US Secretary of State: President Trump considers Vietnam a priority partner in the region

Within the framework of attending the high-level general discussion of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly and bilateral activities in the US, on September 24, President Luong Cuong received US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

President Luong Cuong highly appreciated Secretary of State Rubio's support for Vietnam and the Vietnam-US relationship in the context of the two countries celebrating 30 years of normalization of relations and 2 years of upgrading the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam always considers the US a partner of strategic importance and wishes to continue to develop the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the US in an increasingly substantive and in-depth direction on the basis of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regime, for peace , stability and common prosperity.

The two sides exchanged many cooperation contents in key areas such as politics - diplomacy, economics - trade - investment, security - defense, science and technology, education, humanitarian - overcoming war consequences.

President Luong Cuong receives Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo: VNA

The President suggested that the two sides continue to contact and exchange delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, to maintain mutual understanding and trust and effectively handle each side's concerns, especially the issue of reciprocal taxes.

Vietnam welcomes US businesses to increase cooperation and investment in strategic areas such as the semiconductor industry and training of high-quality human resources. The President suggested that the US Government soon have a roadmap to recognize Vietnam as a market economy and remove Vietnam from the strategic export control list.

Agreeing with the President's assessments, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the Trump administration always considers Vietnam one of the US's top priority partners in the region. He said that the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries not only needs to be maintained but also needs to be developed and become more substantial, especially in the context that the two countries have great potential for cooperation in economics, trade, investment and share common interests in ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Secretary of State Rubio said that the closer the two sides cooperate, the more opportunities will open up for bilateral relations and affirmed that the US is ready to accompany Vietnam in this process, for the benefit of the people of both countries.

Vietnam has always been a reliable partner of the United States.

On the same day, Acting Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung met and discussed with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Looking back at Vietnam-US relations after 30 years of normalization, Acting Minister Le Hoai Trung said that Vietnam wishes to be a bridge of peace, together with countries in and outside the region to create a peaceful, stable and developed Asia-Indo-Pacific.

In that spirit, Acting Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung suggested that both sides maintain the positive development momentum of bilateral relations, including contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones.

In terms of economics and trade, Vietnam has always been a reliable partner of the US, ready to increase purchases of US goods, especially high-tech products such as aircraft, semiconductor products... to expand the market for US goods. He suggested that the US consider the specific factors of the Vietnamese economy in the process of negotiating the Reciprocal Tax Agreement between the two countries.

Vietnam wishes to cooperate more closely with the US in areas of mutual concern, especially transnational crime, counter-terrorism, and cyber security.

The Acting Minister thanked and appreciated the US decision to maintain projects to support overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam. Cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war is an important pillar to help promote healing, reconciliation, build trust and create a foundation to promote the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and the US.

The Acting Minister also thanked the US government for its support for the Vietnamese-American community and appreciated the community's contributions to US society and to the Vietnam-US relationship.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting a “strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous” Vietnam. The US always considers Vietnam one of the top priority partners in the region. The US will work with Vietnam to further promote practical measures to effectively and substantially implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas.

Secretary of State Rubio affirmed that President D. Trump hopes that the two sides will soon complete negotiations to implement a reciprocal tax agreement, thereby bringing benefits to both countries.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/ngoai-truong-my-tong-thong-trump-xem-viet-nam-la-doi-tac-uu-tien-tai-khu-vuc-2445883.html