Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh (L) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh made the statement while meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US Deputy National Security Advisor Charles Kupperman and Assistant to the US President Keith Kellogg in Washington on Wednesday. Minh praised the positive development of Vietnam-US bilateral relations and urged the two countries to maintain sound economic and trade ties and increase collaboration in education-training, science-technology, security-defense and the settlement of post-war consequences, among other areas.

For their part, the US officials spoke highly of relations with Vietnam, and affirmed that they want to heighten the program of cooperation with Vietnam.

On the East Sea issue, they reiterated their support for the settlement of disputes via peaceful measures in line with international laws. The US pledged to play an active role in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain order and promote peace, stability, cooperation and development in this important region. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Minh is on an official visit to the US from Wednesday to Thursday at the invitation of US Secretary of State Pompeo.