Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong reiterated the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent stance on developing ties with the US for their people as well as for peace, stability and development in the region and the world while receiving US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter in Hanoi on June 1.

Expressing his delight at the positive progress of the two countries’ multifaceted cooperation since the end of the war 40 years ago and 20 years of the normalisation of diplomatic ties, the Party chief hailed the US authorities, Congress, individuals and collectives for their support to post-war recovery efforts in Vietnam, including the partnership between the Vietnamese Defence Ministry and the US Department of Defence in bomb and mine clearance, environment detoxification, humanitarian assistance and search for remains of missing-in-action US servicemen.

He stressed the need to continue this activity to raise mutual trust and understanding, making it easier to solidify bilateral defence ties.

Carter, for his part, affirmed the US’s wish for further close all-around links with Vietnam, and agreed with the facilitation of high-level visits, including an upcoming trip to the US by the Vietnamese leader which he described as significant.

On the security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation and the recent developments in the East Sea, Carter informed the host about the outcomes of the recently-held Shangri-La Forum in Singapore, stressing that the US supports the settlement of disputes by diplomatic means on the basis of respect to international law.

At the reception, both host and guest also discussed regional and global issues of shared concern.-VNA