Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s acting Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and visitingUS Secretary of State John Kerry had a meeting in Hanoi on January 13 toexchange measures to enhance the two countries’ comprehensive partnership inthe coming time.

Sonasked the US to soon recognise Vietnam’s market economy status, open door widerfor Vietnamese goods, and reduce trade barriers.

Healso called on the US to prioritise cooperation in addressing war consequences,especially dioxin decontamination at Da Nang and Bien Hoa airports, andimplement effectively the Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation issuedin 2015 and the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation signed in 2011.

Regardingregional and international issues, Son underlined the significance of theASEAN-US Strategic Partnership, stressing that Vietnamis willing to coordinate with the US to increase the central role ofASEAN and assist the bloc in building regional architecture in the 21st century.

Regardingthe East Sea situation, the two sides stressed the need to abide byinternational law, and legal and diplomatic processes to settle disputes tomaintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation andaviation in the sea.

USSecretary of State John Kerry expressed his pleasure to return to Vietnam, andsaid the two countries’ relations have developed well across many sectors overthe past 20 years.

Hereiterated the US commitments to respecting Vietnam’s political institution,independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supporting Vietnam toorganise the APEC Summit 2017 successfully.

TheUS is willing to providemore assistance for Vietnamto cope with climate change, especially in developing clean energy, buildsustainable infrastructure, manage water resources and ecological system, aswell as accelerate the implementation of dioxin detoxification at Da Nang and Bien Hoaairports, he affirmed.

Henoted that the official operation of the Fulbright University Vietnam willcontribute to developing high-quality human resources in Vietnam.

TheSecretary of State also supported the central role of ASEAN and stressed the US willcontinue coordinating with the association to strengthen intra-bloc solidarityand promote ASEAN-US strategic partnership

TheUS also advocated the settlement of disputes in the East Sea via peaceful meansand legal and diplomatic processes on the basic of international law,especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

JohnKerry is paying a visit to Vietnamfrom January 12-14.-VNA