(VOVworld) – The US has partially lifted its ban on the sale of lethal arms to Vietnam, reported the AP on Friday. The announcement came after talks between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Washington on Thursday. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters the US will now allow sales of lethal maritime security and surveillance equipment on a case-by-case basis. Psaki added that the US wants to expand security cooperation with Vietnam. The US imposed a ban on the sale of lethal arms to Vietnam in 1984.