Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and US Vice President Kamala Harris (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has affirmed that Viet Nam treasures ties with the US and wants to foster bilateral comprehensive partnership in a practical, effective and stable manner, for the sake of peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

During a reception in Hanoi on August 25 for US Vice President Kamala Harris, Chinh wished the US would continue assisting Viet Nam in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, including creating favourable conditions for Pfizer to speed up the delivery of more vaccines to Viet Nam this year.

Emphasising that Viet Nam considers economy-trade a pillar and driving force of Viet Nam – US ties, he suggested both sides enhance coordination in the framework of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) while considering the possibility of establishing a new economic-trade cooperation framework.

Viet Nam always creates conditions for US firms to do business in Viet Nam, Chinh said, wishing that the US would also offer support to Vietnamese enterprises in the country, thus creating a balance in bilateral trade and investment.

The host spoke highly of the US’s long-term commitments to overcoming post-war consequences in Viet Nam, and proposed the US accelerate the implementation of detoxification project at Bien Hoa airport and increase budget to support Viet Nam’s development.

According to him, Viet Nam has huge demand for joint work in education-training, human resources development, science-technology, health care, biotechnology and space for civil purpose.

Harris, for her part, stressed that the US treasures comprehensive partnership with Viet Nam on the basis of respecting for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, and not interfering into internal affairs of each other.

She reaffirmed that the US supports a strong, independent and prosperous Viet Nam and pledged to continue fostering bilateral ties more extensively, stably and firmly in the near future.

At the reception (Photo: VNA)

The guest affirmed that the US will continue offering practical support to Viet Nam to effectively cope with the pandemic and the risks of other epidemics in the future. She informed that the US will deliver 1 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to Viet Nam in the next 24 hours.

The US Government will continue giving priority to reinforcing bilateral ties in economy-trade, climate change, civil space, health care and pharmaceuticals, she said, adding that the US will offer further assistance to Viet Nam in dealing with post-war consequences, United Nations peacekeeping missions, improving maritime security and development cooperation.

On regional and global issues, both sides underscored ASEAN’s central role in the East Sea, Mekong and Myanmar issues as well as the principle of respecting international law in dealing with regional issues, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation.

The host said Viet Nam expects to welcome the US Vice President again when the pandemic is under control. Harris also wished to travel back to Viet Nam when possible./.