Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on August 8 received a delegation of the US Senate led by Senators John McCain and Sheldon Whitehouse in Hanoi.

The US Senators said the US-Vietnam relations have come a long way since normalization and are seeing good progress. They recommended several measures to boost bilateral cooperation in the time ahead, while affirming that the US Congress and Government wish to further the relations based on an equal footing and mutual respect with Vietnam in all fields and via different channels, including the ties with the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The senators shared their assessments about the current situation in the world and the region, while expressing special concerns about maritime navigation freedom and recent tensions in the East Sea . They were of the view that respect for international standards and law is extremely necessary for all countries.

The Party General Secretary expressed his satisfaction at the positive developments in the Vietnam-US multi-faceted ties, particularly those recorded over the past one year since the two countries established a comprehensive partnership.

He reiterated that the Party and State of Vietnam consider the US a partner of leading importance of Vietnam and back the promotion of Vietnam-US relationship at all levels and in fields suitable with the interests of the two peoples as well as for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

General Secretary Trong said he hopes the two countries will undertake measures to effectively implement their comprehensive partnership and to prepare for celebrations of the 20th anniversary of normalization of bilateral ties in 2015.

The same day, Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh had a meeting with Senator McCain, during which the two sides agreed that the two countries should bolster cooperation in maritime security, navigation safety, personnel training and exchange of army delegations on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of normalization of ties.

General Thanh underlined various cooperative activities between the two countries in the field of defence, which he said yielded practical results. The cooperation covers maritime security, search and rescue, disaster relief, bomb and mine removal, detoxification of Agent Orange/dioxin, and most recently, the US has shared experience with Vietnam in joining the United Nations peacekeeping force.

Senator McCain said following this visit, he will urge the US Congress to lift the ban on lethal weapon sale to Vietnam.-VNA