State President holds talks with President Barack Obama

State President Tran Dai Quang and US President Barack Obama shake hands at the Presidential Palace in Ha Noi on May 23, 2016. Photo: VGP

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After the official welcoming ceremony this morning, State President Tran Dai Quang held talks with his US counterpart in the Presidential Palace and co-chaired the joint press conference at the International Convention Center.

The two Presidents expressed their pleasure at the fast, substantial, and comprehensive advancement of the bilateral relations based on the directions of the Strategic Partnership signed in 2013 and the Joint Vision Statement reached on the occasion of Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s historic visit to the US last year.

State President Quang spoke highly of the importance of President Obama’s visit to Viet Nam while the US President said he was glad to visit Viet Nam for the first time.

Viet Nam is consistently pursuing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development and diversification and multilateralization of external relations, State President Quang affirmed.

He also reiterated that Viet Nam attaches importance to developing the Viet Nam-US relations in a stable, deep and wide, and effective manner.

President Obama pledged to push the US Congress to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership and help Viet Nam improve its capacity in implementing the trade deal.

Both sides agreed that development and climate change adaptation cooperation is one of the key pillars of the bilateral ties and the two countries need to further enhance cooperation to overcome the war legacies, especially dioxin decontamination, ordnance clearance, and humanitarian assistance.

President Obama took the occasion to declare that the US officially lifts the lethal arms ban against Viet Nam, which was applauded by the host State President.

Regarding regional issues, the two leaders shared the importance of maintain peace and stability in the region, ensuring security and safety of navigation and aviation, settling disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working towards conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

The two sides agreed to intensify coordination and work with the international community to address regional and international issues such as climate change response, anti-terrorism, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons among others.

The two Presidents issued a Joint Statement affirming their resolve to strengthen their Comprehensive Partnership more substantially, deeply and effectively for the benefits of the two countries and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Following the talks, the two Presidents witnessed the signing ceremony of three economic agreements, including the purchase of 100 Boeing planes.

Later the same day, President Obama met with Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc./.

By Hai Minh