PM Nguyen Tan Dung and US Senator John McCain - Photo: VGP

Viet Nam hopes to deepen the bilateral ties with the US in various fields, particularly politics-diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, education, science and technology, affirmed PM Dung.

The Government chief also expects to foster national defense and security cooperation with the US, asking the US to help Viet Nam improve its capacity to protect national sovereignty and overcome the consequences of the war.

Viet Nam stands ready to boost cyber security cooperation with the US, PM Dung added.

Regarding human right issue, PM Dung affirmed that Viet Nam is striving to better ensure people’s rights and ready to hold frank talks in this area.

He also said that the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership will open up numerous opportunities for both countries.

The two US Senators said their visit to Viet Nam aims to strengthen cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

Concerning the East Sea issue, Senator John McCain said China is increasingly aggressive, regardless of international law.

He said that US Senators share the view that peace, stability and security in Asia and Southeast Asia are being threatened by the design and actions to claim sovereignty based on the groundless “cow-tongue” line.

To ensure peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, relevant parties, including China, must comply with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, not resort to force or threat to use force, settle disputes through peaceful measures, strictly implement the Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the East Sea and work towards the conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

The two Senators said they will ask the US Congress to lift lethal weapon embargo on Viet Nam.

They also said that the US hopes to expand cooperation in maritime security, cyber security, and water and environmental protection with Viet Nam./.

By Hai Minh