Prime Minister hosts U.S. Secretary of State

The Prime Minister affirmed that Viet Nam is consistent with its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multi-lateralization of relations, active international integration; and being a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. Viet Nam does not choose a side, but chooses justice and fairness.

At the reception, Pham welcomed Blinken's current visit, saying this trip, along with contacts and exchanges between the two countries in the past time, especially the very successful high-level phone talks between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Joe Biden on March 29, is vivid evidence for the development of the two countries' relations.

The Prime Minister took the occasion to extend his wishes and regards to President Biden and other U.S. leaders.

To further deepen and develop the bilateral relations, Pham suggested the two sides increase the exchange of delegations and contacts at all levels. He proposed the U.S. help Viet Nam to promote cooperation in overcoming war aftermath, and continue to support cooperation between the two countries in important fields such as trade - investment, science - technology, education - training, defense - security as well as in such new areas as digital economy, green transition, circular economy, innovation, climate change response and infrastructure development.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the two sides need to continue efforts in promoting harmonious and sustainable trade exchange, suggesting that the U.S. restrict the imposition of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties and other unnecessary measures on Viet Nam's exports, especially agricultural products and furniture, which directly affect people's employment and livelihoods.

He called on the US to create favorable conditions for the community of 2.2 million Vietnamese living in the U.S. to continue integrating into, complying with the host's law, contributing to the development of the two countries' relations.

For his part, Blinken expressed his pleasure to return to Viet Nam after more than six years and conveyed wishes and regards of President Biden to high-ranking Vietnamese leaders. He affirmed that the U.S. attaches importance to the relations with Viet Nam on the principle of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, and supports a strong, independent, self-resilient and prosperous Viet Nam.

The U.S. diplomat agreed that there is still ample room for cooperation between two sides and it is necessary to continue boosting the bilateral ties on the principles agreed by their high-ranking leaders. He also committed to continuing to fostering the Viet Nam- U.S. relations.

At the reception, the two sides reviewed outstanding achievements in their relations, saying that the Viet Nam- U.S. relationship has made steps of comprehensive, increasingly stable, substantive and in-depth development, bringing about practical benefits to both countries as well as contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister sincerely thanked the U.S. for donating COVID-19 vaccines to Viet Nam and the U.S. diplomat thanked Viet Nam for providing medical equipment and supplies to the U.S. in response to the pandemic.

The two sides expressed their delight at the fact that the two countries had reached an agreement on upgrading the headquarters of the diplomatic and consular missions of the two sides. The Prime Minister congratulated the U.S. side on the ground-breaking ceremony of the construction of the new U.S. Embassy campus in Ha Noi.

The two sides shared their views on regional and international issues of shared concern. Prime Minister Pham welcomed the U.S. to continue to play an active role, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean as well as in the world. He suggested the U.S. continue cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN- U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Mekong- U.S. Partnership, ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, climate change response and UN peacekeeping operations.

The U.S. diplomat affirmed that the U.S. will continue to strengthen ties with the region, support the central role of ASEAN, and look forward to further increasing cooperation and support for Mekong sub-region countries in responding to non-traditional security challenges./. VNA