called on the US to increase its support to Vietnam to help the country improve its capacity for the full implementation of the TPP agreement.

He expressed hope the US will soon recognise Vietnam as a market economy and lift trade barriers imposed on Vietnamese exports.

For her part, Caroline Atkinson spoke highly of the significant role Vietnam plays in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the recent establishment of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership, noting bilateral relations are developing well, primarily in economics and trade.

She said she hopes the two sides will make a greater effort to promote their cooperation within the framework of the comprehensive partnership, and conclude TPP negotiations by the end of 2013 as scheduled.

Vuong Dinh Hue, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, met with Atkinson the same day.

US President’s Deputy Assistant welcomed in Hanoi

A senior Vietnamese official has urged the US to remove trade barriers for Vietnam as well as recognise the country’s full market economy status when receiving Deputy Assistant to the US President Caroline Atkinson in Hanoi.

At the December 9 reception, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Vuong Dinh Hue also asked for the US grant of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to Vietnam and its promotion of the implementation of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in order to intensify the two countries’ comprehensive partnership, particularly in economics.

He asked the US to facilitate and support Vietnam in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, especially market access for Vietnam’s garments, textiles and footwear.

The host expressed his hope that Caroline Atkinson, who is also US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs , will help solve existing difficulties between the two countries to boost their economic, trade and investment ties.

The two sides also exchanged views on each country’s macroeconomic situation and cooperation in economics, finance and energy.-