At the reception, President Tran Dai Quang highly valued the visit of the former US Secretary of State as it helped boost Vietnam-US bilateral cooperation. He stressed that Vietnam considers former Secretary of State John Kerry a close friend, and the Vietnam-US bilateral relations in recent time have seen remarkable development. President Tran Dai Quang and President Donald Trump exchanged letters on bilateral relations, in which President Trump affirmed to boost cooperation in economy, trade, investment, and regional and international issues of mutual concern; together with Vietnam and regional countries ensure security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region on the basis of respect for international law.

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President Tran Dai Quang (R) receiving Former US Secretary of State John Kerry

President Tran Dai Quang informed the US former official that Vietnam is actively preparing for the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week slated for this November in Da Nang city of Vietnam. He expressed joy when learning that US President Donald Trump will attend the APEC summit and pay an official visit to Vietnam. The Vietnamese top official suggested that former Secretary of State John Kerry continue supporting the development of the Vietnam-US relations, especially in cooperation in economics, trade, investment, education, science, technology, post-war consequence relief, and climate change adaptation.

Mentioning the Trump administration’s commitment to assisting Vietnam in overcoming the post-war consequences, President Quang said Vietnam will continue helping the US search for its troops missing in action during the war in Vietnam and suggested the former US official support Vietnam’s concerns in this field, especially the speed-up of the decontamination of Bien Hoa Airport, UXO clearance, search for missing Vietnamese soldiers and support for war victims.

For his part, former US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed his expectation that Vietnam and the US will cooperate more closely in all sectors. He stressed that over the past 30 years, he has made all efforts to enhance the Vietnam-US relations. He said Vietnam has become an economy with high competitiveness.

The same afternoon, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also held receptions for former US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Translated by Huu Duong