Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on July 10 received visiting US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, who spoke highly of Vietnam’s
socio-economic development achievements.
At the
meeting, Clinton said she is pleased with the developments of the
two countries’ relationship in areas of bilateral cooperation as well as
at regional and international forums.
The US
Secretary of State said that the two sides need to continue discussions
on upgrading their relationship to the level of strategic partners.
She affirmed that the US Government pledges to respect Vietnam ’s
independence and sovereignty, and supports a developed and prosperous
Vietnam which has an important role in regional and international
arenas.
The US attaches importance to
strengthening multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam, including
economic, trade and investment ties, she added.
Applauding Clinton’s visit, PM Dung expressed pleasure with the
results of the Vietnamese-US relationship, which he said, had brought
benefits to both nations.
He affirmed that the two
sides should continue their efforts to promote bilateral ties on the
basis of respecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity,
non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual
benefit, as well as contributing to peace, stability and development in
the region and the world at large.
PM Dung noted
that Vietnam prioritises fostering cooperation with the US in the
fields of economics, trade, investment, science, technology,
education-training, health, environment and humanitarian issues.
The US Secretary of State expressed her concurrence with PM Dung’s viewpoints.
Dung and Clinton also exchanged views on recent developments in the
East Sea and Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) cooperation. They
emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability and
cooperation as well as ensuring maritime freedom, security and safety in
the East Sea .
The two sides affirmed that
the East Sea sovereignty disputes should be solved by peaceful means on
the basis of international laws, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and strict implementation of the
Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards a
Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.
The US
Secretary of State said she is concerned about recent developments in
the East Sea and affirmed that the US Government strongly supports
the rights of coastal states in their exclusive economic zones and
continental shelves under the 1982 UNCLOS.
On the
same day, PM Dung received representatives from more than 20 US
businesses who accompanied Clinton to Vietnam .
At the reception, Dung said that the visit represents the US
Government and business community’s attention to strengthening economic,
trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
The Vietnamese and US businesses need to boost cooperation and tap
into their vast potential, satisfying the two countries and businesses’
best interests, Dung said.
The Government leader
affirmed that Vietnam will create favourable conditions for foreign
investors, including those from the US , to operate effectively in
the country.
The US businesses expressed their
belief in Vietnam ’s cooperation prospects, saying that they want to
expand operations in Vietnam, contributing to strengthening the
friendship and cooperation between the two countries./VNA