(VOVworld) – Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi is on his visit to the US at the invitation of the US Department of State.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi meets President pro tempore of the Senate Patrick Leahy (Photo: VNA)

At the meetings with the US Department of State and Congress, Mr. Nghi said the Party and State of Vietnam have always paid attention to promoting cooperative ties with the US in the framework of a joint declaration on Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership signed by President Truong Tan Sang and his US counterpart Barack Obama last July. The Hanoi Party Chief spoke highly of the importance of the exchange of high-ranking officials especially in 2015 as the two countries marks the 20^th anniversary of normalization of Vietnam-US relations. Mr. Nghi also asked the US to further open its market for Vietnamese products, restrict trade barriers, encourage US investment in Vietnam and recognize the country’s market economy status. He said Vietnam applauded the US for strengthening cooperation with Asia-Pacific region for peace and stability in the region.

The US officials said the US attaches great importance to Asia- Pacific in its overall strategy, and vowed to accelerate negotiations of the Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement towards its finalization by the end of this year. US officials expressed their concern over recent tensions in the East Sea after China illegally placed its oil platform Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. They appreciated Vietnam’s recent efforts to prevent confrontations and disputes in the region