Hanoi (VNA) – StandingDeputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh attended a banquet hosted by US PresidentJoe Biden and met senior foreign officials on September 22, within theframework of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77)in New York.

At the banquet, Minh thanked Biden for supporting the Vietnam - US relations for manydecades.

He affirmed Vietnam alwaysviews the US as one of the most important partners, and that it wishes tocontinue intensifying their comprehensive partnership for the sake of the twopeoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the regionand the world.

The US leader highlighted hissentiment towards Vietnam since he was a senator, adding he always supports thestrong development of bilateral relations.

Biden also recalled Party GeneralSecretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s historic visit to the US in 2015 and said he hopesto pay an official visit to Vietnam at an appropriate time.

The same day, Deputy PM Minh hada meeting with President of the Marshall Islands David Kabua.

Discussing bilateralcooperation, they suggested the two sides increase all-level mutual visits andboost ties in the fields both sides hold potential for such as fishing,agriculture, tourism, air transport, climate change response, and food securityensuring.

Minh affirmed that Vietnamalways attaches importance to and is grateful to the Marshall Islands for supportingits candidacy for important international positions over the past years. Heasked the country to continue advocating Vietnam’s candidacy for a seat in theUN Human Rights Council for 2023 - 2025.

At another meeting, theVietnamese official and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi highly valuedthe vigorous growth in the two countries’ strategic partnership as seen inflexibly maintained meetings at all levels and great strides in economic andtrade links.

They agreed to step upall-level delegation exchanges, especially when the countries mark the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2023, effectively implement theaction plan for 2019 - 2023, and prepare to build another for 2024 - 2028.

The two officials also exchangedviews on some regional and international issues of common concern. They reaffirmedthe support for the maintenance of ASEAN’s solidarity and principles agreed upon onthe East Sea issue, as well as for the compliance with international law and the1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Deputy PM Minh underlinedVietnam’s support for Indonesia to successfully hold the ASEAN Chairmanship in2023.

Talking to US Deputy Secretaryof State Wendy Sherman, Minh expressed his delight at the progress in theVietnam - US comprehensive partnership, recommending the two sides furtherincrease discussions and dialogues at all levels and strengthen ties in allfields to substantively develop bilateral relations.

He also called on the US tocontinue assisting Vietnam in war aftermath settlement, digital transformation,energy transition, and climate change response.

Sherman said thecomprehensive partnership has been flourishing, noting meetings and delegationexchanges have been resumed to help sustain momentum for their ties.

She highly valued theVietnamese Government’s efforts in digital transformation, energy transition,and engagement in the discussion of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework forProsperity. The official also affirmed the her country's commitment to continue helping Vietnamwith climate change response and war aftermath settlement.

At a reception for USAmbassador to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Cindy McCain, DeputyPM Minh appreciated tireless efforts by her husband - late Senator John McCain,who joined generations of the countries’ leaders to turn the two former foesinto comprehensive partners of each other.

He emphasised that efforts byJohn and Cindy McCain have helped turn the cooperation in war aftermathsettlement into a bright spot in bilateral relations, promote reconciliation,built up trust between the two countries, and opened up many cooperation chancesin other areas.

Cindy McCain expressed herpride to join her husband in contributing to the growth of bilateral relations.

As the US Ambassador to FAO,she applauded Vietnam’s achievements in agricultural development, climate changeresponse, and water resource security ensuring in the Mekong Delta. She alsocalled on Vietnam to share agricultural development experience with theinternational community./.