Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran DaiQuang and President Donald Trump discussed measures to enhance the relationsbetween Vietnam and the US in a more practical and effective manner duringtheir talks in Hanoi on November 12.

President Quang affirmed Vietnam’s consistentexternal policies of independence, self-reliance, and diversification andmultilateralisation of international relations while proactively integratinginto the world.

He hoped the Vietnam-US relations will continueto grow based on respecting the respective independence, sovereignty,territorial integrity and political institution.

[Party chief welcomes US President]

President Trump expressed his pleasure to visitVietnam for the first time and said the US attaches great importance to thefriendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.

The two Presidents agreed that the establishmentof the bilateral comprehensive partnership in 2013 lays an important foundationfor Vietnam and the US to reinforce their ties.

Promoting economic, trade and investment tieswill continue to be a focus in the bilateral comprehensive partnership in thetime ahead, contributing to growth and employment in both countries.

Vietnam and the US agreed to increase high-leveldelegation exchanges and promote the efficiency of existing cooperationmechanisms while considering the establishment of new appropriate ones.

The two sides will step up cooperation in otherfields such as the settlement of post-war consequences, people-to-peopleexchanges, science-technology, education-training, and security-defense.

President Quang thanked the US for its promptassistance for Vietnamese flood victims and hoped the US will strengthencoordination with Vietnam in humanitarian aid activities and natural disasterrelief in the coming time.

Quang and Trump welcomed the two countries’efforts to complete the detoxification project at Da Nang airport and plan tosoon implement similar ones at Bien Hoa airport and other locations.

They affirmed that Vietnam and the US sharecommon benefits in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development aswell as respect international law in the Asia-Pacific region, while agreeing toincrease coordination at regional and international forums.

President Quang thanked the US for supporting Vietnam in hosting successfullythe APEC Year 2017 and proposed the US push ahead with relations with theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

President Trump congratulated Vietnam on thesuccessful organisation of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2017 and highlyvalued the role of Vietnam as the host of the event. 

He affirmed the US will continue supporting thecentral role of ASEAN and promote the strategic partnership with the bloc.

Regarding regional issues, the two sidesstressed the need to maintain security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviationin the East Sea. They agreed to address disputes via peaceful means and in linewith international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(1982 UNCLOS), while respecting diplomatic and legal processes, implementingfully and effectively the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC), and soon signing a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

After the talks, host and guest answeredreporters’ queries at a joint press conference, issued joint statement onVietnam-US relations, and witnessed the signing of economic cooperationagreements worth over 12 billion USD.-VNA