During a recent phone call with Vietnamese ambassador to the US, Ha Kim Ngoc, Mr. Moore said the US and Vietnam should share their experience in combating the epidemic and beginning economic recovery.

He condemned China’s sovereignty violations in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), its threatening behavior towards Vietnamese fishermen, and a Chinese surveillance vessel’s ramming and sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat in the East Sea.

Mr. Moore said the US supports a stronger US-Mekong partnership, and will continue to cooperate with Vietnam in managing and protecting resources to minimize the impact of natural disasters in the region.

Ambassador Ngoc hailed improvements in the Vietnam-US relationship, and urged the two countries to sign an agreement on using space for peaceful purposes only.