Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on March 23 received US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper to discuss measures to promote bilateral relations and discuss the regional and international situation that the two sides are concerned about.
According to Vietnam’s state-controlled media, Mr. Son wished that Ambassador Knapper “will continue to make active contributions to the development of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership in-depth, effectiveness, and substance.”
Mr. Son was also quoted by a newspaper affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam as saying, “suggesting Ambassador Knapper coordinate in promoting visits by senior leaders of the two countries in 2022” and “close coordination with Vietnamese ministries and sectors to further promote cooperation between the two countries in important and priority areas such as post-pandemic economic growth and recovery, improving the resilience of supply chains, and building infrastructure. high quality, green and sustainable development, human resource training…”
Still, local newspapers reported that the two diplomats also discussed regional and international situations, including Ukraine.
Mr. Son was quoted as saying, “reaffirming Vietnam’s consistent position that international disputes and disagreements should be resolved by peaceful means, in compliance with the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, especially the principle of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries; stressed the need to ensure the safety of civilians, including Vietnamese in Ukraine, to evacuate from the war zone.”
In addition, it was reported that, regarding the regional situation, Mr. Son and Mr. Knapper “highly upheld the observance of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)“ as well as “agreed” continue to closely coordinate in regional cooperation frameworks, especially those of ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation.”
The US embassy’s Facebook page on March 23 posted a picture of a meeting between Mr. Knapper and Mr. Son “to discuss the US-Vietnam partnership.” Ambassador Knapper was quoted as saying “appreciating the welcome he received when he arrived in Vietnam and said he looks forward to working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advance common goals and elevate bilateral relations to a new level.”
The day before, also according to the US Embassy, Mr. Knapper and his wife had a meeting with a couple of former ambassadors Nguyen Phuong Nga, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; and former Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, President of the Vietnam American Association.
The US Embassy quoted Mr. Knapper as saying that he and former Vietnamese ambassadors to the United Nations and the US had “exchanged about the good relationship between the US Embassy and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnamese American Association.”
“We look forward to working together in the near future to further promote the friendly relationship between the two countries,” Knapper said, according to the US Embassy.
Translated by Thoibao.de from VOA: https://www.voatiengviet.com/a/6497552.html
