Vietnam, US look to stronger comprehensive partnership

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) welcomes US President Donald Trump

The top Vietnamese leader welcomed President Trump’s visit alongside the US and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s decision to choose Vietnam as the venue for their second summit.

He affirmed Vietnam’s external policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and persification of foreign relations, and active international integration on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regimes. Trong also reiterated Vietnam’s unwavering stance on treasuring the comprehensive partnership with the US.

He showed elation at the positive and comprehensive progress in the Vietnam-US ties, which has delivered practical benefits to the countries’ people.

The host leader expressed his appreciation for the US’ cooperation in economics, trade, education, and settlement of war consequences, especially the environmental remediation of dioxin contamination in Bien Hoa airport and other dioxin contaminated areas.

He suggested both nations should push ahead with stronger cooperation in other areas such as unexploded ordnance clearance and support for Agent Orange victims.

President Trump, in turn, said he is greatly impressed by the hospitality of local people and the development of Vietnam and thanked the country for its meticulous preparations for the US-DPRK Summit in a short period of time.

Both leaders shared the view that Vietnam and the US need to maintain high-level meetings and delegation exchanges and promote existing dialogue mechanisms. They voiced their support for further cooperation in dealing with war consequences, including the remediation of dioxin contamination in Bien Hoa airport.

They also consented to propel mutually beneficial partnerships in economics, trade, and investment forward.

Regarding regional and international issues of shared concern, Trong held that Vietnam strongly supports the dialogue process towards the denuclearisation and long-term peace in the Korean Peninsula.

President Trump said his nation will continue playing an active role in the Indo-Pacific region in order to help maintain a rules-based order and promote peace, stability, cooperation, and development in this important region.

On this occasion, he invited the top Vietnamese leader to pay an official visit to the US this year to continue discussing measures to foster the comprehensive partnership in the time to come.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a number of economic cooperation documents worth more than US$21 billion in total, including

a trade deal between low-cost carrier Vietjet Air and Boeing for 100 new 737 MAX planes worth US$12.7 billion and a 12-year-long agreement worth US$5.3 billion USD between Vietjet Air and General Electric (GE) Aviation on aircraft engines supply and comprehensive maintenance service.