Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets US Secretary of State John Kerry (Photo: VNA)

(VOV) - Vietnam wants to constantly develop cooperative ties with the US for peace, stability and development in each country, as well as in the region and the world. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement at Friday’s meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in New York. Dung proposed the US remove trade barriers, work closely with Vietnam to settle trade disputes, and early recognize Vietnam’s market economy status. He acknowledged US goodwill towards addressing war aftermath, especially the Agent Orange/dioxin legacy, and asked the US to consider providing more assistance to support war victims.  Dung said both Vietnam and the US have maintained human rights dialogues over the years in a cooperative and constructive spirit to ensure these issues will not affect bilateral cooperation. For his part, Kerry said President Barack Obama follows with keen interest positive developments in US-Vietnam relations. He thanked Vietnam for making a significant contribution to the ongoing negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, especially during the recent round of talks in Brunei. He expressed hope this free trade pact will be signed very soon. Kerry also said he believes bilateral relations will further develop, primarily in economics, trade, and investment. He pledged to support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of war.