Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vice President Joe Biden met on Tuesday in Washington. (Source: Pool/CNN)

(VOVworld) – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended on Tuesday a reception hosted by Vice President Joe Biden following Mr. Trong’s talks with President Barack Obama. Vice President Joe Biden stressed that the talks between Vietnam’s Party chief and President Barack Obama were conducted in a frank, open and substantive manner, laying foundations for developing Vietnam-US relations in the future.

Mr. Trong expressed his confidence that bilateral ties which were founded on the basis of mutual respect for both countries’ political institutions and interests, will continue to grow.

Later on Tuesday, Party leader Trong met with representatives of overseas Vietnamese and US friends. He highlighted the role of people from both countries in fostering bilateral ties and thanked US friends for their support and cooperation with Vietnam. Trong said Vietnam wants to promote its fine relations with the US, especially in maintaining peace and security in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, and tackling challenges and non-traditional and traditional security risks. He added that Vietnam hopes for equal and sustainable development in line with the protection of workers’ interests, the environment, climate change mitigation, epidemic prevention, and poverty reduction. Vietnam also wants to boost cooperation with the US in cultural exchanges, education and training, and science and technology, to promote human rights, and address consequences of war such as Agent Orange/dioxin, unexploded bombs and mines, and soldiers missing in action. Trong said he hopes civil organizations of both countries will further enhance their exchanges and cooperation.

 While meeting with US Ambassador for Religion Freedom David Saperstein and the first US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (IRF) Robert Seiple, Trong said Vietnam is a country of multiple religions and 54 ethnic minorities. Under the Constitution and laws of Vietnam, all people have the right to follow or not follow a religion. In Vietnam, there is no religious or ethnic conflict and all people live in harmony. US religious leaders have sent welcoming messages to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on this occasion. In its message, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said Vietnam and the US share a number of similarities regarding humane and traditional values. In his message, pastor Bob Roberts of Northwood Church in Keller, Texas, acknowledged positive changes in Vietnam regarding economic development and international integration after 20 years working with the Vietnamese government on humanitarian projects.