The Vietnamese PM yesterday in Hà Nội received US Senator Jim Webb, Chairman of the East Asia-Pacific Sub-Committee under the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations who is present in Việt Nam on the occasion of the 15^th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties. 

At the meeting, PM Dũng asked Mr. Jim Webb to persuade the US administration to grant the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for Việt Nam, not set up barriers against made-in-Việt Nam exports, and speed up the negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the two countries.

PM Dũng said that Việt Nam will host the 17^th ASEAN Summit in October in Hà Nội and wants to invite US President Barack Obama to participate in the event and attend the 2^nd ASEAN-US Summit.

For his part, US Senator Jim Webb expressed his impression of the socio-economic development in Việt Nam and the fine bilateral ties over the past years. The guest also pledged that he would spare no effort to cement and deepen the bilateral ties in such fields as economics, trade, investment, education and training.

The US Senator took this occasion to congratulate Việt Nam on taking the chair of ASEAN in 2010 while showing his interest in Mekong River issues and committing to helping regional countries to deal with climate change.

Mr. Jim Webb also expressed his concerns over recent situations in the Eastern Sea and supported for peace, stability, international free maritime activities in the water areas. According to him, relevant countries should cooperate with each other to ensure peace and maritime security in accordance with international laws and any disputes should be settled via negotiations without using force and threatening to use force. 

The US, said Senator Jim Webb, stands for a long-term solution to the Eastern Sea issue. He added that in the short term, it is necessary for relevant parties to strictly abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the Eastern Sea (DOC). 

On the same day, Government chief Nguyễn Tấn Dũng hosted a reception to new Cambodian Ambassador Hunn Phany.

Mr. Dũng suggested Ambassador Hunn Phany make positive contributions to the special friendly ties between the two neighbors in all areas and to the completion of border demarcation and landmark planting in 2012. 

The Vietnamese PM was convinced that Mr. Hunn Phany would play a significant role to boost the bilateral ties while making a commitment to favorable conditions for the diplomat to fulfill his mission in Việt Nam.

Responding to the Vietnamese leader’s goodwill, Ambassador Hunn Phany pledged to do his utmost to facilitate bilateral linkages, especially in the domains of economics, trade and investment./.

By Hương Giang