Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on December 9 received US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs Caroline Atkinson, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.

At the reception, Minh affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to ceaselessly promote multifaceted cooperation with the US, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

He noted with pleasure the extensive and intensive development in the two countries’ relations over the past time, especially the establishment of a comprehensive partnership and the consensus on several important economic pacts and the acceleration of negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

The Deputy PM said he backs the US’s resolve to soon end the negotiations, looking towards a comprehensive agreement of high standards that equally ensures the rights and obligations of its members.

Minh suggested the maintenance of the exchange of delegations and called on the US side to increase its support to Vietnam to help the country improve its capacity for the full implementation of the TPP agreement.

He voiced his hope that the US will soon recognise Vietnam as a market economy and lift trade barriers imposed on Vietnamese exports.

The host also expressed his belief that the two countries’ relationship will develop strongly and comprehensively in the coming time with economic ties at the centre.

Sharing Minh’s views, Caroline Atkinson spoke highly of the significant role played by Vietnam , a dynamic economy in Asia-Pacific as a whole.

She voiced her hope that the two sides will continue their efforts in promoting their pragmatic cooperation on the basis of the framework of the comprehensive partnership, including the completion of the TPP talks by the end of 2013.-VNA