Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son receives US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Knapper. (Photo: Tuan Anh/TG&VN)

 Leaders of the two countries have maintained visits and meetings, they said, adding that the two sides have also enhanced cooperation in such areas as economy-trade, COVID-19 prevention and control, climate change response and the settlement of war consequences.

 Son expressed his hope that the ambassador will make more contributions to the comprehensive partnership in an effective and practical way, and work with the Vietnamese side to push for visits by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders this year, as well as the exchange of delegations and meetings at all levels and channels, including the Party, National Assembly and people-to-people diplomacy.

 The minister also asked for the diplomat’s close coordination with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to strengthen collaboration in important and priority spheres like post-pandemic economic recovery and growth, improving the resilience of supply chains, building high-quality infrastructure, green and sustainable development, and personnel training.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son receives US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Knapper. (Photo: Tuan Anh/TG&VN)

 In reply, Knapper expressed his impression on Viet Nam’s great development over the past years, and spoke highly of the important results of the comprehensive partnership.

 The US supports an independent, strong and prosperous Viet Nam, he said, stressing that the US hopes to elevate its relationship with the Southeast Asian nation to a new height.

 The diplomat pledged to coordinate closely with Vietnamese ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to foster the exchange of high-level visits in 2022 and boost cooperation between the two countries across fields, from trade to national defence-security, health care, climate change response and energy transition.

 Regarding the Ukraine issue, Son reiterated Viet Nam’s consistent stance that international disputes and differences should be addressed via peaceful measures in accordance with the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, especially those on respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.

 The minister highlighted the need to ensure safety for civilians, including Vietnamese in Ukraine, to evacuate from battle zones.

 For regional matters, the two officials emphasised the significance of observing international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and agreed to continue close coordination at regional cooperation frameworks, particularly the mechanisms of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Mekong sub-region./.