VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and US President Barack Obama lauded encouraging progress made in the relations between the two countries, especially since they set up the comprehensive partnership in 2013, during a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on November 13.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets with US President Barack Obama.

At the event held on the sidelines of the ninth East Asia Summit and other summits, the two leaders highlighted bilateral co-operation in economy, trade, investment, education, health care, humanitarian activities and clean energy, regular dialogues on security-defence and human rights, and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations.

Dung suggested the US increase funding for cleaning up dioxin and support Vietnamese Agent Orange/Dioxin victims and the clearance of war-era unexploded ordnances. He also asked the US to completely lift the ban on the sale of lethal arms to Viet Nam.

He said Viet Nam's resolve to work closely with the US and other countries to accelerate the TPP negotiation on the basis of balancing interests of all participating parties and giving developing members, including Viet Nam, an appropriate transitional period to realise the treaty. He spoke highly of the role of President Obama in the work.

Obama renewed his commitment to enhancing relations with a focus on areas benefiting the two peoples.

He applauded the two countries' signing of the agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy and said ties would be fostered in economy, security-defence, education-training, people-to-people exchange, and clean energy.

He pledged to continue assisting Viet Nam with dioxin detoxification and bomb and mine clearance while welcoming the country's joining of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the other Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Regarding TPP negotiations, President Obama said he would consider flexibilities for Viet Nam that served both sides.

He said saw the Mekong Sub-region as important, including the effective and sustainable use of water resources, adding that the US would expand assistance to Viet Nam and other countries within the Lower Mekong Initiative.

The two sides also exchanged views on important regional and international issues with a view to bolstering bilateral affiliation within relevant ASEAN forums and contributing to regional peace, stability, security and co-operation.

Dung said he valued the US's clear stance on the need to maintain peace, stability, and navigation security, safety and freedom, settle disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, exercise of self-restraint, and not altering the status quo in the East Sea.

Dung said he looked forward to a visit by President Obama and his wife to mark the 20th anniversary of the two countries' ties normalisation.

Source: VNS