Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) On February 13, General Phan Van Giang, member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defense, met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Michael DeSomber in Hanoi.
Phan Van Giang stated that Vietnam has always regarded the United States as an important partner, especially in the economic and trade fields. He expressed his hope that both sides would deepen cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, respect for international law, and respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems, jointly safeguarding regional and global security, peace, stability, and development.
Phan Van Giang pointed out that Vietnam-U.S. defense cooperation has made positive progress in recent years, covering multiple areas including mutual visits of delegations at all levels, dialogue and consultation, handling of war legacy issues, training cooperation, UN peacekeeping, cooperation among military branches and border and coast guard forces, and defense industry cooperation.
He expressed his gratitude to the U.S. for its support in post-war unexploded ordnance and landmine clearance, dioxin and other chemical agent pollution control, and assistance in searching, collecting, and verifying information on missing Vietnamese soldiers during the war.
Phan Van Giang suggested that both sides continue to deepen cooperation based on the agreements already signed by the two countries' defense ministries. The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense will continue to attach great importance to and prioritize cooperation in addressing the legacy of the war, and hopes that the US will continue to fulfill its relevant commitments, including providing an additional $130 million in funding for the Bien Hoa Airport dioxin pollution remediation project.
He emphasized that Vietnam will continue to provide close cooperation and facilitation in the search for missing US service members, and hopes that the US will strengthen the sharing of information, data, and belongings related to Vietnamese soldiers killed or missing. Phan Van Giang also hoped that DeSomber would continue to support and promote the deepening, practical, and efficient development of bilateral defense cooperation within his purview.
DeSomber extended New Year greetings to the Vietnamese people, expressed his pleasure at the positive progress made in the Vietnam-US comprehensive strategic partnership and defense cooperation, and reiterated the US State Department's support for Vietnam's work on addressing the legacy of the war and identifying missing service members. (End)
