Leaders welcome Clinton, laud role in normalisation of US ties

HANOI (VNS) — Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has re-affirmed the Vietnamese Party and State are making efforts to boost relations between Viet Nam and the US for the long-term benefit of both peoples.

At a meeting with former US President Bill Clinton in Ha Noi yesterday, Trong highly valued the contributions Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, made to lifting the US embargo on Viet Nam in 1994, the diplomatic normalisation process and relations between the two countries over the last 20 years.

He spoke of the contributions the Clinton Foundation had made in supporting Viet Nam’s programmes on poverty reduction, hunger elimination, solving post-war problems, healthcare development and environmental protection.

Clinton expressed his happiness of returning to Viet Nam on the 20th year of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and spoke highly of Viet Nam’s achievements in social and economic development as well as the increasing role of the country in the region and the world.

He informed the Vietnamese host about the results of his family-run Clinton Foundation’s activities in Viet Nam over the last 10 years.

He noted progress in bilateral ties, especially over the last two years of implementing their comprehensive partnership. He said the US wanted to increase comprehensive ties with Viet Nam.

Clinton also agreed on the necessity to increase high-ranking exchanges and stressed the importance of Trong’s upcoming visit to the US.

The two sides also exchanged opinions on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

President’s meeting

On the same day, President Truong Tan Sang held a meeting with Bill Clinton.

He said that the achievements made by both countries after their 20 years of diplomatic relations were partly due to the Clintons, adding that many Vietnamese people viewed them as good friends.

The Vietnamese President welcomed the goodwill of both sides during the on-going Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and expressed his belief that the partnership, once signed, would contribute to economic ties between the two countries.

Sang applauded the US’s attitude in solving issues in the East Sea through peaceful means and in line with international laws, including the ASEAN Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

In response, Clinton said that all related parties should have mutual respect, share responsibilities and solve the issues through dialogue with the participation of all sides without unilateral action.

He stressed that Viet Nam had an important strategic role and potential for development.

Once the TPP was signed, Viet Nam’s economy and all parties involved would benefit, he added. — VNS

News Source: vietnamnews.vn