Vietnam attaches great importance to and wants the US to continue its efforts to develop extensive cooperation between the two countries across a variety of fields for the two nations’ mutual benefit and development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while meeting with the visiting Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee under the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Benjamin Cardin, in Hanoi on May 28.

Dung described the US guest’s visit as a positive contribution to improving the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership in a practical and effective manner.

He confirmed Vietnam’s willingness to hold frank exchanges with the US on areas of cooperation as well as issues of mutual interest.

“Currently, Vietnam has joined with utmost responsibility the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) negotiations. However, as one of the TPP participating countries with low level of development, the country has specific differences so it wants the US to grant a flexible treatment in accordance with the negotiation process, thereby contributing to early successful conclusion of TTP negotiations.” Dung said.

The Government leader thanked the US for voicing its protest against China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. This action has seriously violated international law, threatening peace and maritime security and safety in the East Sea.

PM Dung wants the US to have a stronger voice to condemn China’s act regardless of international law.

In addition, Dung asked the US to increase cooperation and provide more support for Vietnam to help it deal with post-war consequences of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) as well as Agent Orange (AO), adding that Vietnam is ready to cooperate with the US in ecological environment protection.

Senator Benjamin Cardin said that his nation wishes to further promote multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam for both countries’ common development.

He believed Vietnam, the US along with other countries will successfully conclude TPP negotiations, thereby creating opportunities for countries to open their markets, renew economic development models and bolster economic, trade and investment cooperation.

The US Senator stated that the US will continue to coordinate closely with Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of AO, mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) left by the war, ecological environment protection, response to climate change adaptation, and sea level rise.

Referring to the complex developments in the East Sea after China blatantly put its oil rig and deployed armed and military ships and escort aircraft in Vietnam's territorial waters, Senator Benjamin Cardin expressed dissatisfaction and grave concern about China’s provocative action.

He said that China's action is a particularly serious violation of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), destabilizing the situation and directly threatening peace , stability and maritime security and safety in the East Sea.

Cardin proposed the peaceful settlement of the dispute on the basis of respect for international law.

The US official said he will put forth the case of China’s stationing of oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 and complex developments in the East Sea at the Shangri-La forum in Singapore after ending his trip to Vietnam.

US wishes to further comprehensive ties with Vietnam

A US senator has said that his country attaches special importance to and wishes to further promote comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, especially relations between the two parliaments.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (R) and US senator Benjamin Cardin.

Visiting Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee under the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Benjamin Cardin made the affirmation while meeting with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in Hanoi on May 27.

Chairman Hung described the visit as an active contribution to improving the implementation of agreements reached by the two nations in line with the spirit of their comprehensive partnership, for the interests of the two peoples as well as for peace and development in the region and the world at large.

Regarding China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, he affirmed that this is a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction.

It also contravened international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), he said.

The action destabilised the East Sea situation and threatened maritime and air trading in international waters, stirring deep concerns among regional countries and menacing regional and global peace and security, he added.

The top Vietnamese legislator expressed his wish that Cardin and other US senators will continue raising their voice and taking specific actions in support of Vietnam, thus fostering peace, security, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

For his part, Cardin stated that the US Senate strongly opposes China ’s provocative act of illegally placing its rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and hopes that the parties concerned will actively solve the case in line with international law, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

At the meeting, the two sides also discussed measures to boost relations between the two countries and the two parliaments in the time to come, including the establishment of an annual dialogue between the two legislatures.

On the occasion, Chairman Hung invited Cardin and other US congressmen to attend the 132 nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly scheduled for 2015 in Hanoi.

Deputy Prime Minister welcomes US guest

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received visiting Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee under the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Benjamin Cardin in Hanoi on May 27.

Minh described the visit as an effective way for both sides to exchange views in an open and frank manner on issues of common concern, thus strengthening mutual understanding and fostering the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

It is now a good time for bilateral ties to strongly develop so the US Congress should support and increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, he said.

It should also suggest the US administration to continue opening the market for Vietnamese goods and reduce trade barriers, especially anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties, while granting Vietnam a flexible and preferential treatment in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement as committed, he added.

The US senator said the positively developing bilateral ties have better served the two countries’ interests and contributed to peace and stability in the region.

He voiced his support for the two sides’ efforts to continue the effective implementation of their comprehensive partnership, and expressed his hope that Vietnam and the US will soon conclude TPP negotiations together with other countries, describing it as an opportunity for them to open the market and renew their economic development models.

The two sides also discussed regional and global issues of mutual concern, including the current East Sea situation.

VNN/VOV/VNA