(VOVworld)- National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received in Hanoi on Monday Senator Bob Corker, Senior Member of the US Senate’s External Relations Committee. The Vietnamese top legislator expressed his wish to boost cooperation with the US Congress. In regard to the East Sea issue, Hung said Vietnam always wanted to maintain and develop friendship with other countries in the region and the world. All nations should join efforts to ensure peace, stability and development. Hung said the Vietnamese National Assembly protested China’s actions in the East Sea because it threatened peace and security in the region. He said Vietnam aimed to use political, diplomatic and even legal measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Hung expressed his belief in the role of the UN and international organizations in protecting the legal interests of all countries in the East Sea.

Senator Bob Corker said the US senate was willing to strengthen cooperation with the Vietnamese National Assembly and share experiences in law issuance. The US Senator said he believed the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, which will be signed soon, would create a strong momentum for Vietnam’s economic development. Senator Corker stressed that the US was concerned about the situation in the East Sea and opposed China’s illegal placement of oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh receives US Senator Bob Corker (Photo: VGP)

At a meeting with US Senator Bob Corker the same day, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the two countries’ potential for further cooperation. He proposed the Senator and the US Congress increase delegation exchanges, strengthen bilateral economics, trade and investment cooperation, continue to grant Vietnam flexible and different treatment in negotiating the TPP agreement and expand markets for Vietnam. The two sides discussed regional and global issues of mutual concern. Mr. Minh praised the US Senate’s contributions to peace, stability and development in the region and the world. Senator Corker expressed his concern about the recent situation in the East Sea, especially China’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters. He agreed that all sovereignty disputes needed to be resolved through peaceful means according to international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The same day, the US Senator met with Deputy Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Truong Quang Khanh.