During his stay, the US official met some senior Vietnamese leaders, including Politburo member and Hanoi municipal Party Committee Secretary Pham Quang Nghi, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan, and leaders of Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Public Security.

During the meetings, the two sides expressed their delight at the growing bilateral ties, especially since Viet Nam and the US set up their comprehensive partnership in 2013.

They agreed to continue working closely together to seek more measures to beef up the bilateral relationship in the future, especially in the context that the two countries are marking the 20 th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations in 2015.

The Vietnamese side affirmed that the country attaches much importance to developing ties with the US, suggesting that the two sides increase the exchange of delegations of all levels from all ministries and sectors.

Vietnamese officials said Viet Nam and the US should work more closely to strengthen cooperation in major areas, such as economics-trade-investment, science-technology, and education-training.

Viet Nam hopes that the US will continue remaining open to compromise in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership involving Viet Nam, they said.

The Vietnamese side also proposed that the US recognise the market economy regulations of Viet Nam and open their door wider for Vietnamese goods.

Viet Nam also wishes to strengthen cooperation with the US in the fields of humanitarian issues and surmounting the aftermath of war, while studying the US’ experience in maritime research and rescue, marine security safeguarding and peacekeeping activities.

Speaking highly of Viet Nam ’s role in the region, Sherman said the US is keen on bolstering cooperation in all fields ranging from politics-diplomacy, economics-trade, defence-security to activities to overcome the consequences of war.

The US is interested in coordinating with Viet Nam at the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Human Rights Council, he said.

Regarding a number of issues on which the two sides still hold different points of view, especially on matters related to human rights, the partners exchanged their opinions in a spirit of straightforwardness and mutual understanding.

They also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the frameworks of international and regional forums as well as within a shaping Asia-Pacific architecture.

The two sides affirmed that they will continue working closely to make contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea, ensuring the maritime freedom, safety and security.

Both the Vietnamese and the US sides agreed that all disputes in the East Sea must be settled through peaceful methods in respect for international law, especially the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They also agreed on the importance of strict implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), heading to the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea at an early date.-VNA