TPP negotiations expected to end later 2015: US Secretary of State

Visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry said he hopes that negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement will be concluded by the end of this year. 

Speaking at a press conference after his talk with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on August 7, the US official revealed that the TPP negotiations have seen progress, however, there are still remaining issues, which are expected to be solved in the upcoming negotiation sessions. 

Answering reporters’ questions on the human rights issue, the US Secretary said his country and Vietnam have discussed the issue frequently and frankly since they normalised their ties 20 years ago. 

Regarding the Ease Sea issue, the guest expressed the US ’s concern about the militarisation and trespass on island at the Sea, saying that he supports the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures, in diplomatic ways or through an international court. 

He said Vietnam’s participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force is an important progress as the UN is seeking resources for its peacekeeping task. 

The US Secretary also suggested future cooperation between the two countries in maritime security, humanitarian aid, disaster adaptation and issues related to boat people. 

For his part, Deputy PM Minh affirmed Vietnam attaches importance to promoting human rights, citing the country’s efforts to better the legal system to promote human rights as an example.

Vietnam also joined almost all international conventions on human rights such as the UN Convention against Torture and the UN Convention on Rights of Disabilities, he said, affirming that Vietnam is willing to hold and join in human rights dialogues with other countries, including the US. 

Answering a question that what are specific policies made by the two countries to accelerate the construction project of Fulbright University in Vietnam, US Secretary Kerry said the most important issues concerning the project were completed. 

Stressing Vietnam’s interest in the project, Deputy PM Minh stated that education cooperation is an important field between Vietnam and the US. The construction of an international-level university as Fulbright aims to meet Vietnam ’s demand for developing high-quality human resources, which is necessary for the country’s industrialisation and global integration, he said. 

Regarding Vietnam-US security and defence affiliation, the Vietnamese official said the two countries set up their comprehensive relationship in 2013 and Vietnam hopes the relation will be developed basing on building mutual political trust and exchanging high-ranking delegations between the two sides. 

Vietnam wishes the US will completely remove its antipersonnel weapon embargo against Vietnam and boost security-defence ties with Vietnam in the future, Minh said, adding that Vietnam treasures the role played by the US in contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region.-VNA