This was the first dialogue of its kind after the two countries upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023.
At the event, the two deputy ministers highly appreciated the great efforts and effective coordination between the two countries’ agencies and departments in implementing the commitments outlined in the joint statement on the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023.
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Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc |
Both expressed their delight at the practical progress across all areas, from politics-diplomacy, economy-trade, defense-security to culture-education and people-to-people exchanges, creating a positive momentum towards the 30th anniversary of Vietnam - U.S. diplomatic relations (1995-2025).
Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc confirmed that Vietnam considers the U.S. a partner of strategic importance, and welcomed the U.S.’s commitment to supporting a strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous Vietnam.
The Vietnamese official suggested the two sides enhance coordination, develop the comprehensive strategic partnership framework in an intensive, substantive and stable manner, and strengthen high-level contacts to maintain stability and positive development of the bilateral relations, as well as promote efficiency of dialogue mechanisms, including the political-defense-security dialogue, in order to consolidate trust, mutual understanding, and promote cooperation while addressing obstacles in the bilateral relationship.
He welcomed the inclusion of high-tech cooperation in the dialogue agenda for the first time, contributing to implementing collaboration in this breakthrough field as affirmed in the Vietnam - U.S. joint statement in September 2023.
U.S. Under Secretary of State Bonnie Jenkins highly praised the two sides’ effective realization of existing agreements on defense-security cooperation and agreed to continue prioritizing the settlement of war legacy in the bilateral relationship.
She stressed that the U.S. is committed to maintaining resources for collaborating with and supporting Vietnam in addressing war consequences, including Agent Orange/dioxin detoxification, bomb and mine clearance, assistance to Agent Orange/dioxin victims, and the search, collection, and identification of Vietnamese fallen soldiers' remains.
On behalf of the U.S. Government, she expressed thanks to the Vietnamese Government for the active and effective coordination in the search for U.S. servicemen missing in action in the war in Vietnam. She said that the U.S. would continue to boost defense-security cooperation with Vietnam according to the established frameworks and cooperation agreements, suitable to Vietnam’s needs, including cooperation in training, medical medicine, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and prevention and control of cyber security and high-tech crime.
Regarding global and regional issues of common concern, the two sides agreed to accelerate cooperation for peace, security, collaboration, and development in the region and the world.
The U.S. Under Secretary of State underlined that the U.S. treasures and prioritizes the Indo-Pacific region and supports ASEAN's centrality in the regional architecture. She also affirmed that the U.S. will continue to work closely with Vietnam to further enhance the effectiveness of the ASEAN - U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership and the Mekong - U.S. partnership.
On the East Sea (South China Sea) situation, they stressed the importance of maintaining peace, security, order at sea, and promoting freedom of navigation and overflight in the waters. They emphasized the principle of not using or threatening to use force, and solving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, particularly the U.N. Charter and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.
Translated by Mai Huong