Photo: VNA
(VOVworld) – On Thursday Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh welcomed a delegation of US lawmakers, led by Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Senator John McCain. Minster Thanh praised Senator McCain’s contributions to boosting Vietnam-US relations and believed that the US guests’ visit will contribute to bolstering their multi-faceted cooperation. He said Vietnam treasures their bilateral defence cooperation and said the two sides should promote their cooperation for the sake of each country’s peace and prosperity. He underscored that the Vietnamese government considers democratic values and human rights as core issues in building a democratic and civilized society that respects human rights.
US lawmakers voiced their concerns about security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region because of recent developments in the East Sea. They said the US supports settling disputes via peaceful diplomatic measures on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).