Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and US Senator Jeff Merkley in Hanoi on April 8. Photo: Nhan dan (People) newspaper

At a reception for a delegation of the US Congress led by Senator Jeff Merkley in Hanoi on April 8, the PM said Vietnam is willing to work with the US to continue promoting the bilateral relations in an effective and practical manner, on the basis of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions; serving the interests of the two peoples, and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region as well as in the world, VietnamPlus reported.

Chinh suggested the US Congress continue to pay attention to the allocation of resources and budget to support Vietnam in handling war consequences, including bomb and mine clearance projects and assistance for Agent Orange/dioxin victims.

The PM also called on the US Congress to support the two countries’ governments in strengthening cooperation in trade-investment, defence-security, education-training, science-technology and innovation, energy transition and response to climate change.

For his part, Senator Merkley affirmed that the US Congress considers Vietnam as one of the most important partners in the region. He agreed on the importance of promoting meetings and exchange of delegations between the governments and the legislatures of the two countries, especially on the occasion of the 10th founding anniversary of the comprehensive partnership in 2023, as well as maintaining bipartisan consensus in the US to support the relations with Vietnam.

He pledged to continue supporting Vietnam in areas of mutual benefit, and wished the two side to upgrade their relations to a strategic partnership.

The US Congress delegates said that priority will be given to addressing war consequences such as supporting people affected by war, clearing mines, decontaminating dioxin, searching for missing soldiers; combating climate change; promoting cooperation in investment, trade, energy transmission; and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the US.

Regarding regional and international issues, the two sides agreed that they have cooperated more effectively within the framework of multilateral institutions, especially ASEAN and related regional mechanisms.

The US side asked Vietnam to back the US in strengthening responsible cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

For the Bien Dong (South China Sea) issue, the two sides affirmed their stance on maintaining freedom and safety of navigation and aviation in the sea; peacefully solving relevant disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and working towards the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The same day, the US delegation was received by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, during which they expressed wish to continue building a deeper and stronger relationship between the two peoples, and vowed to exert further efforts to upgrade bilateral ties in the coming time, according to VOV.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and US Senator Jeff Merkley in Hanoi on April 8. Photo: VNA

Hue suggested that the two legislatures soon formulate a cooperation framework and working mechanism between their committees, and increase parliamentary exchanges, especially among young and female parliamentarians. He also suggested that the US Congress soon establish the US-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group to boost exchanges between the two sides.

Vietnam expects to receive support from the US to effectively implement its climate commitments, he said.

The US congressmen highly valued Vietnam’s net zero greenhouse gas emissions commitment at the 26th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP26), and said the US desires to cooperate with Vietnam in specific fields, including energy transition. They showed interest in Vietnam’s National Power Development Plan VIII, and said US businesses want to invest in clean energy projects as well as digital transformation in Vietnam.

Both host and guests highlighted the importance of building a legal framework for realizing the COP26 commitments, noting the two sides should jointly promote cooperation to share and solve common difficulties and challenges.

In a sincere and open atmosphere, Hue assured that Vietnam always respects and ensures human rights and citizens’ rights according to the Constitution and the law.

Vietnam always respects and fully implements international conventions on human rights that it has signed and acceded to, affirmed the chairman.

On this occasion, he extended an invitation to the group of young US congressmen to attend the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians to be hosted by the National Assembly of Vietnam this September.

Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang hosts a reception for the US delegation. Photo: VNA

Also on April 8, Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for the US delegation.

Giang proposed the congressmen push for the Congress’s continued support for defence cooperation between Vietnam and the US, focusing on war consequence settlement, training, military medicine and UN peacekeeping.

Merkley pledged to work to promote collaboration with Vietnam, particularly in the field of surmounting war aftermath.

On the occasion, Merkley presented the Vietnamese Defence Ministry a set of documents containing information on Vietnamese soldiers going missing during the war in Vietnam, Nhan dan (People) newspaper reported./.

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