Vietnam, US’s top diplomats hold talks in Hanoi

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Hanoi on May 24.

They voiced delight at the fine outcomes of the talks and meetings between the Vietnamese leaders and US President Barack Obama – who is on an official visit to Vietnam – along with the signing of many meaningful agreements, especially those on economy, trade, investment and cooperation in climate change prevention and war consequence settlement.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Minh asked for both sides’ active coordination to effectively realise the high-level meetings’ outcomes and agreements.

State Secretary Kerry rejoiced at the success of President Obama’s visit to Vietnam and considered this a testament to the great strides in bilateral ties over the last couple of decades since relations were normalised.

He thanked the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, other ministries and localities for working closely with the US side before and during the US President’s visit.

At the talks, Minh and Kerry also discussed regional and international problems of mutual concern, including promoting ASEAN’s centrality in regional issues and the role of the bloc’s partners to help ensure peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Prior to the event, they witnessed the signing of a letter of intent on the Cooperative Humanitarian and Medical Storage Initiative to serve humanitarian cooperation in searching for US soldiers missing in action, search and rescue, and natural disaster response.

Vietnam and the US also inked a letter of agreement on law enforcement and criminal justice sector assistance, and a framework agreement under which Vietnam allows some US Peace Corps volunteers to teach English in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.-VNA