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Vietnamese party chief's upcoming visit to U.S. seen as historical in bilateral ties: U.S. defense secretary

Xinhua, June 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

Visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said here on Monday that President Barack Obama looks forward to the visit by the Communist Part of Vietnam (CPV) General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the United States which will be a historical visit in the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relations.

Carter made the remarks at a meeting with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang in capital Monday during his visit to Vietnam, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA Monday.

At the meeting, Carter informed Sang of security discussions that the two sides have had, which reflects good relations between the United States and Vietnam as well as his country's determination for strengthening bilateral ties.

Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, for his part, welcomed working outcomes between the Vietnamese defense ministry and the U. S. defense department.

The Joint Vision Statement on Defense Relations signed here Monday between Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh and U. S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter is an important foundation for practical implementation of agreements in the area, as well as premise for concrete cooperation activities in the future, Sang said.

Closing the past and looking to the future, Vietnam and the United States have established comprehensive partnership, promoted frequent exchanges of high-level visits with Vietnamese party chief's upcoming visit to the United States as a highlight, said Sang.

In addition, meetings and contacts at the United Nations later this year will provide important opportunities for the two countries' leaders to exchange views on issues relating bilateral relations as well as issues on peace and stability in the region and the world, Sang added.

Sang took the occasion to extend an invitation to U.S. President Obama to visit Vietnam as the two countries are celebrating the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties in 2015.

The Vietnamese president said the two sides need to have practical actions such as conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and U.S. complete removal of its ban on the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam.

Vietnam is willing to work with the United States in humanitarian areas such as search for missing Americans in war, demining and environmental cleanup in Vietnam's central Da Nang and southern Bien Hoa city, said Sang.

Carter is on his official visit to Vietnam from May 31 to June 1 at the invitation of Vietnamese Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh. Endi