Co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc and US Acting Assistant Secretary of State Tom Kelly, the sixth political-security-defense dialogue between Vietnam and the US took place in Washington DC on Tuesday.

Representatives from Vietnam’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security and Defense and the US Department of State, the US Agency for International Development and the Pacific Command also attended the dialogue, which is an annual event to discuss bilateral political, security and defense issues as well regional and international issues of common concern.

At the dialogue, the two sides highly valued the vigorous development of bilateral ties, especially the two countries’ comprehensive partnership set up during President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to the US in July.

The strong development has formed a firm foundation for the two sides to continue making specific progress in both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in all fields, especially in politics, security and defense.

During the event, the two sides, in the spirit of the new partnership, mutual trust and openness, exchanged views on concrete measures to realize their comprehensive partnership, strengthening cooperation in non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction bilaterally and multilaterally and the fight against transnational crime.

They also discussed ways to improve the capacity of law enforcement at sea, defense procurement, UN peacekeeping activities, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, search and rescue activities. Measures to overcome the aftermaths of war, treat Agent Orange/dioxin victims, continue mine clearance and search for soldiers listed as missing in action were also discussed in the dialogue.  

For the sake of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world, the two sides agreed that they should continue to collaborate in both regional and international forums, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus, the East-Asia Summit and the Lower Mekong Initiative.