The two sides have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting bilateral relations based on friendship and mutual respect to ensure a peaceful, stable, prosperous and secure Asia-Pacific region.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Andrew Shapiro, concluded the fourth Vietnam-US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue in Washington D.C on June 18.

Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the positive developments in various areas, which have helped consolidate the friendship and multifaceted cooperation for mutual benefit.

They discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation in the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, fighting terrorism, controlling drugs, searching for American and Vietnamese MIA soldiers, dealing with the consequences of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and search and rescue as well as other issues of security and defence.

The two sides compared notes on enhancing ASEAN-US cooperation and issues related to the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

They also discussed details of raising their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, which brought up by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to Hanoi in October last year.

Both countries affirmed that bilateral cooperation in coping with the challenges of international and regional security is a natural development of full political, economic, cultural and social relations and will help create a firm foundation for economic prosperity.

Security in the East Sea was also a topic of discussion at this dialogue. Both sides agreed that maintaining peace, stability and maritime freedom in the East Sea is in line with the common interests of the international community. All territorial disputes in the East Sea must be settled through diplomatic measures and joint cooperation without pressure or the use of force.

The two sides said statements on territory and territorial waters must comply with international laws including the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.

They also reaffirmed the importance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN and China in 2002 and encouraged parties to reach an agreement on a full code of conduct.

The US side said that the incidents in recent times failed to promote peace and maintain regional stability while raising concerns about maritime security, particularly maritime freedom, economic development, legal trade and respect for international law.

This dialogue based on mutual respect and trust contributed to strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The fifth dialogue is scheduled to take place in Hanoi next year.

Source: VOV