National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung expressed the Vietnamese legislative body’s willingness to boost closer cooperative relations with the US Congress at a reception for Senator Bob Corker in Ha Noi on August 4.

Hung told Senator Bob Corker, ranking member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Viet Nam protests China's actions in the East Sea which have threatened regional peace and security and wants to maintain and build friendly relations with the countries in the region and around the world.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (R) welcomes Senator Bob Corker in Hanoi (Photo:VNA)

“All countries need to work together to ensure peace, stability and development. Viet Nam advocates political and diplomatic measures with consideration of legal solutions to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Viet Nam NA trusts in the role of the United Nations and international organizations in protecting the legitimate interests of the countries in the East Sea.” the top legislator emphasized.

Hung also expressed his pleasure at the flourishing relations between the two countries over the past two decades, hoping that the US Senator’s visit will make a positive contribution to fostering bilateral ties between the two legislatures.

Senator Bob Corker, in turn, confirmed the US Senator’s readiness to beef up stronger ties with the Viet Nam NA by sharing law enactment experience.

He said he hopes the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement will be signed soon, adding fresh impetus to pushing up Viet Nam’s economic development in the future.

The US guest noted that his nation has also closely followed the situation in the East Sea and opposed China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Viet Nam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in recent past.

Meeting with US Senator Bob Corker the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the two countries’ huge potential for further cooperation in the future. He proposed the Senator and the US Congress intensify delegation exchanges, strengthen bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation, continue to grant Viet Nam flexible and preferential treatment in the TPP Agreement negotiations and open its wider doors for Vietnamese products.

Deputy FM and FM Pham Binh Minh (R) and Senator Bob Corker.

The two sides also exchanged view on regional and global issues of mutual concern. Minh praised the US Senate’s contributions to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Senator Corker expressed his concern about the recent developments in the East Sea since China illegally put its oil rig in Viet Nam’s waters. He agreed that all sovereignty disputes should be resolved through peaceful means according to international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

(Source: VOV)