Top Vietnamese leader meets with foreign friends in New York

The meeting formed part of the Vietnamese leader's ongoing trip to the U.S. to attend the High-Level General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his appreciation for the affections, solidarity and valuable support extended by the CPUSA, generations of American friends and progressive Americans to Viet Nam during its past struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as its current cause of national construction and defense.

He affirmed that the Communist Party of Viet Nam attaches great importance to its traditional friendship with the CPUSA.

At the meeting with U.S. friends, including members of the CPUSA, left-wing and traditional friends, representatives of peace, charitable, humanitarian, religious and non-governmental organizations, veterans, businesses, academics and students, General Secretary and President To Lam reaffirmed that Viet Nam will continue to closely coordinate with and facilitate U.S. efforts to search for American servicemen missing in action during the war.

He expressed his wish to continue working with American friends to support people still suffering from the consequences of the war, make affected areas safer, and help more families find the remains of their loved ones.

The top Vietnamese leader also briefed the friends on Viet Nam's 500-day campaign to search for, recover and identify the remains of fallen soldiers. He expressed appreciation for U.S. support in this area over the past years and hoped that the U.S. would continue to assist Viet Nam in connecting information, sharing records and exchanging experience in database use, thereby contributing to further progress in this work./.