Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of National Defence SeniorLieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and US Assistant Secretary of Defence Dr Ely Ratner co-chaired the annual Vietnam – US DefencePolicy Dialogue inWashington, D.C on September 19 (local time).

Commending positive defence cooperation between the two countries in the pastyear, Chien and Ratner said post-war recovery cooperation has continued to be apillar and a bright spot in the bilateral relations, helping build trust andfoster mutual understanding between the two sides.

Chien took this occasion to thank the US for increasing its non-refundable aid from 183 million USD to 300 million USD for the projectto clean up dioxin-contaminated soil at the Bien Hoa Air Base, describing it an importantresource to complete the first phase of the project.

Vietnam will continue creating favourable conditions for the search for USsoldiers missing in action (MIA) as the two sides are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons, and 35years of the implementation of the joint MIA activities, Chien said.

At the event, the two sides laid stress on the important role of Vietnam andthe US in the cooperation framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+),and agreed to continue effective defence collaboration in the fields of delegationexchange at all levels, cyber security, defence industry and UN peacekeepingactivities, as well as support each other at regional and multilateral forums, especiallyADMM+, making contributions to regional and global peace, stability anddevelopment.

As Vietnam and the US will continue working together to handle post-warconsequences, Chien suggested both sides to meticulously study the signing of aMemorandum of Understanding in the field based on the joint statement on theupgrade of the bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership forpeace, cooperation and sustainable development.

Chien asked the US to give further aid to Vietnam to speed up the dioxindetoxification project at the Bien Hoa Air Base, which needs an additional150-200 million USD.

Ratner said he will discuss the issue with the US Congress to seek further support for theproject.
Discussing international issues of mutual concerns, Chienand Ratner spoke highly of the role and position of ASEAN as well as ASEAN-ledmechanisms, and emphasised the importance of ensuring freedom, security andsafety of navigation and overflight in the East Sea.

Vietnam is persistent with its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, multilateralisation and diversification, and has pursued a “FourNos” defence policy, Chien said, adding Vietnam supports the settlement of disputesin the East Sea via peaceful means and in line with international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.