Party, State leaders welcome US House Minority Leader

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong called for the US’s continued cooperation and support to Vietnam in dealing with war consequences, especially Agent Orange issue, bomb and mine clearance, and the sharing of information relating to Vietnamese soldiers and officers missing in action.

It is important for building and deepening the two sides’ trust, the Party chief stressed at his reception for Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and her accompanying congressmen in Hanoi on March 31^st.

Nancy Pelosi said she was happy to visit Vietnam at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 20^th anniversary of diplomatic ties and see impressive developments recorded by Vietnam as well as the country’s growing position on the regional and global stages.

President Truong Tan Sang receiving Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. Photo: VNA

While informing the host of the positive outcomes of her working sessions with Vietnamese leaders, Nancy Pelosi stressed that Republicans and Democrats in the US congress have all backed the US administration’s policy of treasuring and bolstering ties with Vietnam and stepping up the implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership.

She said she believes that the two countries have a lot to do for their relations to grow further, especially after the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement takes effect.

The Party leader described Pelosi’s visit as significant to elevating the two countries’ relations, especially when both are marking the 20^th year of ties normalization.

He said cooperation in economy, education, healthcare, science and technology has generated practical benefits for Vietnamese and American people and contributed to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

On the day, State President Truong Tan Sang welcomed Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and her accompanying congressmen, asking them to provide greater support to the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.

The support should focus on exchanging high-level visits; accelerating economic, trade and investment cooperation; concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations early; opening the door to Vietnamese goods; and addressing the consequences of war, he said.

The State President said he was delighted at the progress made in Vietnam-US relations across politics-diplomacy, economy-trade-investment, science-technology, security, defence, culture-education, and humanitarian collaboration since the Comprehensive Partnership was established in July, 2013.

Pelosi said she was impressed by Vietnam’s accomplishments and confirmed her delegation’s backing of strengthened Vietnam-US ties.

According to her, the two countries have yet to fully tap their development potential and now is the time for both to further their comprehensive partnership.

Nancy Pelosi and the other congressmen exchanged their views with the President regarding the Asian-Pacific context as well as TPP negotiations and related matters in labourers’ rights, the environment, the role of women, food security and safety, and Vietnamese commitments.

Source: VNA