Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on regarding the US as a partner of strategic importance while meeting with US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. in Hanoi onSeptember 11.

At the meeting, Chinh affirmed that the establishment of the Vietnam-USComprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainabledevelopment demonstrates the growth of the bilateral relationship, matching theinterests of the two countries’ people, and positively contributing to peace,stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

The PM appreciated the country for supportinga strong, independent, self-resilient, and prosperous Vietnam, and suggested the UScontinue promoting specific forms of cooperation to implement the commitment.

For his part, Biden rejoiced at the elevation of bilateral ties to the ComprehensiveStrategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development,considering this an opportunity for the two sides to build a bright future for their people.

The President reiterated the support for a strong,independent, self-resilient, and prosperous Vietnam with further reforms and internationalintegration, playing a greater role in the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN), as well as in international cooperation in handling globalchallenges.

Economic-trade-investment cooperation remains a brightspot and momentum of the bilateral ties, with two-way trade exceeding 123billion USD last year, they said, adding progress has also been made incollaboration in science-technology, education-training, nationaldefence-security, war consequence settlement, climate change response, andpeople-to-people exchange.

To effectively implement the Comprehensive StrategicPartnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development, Chinh suggestedthe two sides enhance cooperation in all channels, especially Party, Statediplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy channels.

For the economic-trade-investment cooperation, the PM stressedthat it should be considered a perpetual engine of the bilateral relations, andsuggested the US soon recognise Vietnam’s market economy, upgrade the Trade andInvestment Framework Agreement, and continue to encourage its high-tech firmsto operate in the Southeast Asian nation.

Breakthroughs should be made in cooperation inscience-technology, innovation, and education-training, he said, suggestingstronger collaboration in climate change response, green growth and renewableenergy development.

Biden agreed with Chinh’s views on orientations andmeasures to implement a new framework of the bilateral relations, as well aspriority cooperation areas, including health care, social welfare, green energyand high-tech.

Chinh noted that as an active, proactive, responsiblemember of the international community, Vietnam wishes that the US will maintainits practical support for Vietnam’s peacekeeping activities in the UnitedNations.

Pointing to a host of challenges relating tonon-traditional security challenges globally, the PM highly valued the role of multilateralism and suggested the US give more resources to effectively materialise theASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and deepen the Mekong-USPartnership through specific, practical projects on climate change response, sustainablewater resources management, ensuring food security, energy transition and humanresources development in the Mekong sub-region.

On this occasion, the PM expressed his sympathy to theUS President over losses of American people caused by the terrorist attacks onSeptember 11, 2001, emphasising Vietnam's stance on fighting terrorism in anyform, saying international cooperation in terrorism combat is very important,including cooperation with the US.

Chinh called on Biden and the US to further supportthe Vietnamese community in the country.

Prior to the meeting, the leaders visited a photoexhibition of the Vietnam News Agency, featuring the Vietnam-US cooperation.

On display were 15 photos on milestones in thebilateral ties since the normalisation of the relations, including theestablishment of the diplomatic ties in 1995, the Comprehensive Partnership in2013, visits to Vietnam by US Presidents and visits to the US by VietnameseParty and State leaders, especially the meeting between Party General SecretaryNguyen Phu Trong and Biden, as Vice President, during the Vietnamese leader’s officialvisit to the US in July 2015./.