Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.

During her visit, Sherman met some senior Vietnamese leaders, including Politburo member and Hanoi municipal Party Committee Secretary Pham Quang Nghi, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan, and leaders of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Public Security.

The two sides expressed their delight at the growing bilateral ties, especially since Vietnam and the US set up their comprehensive partnership last year.

They agreed to continue working closely together to beef up the relationship. In 2015, the two countries will mark the 20^th anniversary of the normalisation of their diplomatic relations.

The Vietnamese leaders said they attach great importance to developing ties with the US, and proposed increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels and in all sectors.

The Vietnamese officials said Vietnam and the US should work more closely to strengthen cooperation economics-trade-investment, science-technology, and education-training,  adding that Vietnam hopes the US will remain open to compromise in the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Vietnam also wants to strengthen cooperation with the US on humanitarian issues and recovering from the war, and wants to learn from US experience in maritime search and rescue, marine security, and peacekeeping activities.

Praising Vietnam’s role in the region, Sherman said the US is keen on bolstering bilateral cooperation in all fields.

She said the US is interested in coordinating with Vietnam at the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Human Rights Council. They also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the frameworks of world and regional forums and in shaping an Asia-Pacific architecture.
The two sides said they will continue working closely for peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Sea, and in ensuring maritime freedom, safety, and security.