Meeting with Congressman Ted Yoho, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, on Friday, in Washington DC, Ms. Mai reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of respecting friendship and comprehensive cooperation with the US on the basis of bilateral ties’ framework. Mr. Yoho said the US is ready to increase cooperation and work with Vietnam in removing obstacles in bilateral ties. He added the US continues respecting Vietnam’s position and role in ASEAN, considering Vietnam an important partner in the region.

During Ms. Mai’s meetings with high-ranking US officials, both sides emphasized on continued delegation exchanges, people-to-people diplomacy, prioritized measures to overcome war consequences, and closer coordination at multilateral forums. Vietnam called on the US to soon recognize Vietnam as a market economy. Both sides agreed on the need to settle East Sea disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to ensure peace and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region.