Hanoi (VNA) – Viet Nam’s acting Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry had a meeting in Hanoi on January 13 to exchange measures to enhance the two countries’ comprehensive partnership in the coming time.

Son asked the US to soon recognise Viet Nam’s market economy status, open door wider for Vietnamese goods, and reduce trade barriers.

He also called on the US to prioritise cooperation in addressing war consequences, especially dioxin decontamination at Da Nang and Bien Hoa airports, and implement effectively the Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation issued in 2015 and the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation signed in 2011.

Regarding regional and international issues, Son underlined the significance of the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership, stressing that Vietnam is willing to coordinate with the US to increase the central role of ASEAN and assist the bloc in building regional architecture in the 21st century.

Regarding the East Sea situation, the two sides stressed the need to abide by international law, and legal and diplomatic processes to settle disputes to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the sea.

US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed his pleasure to return to Viet Nam, and said the two countries’ relations have developed well across many sectors over the past 20 years.

He reiterated the US commitments to respecting Viet Nam’s political institution, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supporting Vietnam to organise the APEC Summit 2017 successfully.

The US is willing to provide more assistance for Viet Nam to cope with climate change, especially in developing clean energy, build sustainable infrastructure, manage water resources and ecological system, as well as accelerate the implementation of dioxin detoxification at Da Nang and Bien Hoa airports, he affirmed.

He noted that the official operation of the Fulbright University Viet Nam will contribute to developing high-quality human resources in the country.

The Secretary of State also supported the central role of ASEAN and stressed the US will continue coordinating with the association to strengthen intra-bloc solidarity and promote ASEAN-US strategic partnership

The US also advocated the settlement of disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means and legal and diplomatic processes on the basic of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)