PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets US Secretary of State

• Vietnam desires to promote comprehensive partnership with US
• Party chief receives US Secretary of State

State Secretary Pompeo expressed his delight at his first trip to the Southeast Asian nation, and conveyed President Donald Trump's regards to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. He told his host that the US attaches great importance to the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and pledges to further promote the relationship in the time ahead.

Both sides noted with satisfaction the substantive strides in bilateral relations in the fields of politics- diplomacy, economics- trade, security- defense, and war aftermath settlement, and agreed to increase exchange visits, especially those at high levels.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc greets US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo (L)

PM Phuc reiterated that economic and trade ties continue to be the driving force behind the bilateral relations, noting that the positive progress in these aspects has met the expectation of the two countries’ people.

The two sides were pleased about the successful implementation of the dioxin detoxification project at Danang airport. Secretary of State Pompeo reaffirmed the US commitment to helping Vietnam deal with war consequences and agreed to launch a similar dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa airport.

They also compared notes on regional and world issues of shared concern, including the East Sea situation. Pompeo reaffirmed the US’ stance in favour of peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and efforts to finalise an effective and legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Phuc and Pompeo consented to develop the effective and substantial ASEAN-US strategic partnership. The US Secretary of State voiced his support for ASEAN's central role in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The Vietnamese government leader praised the recent efforts of all relevant parities to accelerate the peace and denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula, affirming that Vietnam will continue to be an active and responsible member of the international community in this process.