The delegation, led by Chairman of the committee Maj. Gen. Le Tan Toi, held talks with Chairman Adam Smith and Ranking Member Mike Rogers of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee.
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At the meeting with Congressman Joaquin Castro |
The Vietnamese lawmakers also met with Congressman Joaquin Castro, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on ASEAN and member of the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Senator Tammy Duckworth, member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services; Senator Bill Hagerty, member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Appropriations; Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John Tien; Assistant Secretary of State Jessica Lewis; and Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner.
The delegation had meetings with the assistants to President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed, and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jim Inhofe.
Speaking at the events, Toi affirmed that Vietnam consistently views the U.S. as a leading partner and highly values the U.S.’s support for an independent and prosperous Vietnam.
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At the working session with the Senate Armed Services Committee |
Vietnam always wishes to develop the comprehensive partnership with the U.S. in an increasingly substantive, stable, and long-term manner on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political regimes.
The U.S. officials said the Southeast Asian nation is an important partner of their country, and that the U.S. parliament strongly supports the two countries’ relations and hopes bilateral ties will record new strides.
They pledged to continue supporting Vietnam’s economic development and enhance defense and security cooperation, with a focus on helping Vietnam address war consequences, including environmental remediation of dioxin contamination and unexploded ordnance clearance, assist the disabled, search for Vietnamese soldiers’ remains, and improve maritime capacity.
The U.S. side also expressed their readiness to assist Vietnam in U.N. peacekeeping operations and other fields that suit both sides’ conditions and demand.
The Vietnamese and U.S. officials also discussed measures for further reinforcing parliamentary ties, shared information and experience in legislative and supervisory activities and transnational crime fight, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.
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Maj. Gen. Le Tan Toi (left) and U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare |
At the meeting with U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare, Toi thanked his host and the U.N. for actively assisting Vietnam to engage in U.N. peacekeeping operations and improve the country’s stature and capacity in the settlement of international affairs.
He called on the U.N. and the Under-Secretary-General to continue helping Vietnam contribute more to the U.N.’s noble goal of resolving conflicts and maintaining peace and stability for all people around the world.
The official asked the U.N. to create conditions for Vietnam to further take part in peacekeeping operations, help with training for Vietnamese forces, and pay attention to compensation for Vietnam’s contribution and losses when performing peacekeeping duties. He also suggested stronger trilateral cooperation and that the U.N. consider organizing training courses for countries’ peacekeeping forces in Vietnam.
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At the meeting with U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare |
For his part, Khare highly valued Vietnam’s active support, participation and contributions to U.N. peacekeeping operations, affirming continued assistance for the country in training.
He also voiced his hope that Vietnam will share its experience in training peacekeeping personnel with other countries, especially those in its region.
Source: VNA