Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received US Secretary of defenseLloyd Austin in Hanoi on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said he believes the visit will boost bilateral defense ties and make the two countries’ comprehensive partnership stronger for peace, prosperity, and development in each country as well as in the region and the world. The Vietnamese Prime Minister urged the two countries to seriously implement an action plan on currency in the coming time, further enhance bilateral economic ties.

The US supports strong, independent, prosperous Vietnam

Prime Minister Chinh thanked the US for giving Vietnam vaccines and medical equipment through the COVAX facility as well as other channels. He said he hopes the US administration will continue to help Vietnam access vaccines as soon as possible and create conditions for cooperation in research, technology transfer, and production of COVID-19 vaccines.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the US treasures its partnership with Vietnam, supports a strong, independent, and prosperous Vietnam, and wants to further bilateral ties. He praised Vietnam’s increasing role in the ASEAN, the UN, and the UN Security Council and promised to help Vietnam overcome war aftermaths, improve maritime security capability, and participate in UN peacekeeping missions.

Austin said the US will help Vietnam and other countries access more vaccines to soon contain the COVID-19 pandemic.